Orientation (forming): The members are new to the team. They are probably both
anxious and excited, yet unclear about what is expected of them and the task they
Dissatisfaction (storming): Now the challenges of forming a cohesive team become
real. Differences in personalities, working and learning styles, cultural backgrounds,
and available resources
Resolution (norming): The dissatisfaction abates when team members establish
group norms, either spoken or unspoken, to guide the process, resolve confl icts,
and focus on common goals.
Production (performing): This is the stage of team development we have worked
for. The team is working cooperatively with few disruptions.
Termination (adjourning): When the task is completed, the team prepares to disband.
This is the time for joint refl ection on how well the team accomplished its
task, and refl ection on the functioning of the team.