All groups, formal and informal, go through stages of development as noted on page 286, from forming interpersonal relationships among the members to becoming a mature and productive unit. Mature groups are able to work through the necessary interpersonal, task, and authority issues to achieve at high levels. Demographic diversity and group fault lines (i.e., potential breaking points in a group) are two potential predictors of the sense-marking process, subgroup formation patterns, and nature of group conflict at various stages of group development. Hence, group development through these stages may not always be smooth.