Team Development
Groups do not become well-functioning interdisciplinary teams by deciding to become a team.
Teams develop through a series of phases that can last several months or longer. Sometimes a
developed team will even return to a previous phase for a period of time and
then work out of it. Tuckman
first labeled these phases of groups, and many experts who work with groups
use these labels:
- Forming – creation stage of the group
- Storming – tasks and roles are worked out through conflict
- Norming – norms and patterns are worked out
- Performing – team working together for the care of the patient
has redefined these phases of team development from four to five. In her
table Dr. Drinka lists both symptoms and interventions for each phase:
Team Rules
Read the following two part case example of the same team in two different
phases of development. Answer the summary questions at the end of each part. In
the second part of the case study, the team is more experienced. Keep in mind,
which disciplines are interacting and who takes a leadership role.
