This essay will reflect on a series of activities, which were undertaken within the initial few weeks of forming a group. It will focus on the broad and specific approaches on how our current group dynamic and effectiveness was achieved. Tuckman’s model on the stages of group development will also be referenced throughout.
Groups can be defined as, any number of people with whom interact with each other, are psychologically aware of one an other and perceive themselves as a group. Effective groups are important as they endeavour to take care of each group member, get tasks done and strive to achieve their goals, whilst being stimulating, enjoyable and rewarding (Schein (1998), as cited in Fowler, Gudmundsson, & Whicker, 2011, p.16). Groups
…show more content…
During Tuckman’s forming stage, it is often a period of uncertainty and confusion, as the group members begin to create ground rules, test the boundaries of their behaviour and begin to become orientated with the task (Bonebright, 2010, p. 113). During the forming stage the activities relinquished each of our personal strengths and weaknesses. A positive to knowing this information is whilst working in a group there is a variety of different strengths and weaknesses, in the case of our group, creating an excellent balance in most aspects. For example, a personal weakness of my own is that I can tend to be unorganised. However another group member, Amy, is extremely organised and can effectively keep the group tasks and timelines of due tasks in order. Whilst completing the questions within the activities, we begin to discuss in depth each of the answers. For each question, we would allow for further discussion, and gave each of the group members the opportunity to give their personal opinions and beliefs and be heard. Through the broad and open discussions, it was found that a high number of our opinions concerning working in a group environment, were quite similar. As a whole these activities asked each group member to be open, truthful and discuss personal opinions that may not always be heard. The prospect of knowing everyone is the group’s …show more content…
Before completing our first activity, and in Tuckman’s forming stage, we had a choice of three activities and we had to choose one to complete. During Tuckman’s forming stage group members often create their own organisational standard and establish its culture (Bonebright, 2010, p. 113). Choosing which activity to complete created the first small conflicting ideas, as some group members wanted to different activities. I believe that this was the foundation of where our group development formed. It was discovered quickly that through open communication, negotiation and compromise that a problem within this group can be overcome easily. In activity 1 (appendix 1) each question was about group work, how we tend to work in groups, and our likes and dislikes about working within a group. Upon completing activity 1 and reflecting on the answers each of us gave, we found that we were quite similar in our beliefs and about what each of us like and dislike whilst doing group work. Once this discovery was made the development of the group seemed to flourish as we became comfortable quickly developing into Tuckman’s norming stage. I believe due to the fact that this is a like-minded group, a storming stage do not occur. Though there was no storming stage within this particular group, I understand that in many future group situations,
Tuckman stages of group interaction such as forming, storming, norming, performing (Pearson Education, 2013). One of the most important reasons we communicate is to build relationships, effective communication in work setting can affect every aspect of our work and who you work with, including colleagues, parents and children in several ways. It can help build our relationship and trust with line manager, team leaders, colleagues, parents and children and thus, it helps develop our role within the workplace in order to establishes, maintain and adjust relationships in work
The application of these methods are seen as being a positive approach to the strong cohesion within a group, but much emphasise is put on the correct timing in which these methods are chose to be applied, to that we look back to Tuckman (1965) and the application in the correct stage of the group development
Bruce Tuckman maintains that there are four stages of group development, forming, storming, norming, and performing. These stages are all essential and unavoidable in order for a group to mature, overcome challenges, find solutions, plan work, and produce effective results. (University of Washington, 2013)
An effective team typically develops through several stages. Tuckman and Jensen developed a model for how teams should develop that includes five stages: forming, storming, norming, performing and adjourning (as cited in Martin ,2006 and Fulk, Bell,& Bodie ,2011). In forming, the first stage in team development, team members are introduced to the team’s purpose and goals(Martin, 2006 ; Fulk et al. ,2011). Fulk et al. (2011) explain that members are usually motivated and excited about working together to accomplish the specific goal, but they point out that interactions among team members can be affected by uncertainty about purpose, anxiety, mistrust ,and reluctance to share ideas and opinions. Nevertheless, despite such uncertainties, team members usually avoid conflict and move on to the next stage, storming(Fulk et al.,2011). Unlike the forming stage, the storming stage is marked by conflict (Martin...
The first chapter of “Working in Groups” focuses on group communication, the first aspect being the key elements of group communication (Engleberg and
Having now completed my group work task, I can look back and reflect upon the process that my group went thought it get to the presentation end point. Firstly my group had to form (Kottler, Englar-Carlson 2010 p.93). There are many theories on how groups come together and the stages they go though. Tuckman is a commonly used theories due to the simple nature of his five stage theory. Tuckman believes that in order for a group to form they must go through his five stages: forming, storming, norming and performing (Tuckman 1965 p.17). In 1977 along side Jensen Tuckman added mourning to his process.
Engleberg, I., Wynn, D., & Schuttler, R., (2003). Working in Groups: Communication Principles and Strategies (3rd ed.) Boston: Houghton- Mifflin. pp. 146- 170.
A group can be define as ‘any number of people who (1) interact with one another; (2) are psychologically aware of one another and (3) perceive themselves to be a group’ (Mullins, L, 2007, p.299). Certain task can only be performed by combined effort of a group. Organisation can use groups to carry out projects, which will help to achieve its overall aim. However, for the group to be successful they must understand what is expected of them and have the right skill to complete the task. . (Mullins, L, 2006)
Engleberg, Isa N. and Dianna R. Wynn. Working in Groups. 6th ed. Boston: Pearson, 2012. Print.
I felt collected and enthused to start. However, it did take me some time to display my confidence within the group and encourage discussion. This can be explained by 'Bruce Tuckman 's ' model (1965) , which consists of five components: forming, storming, norming,
The first stage in developing a team as it relates to group dynamics is forming, this is the stage where team members come together and they question what they are therefore, who else is a part of the team, who they are comfortable with, and this enables them to get involved as well as allowing the team the opportunity to introduce themselves to each other. The second stage is storming, and in this stage the team members begin to voice their opinions and differences as well as align themselves with others who share their same beliefs. This is an important stage for the team because team members will begin to become more involved with one another, and when they voice their concerns, they can feel like they are being represented and understood. The third stage is norming in the stage team members begin to establish a shared common commitment to the purpose of why the team is there, where they can establish their overall goals and how the goals are going to be achieved. In the fourth stage, known as performing, the team works effectively and efficiently to gather towards achieving the goal.
“Informal groups have a powerful influence on the effectiveness of an organization, and can even subvert its formal groups. But, the informal group’s role is not limited to resistance. The impact of the informal group upon the larger formal group depends on the norms that the informal group sets. So the informal group can make the formal organization more effective, too.” Informal groups can either be a manager’s best friend or worst enemy. Group Development: The Formation of Informal Work Groups Informal work groups are part of any working environment; how they form, the leadership within the group and how these groups communicate, follow the same basic model. “Groups are particularly good at combining talents and providing innovate solutions to possible unfamiliar problems.” “There are five stages of group development. The first is forming,which is where the group first comes together. Everyone is usually polite. Conflict is seldom voiced directly. Individuals will be guarded in their own opinions and reserved.” The second form of developmentis “storming a chaotic vying for leadership and trailing of group operates.” The third is norming as the second stage evolves the rules of engagement for the group becomes established, and the scopes of the group’s task or responsibilities are clear and agreed. Fourth is performing,not all groups reach this point. Everyone knows each other well enough to be able to work together. And the fifth stage is adjourning; this is about the completion and disengagement of the tasks and group members. The formations of informal work groups are employed by an organization to perform specific functions. Informal groups almost always arise ...
Even though we are all categorized in to groups from the day were conceived. We can still create our own group, and whether are not you create your own group or if it was chosen for you there will be effective and ineffective aspects of that group. Base the circumstances that each individual’s values and beliefs are different. Further more, participation and similarity of other group members and the goals of the group will also affect the group dynamic.
All the team members were well aware of their individual roles and their team’s role. As our team was multi-cultural, some arguments were already expected. GROUP STAGES Our group is composed of six students which were made in the first week itself, with a few additions and subtractions in the next week. By the second week our group was formed and proceeded to a second stage known as Storming (Tuckman, 1965).
Several experiments and researches have been conducted that have focused on how people behave in groups. The findings have revealed that groups affect peoples’ attitudes, behavior and perceptions. Groups are essential for personal life, as well as in work life.