Skip to main content
STAGES OF GROUP DEVELOPMENT Mr. TRAN MINH TAN, MSSW Asian Social Instittute, 1518 Leon Guinto, Malate, Manila, Philippines
STAGES OF GROUP DEVELOPMENT FORMING STORMING NORMING FERFORMING RE-FORMING
Stage 1:  FORMING GROUP MEMBERS LOOK TO THE LEADER FOR DIRECTION. MEMBERS HAVE A DESIRE FOR ACCEPTANCE BY THE GROUP AND FITTING IN. MEMBERS ARE SIZING EACH OTHER UP – CHECKING OUT PERSONALITIES AND TALENTS OF OTHER MEMBERS.
MEMBERS FOCUS THEIR DISCUSSION ON THE TASK AT HAND, NOT WORRYING ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS. FEELINGS GOING THROUGH MEMBERS INCLUDE INSECURITY, NERVOUSNESS. THEY ARE ASKING THEMSELVES “Do I belong?”, “Will I be accepted by the group?”
Stage 2:  Storming THIS STAGE IS CHARACTERIZED BY TENSION, COMPETITION, AND CONFLICT AMONG GROUP MEMBERS. QUESTIONS ARISE ABOUT WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WHAT AND WHAT THE RULES ARE.
SOME MEMBERS MAY REMAIN SILENT WHILE OTHERS ATTEMPT TO DOMINATE. SOME MEMBERS QUESTION AUTHORITY  AND COMPETENCY OF THE  GROUP LEADER THE GROUP LEADER HAS TO RAISE THE CONFLICT ISSUE AND DEAL WITH IT.
Stage 3:  Norming LEADERSHIP IS SHARED AND CLIQUES DISSOLVED. CONFLICTS ARE RESOLVED AND THERE IS A STRONGER SENSE OF BELONGING TO THE GROUP. CREATIVITY IS HIGH. PEOPLE KNOW WHERE THEY FIT IN AND WHAT IS EXPECTED OF THEM.
Stage 4:  Performing  NOW THE GROUP IS IN HIGH GEAR AND HIGHLY PRODUCTIVE. THE NEED FOR GROUP APPROVAL IS PAST. GROUP MEMBERS CAN NOW FOCUS ON THE TASK AND CARE FOR OTHER MEMBERS OF THE GROUP. GROUP IDENTITY IS COMPLETE, GROUP MORALE IS HIGH, AND GROUP LOYALTY IS INTENSE.
Stage 5:  RE-FORMING THIS STAGE OCCURS WHEN THE TASKS ARE COMPLETED AND THERE NO LONGER IS A NEED FOR THE GROUP TO EXIST. THIS STAGE INCLUDES RECOGNITION FOR PARTICIPATION (AWARDS) AND AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GROUP MEMBERS TO SAY GOOD BYE. (CLOSURE)
WITH THE DISSOLVING OF THE GROUP, NEW LEADERS ARE NEEDED TO TAKE ON THE NEW TASKS, SO A NEW GROUP FORMS.
REFERENCES Mendoza, Thelma Lee- “Social Work with Group” Philippines. Published by Mega-books Company. Copyright 1999. Tuckman, B. Developmental Sequence in Small Groups. Psychological Bulletin, 63, 384-399.(1965). Tuckman B, and Jesenm, M,. Stages of Small Group Development. Group and Organizational Studies, 2, 419-427. (1977)
Maraming salamat Po