Question

Identifying Stages of Group Formation

Select 10 members from your class randomly and form a committee to plan an open house. See how they go ahead. Give them full autonomy to do all the planning. Other members of the class observe them as they function.

Do you see any of these stages emerging? Which were those? What was the order of stages? Which stages were skipped?

Discuss in the class.

Answer 1

Observed Timeline and Order of Stages

• Stage 1: Forming (Orientation Stage)
  • Observations: In the initial meetings, members were polite, hesitant, and slightly anxious. They spent time discussing the basic objective of the open house, looking for guidance on who should lead, and figuring out what ground rules to follow.
• Stage 2: Storming (Conflict Stage)
  • Observations: As ideas for themes, decorations, and stall allocations were proposed, friction emerged. Intragroup conflict peaked when two vocal members disagreed on budget allocation. Members actively debated who should take high-visibility roles versus back-end tasks.
• Stage 3: Norming (Stabilization Stage)
  • Observations: Realizing time was short, the group resolved their differences. They elected a group leader, assigned specific roles (e.g., finance, logistics, marketing), and established a shared code of conduct. A strong sense of group cohesion and “we feeling” developed.
• Stage 4: Performing (Execution Stage)
  • Observations: The group operated as a well-oiled machine. They worked autonomously to finalize food vendors, coordinate with teachers, and decorate the hall. The focus shifted entirely from interpersonal politics to achieving the collective goal successfully during the open house event.

Analysis of Skipped or Altered Stages

1. Skipped Stage during Active Observation: Adjourning
   • Reason: Because the class observed the committee during the planning and execution phases, the final Adjourning (Termination) stage was largely outside the immediate observation window. This stage only occurs after the open house ends, when the task is complete, the committee disbands, and members experience feelings of satisfaction or separation anxiety.
2. Minimized Stage: Storming
   • Reason: Because the group had to work within the strict, shared environment of a classroom with peer observation, extreme personal conflicts were kept in check. Social pressure forced them to move past the Storming phase much faster than a corporate or unfamiliar group would.