The Forgotten Group Member

Case # 7

Due: June 5, 2012

The Forgotten Group Member

1. How could an understanding of the stages of group development assist Christine in leadership situations such as this one?

In the first stage of development the Forming Stage takes place. Members in this stage will ask each other questions pretty much to get to know each other. Group members raise questions such as: What can the group offer me? Who will be the slacker? In this stage the members are concerned with getting to know each other, avoided issues and feelings and most importantly to focus on designated tasks assigned within the group.

For example, Christine being assigned as Team Coordinator by Professor Sandra; then the group’s first encounters of issues when Christine suggests meeting each day before class at 8:30am and Mike rudely disagreeing and storming away. This avoided issue was one of the major problems within the group, in which later leads to lack of communication and lack of leadership.

Storming stage- In this stage the members tend to be highly emotional and tension is in the air. The coming together of different ideas competes for consideration. Christine begins to notice each of her group member's personality.

For example, she observes that Diane was quiet and never volunteered suggestions, Mike was the clown, Steve was businesslike and Janet was the reliable one.

Norming Stage- In the Norming stage, there's now a sense of harmony following the storming stage and members strive to maintain harmony. The group members will have to come up with an agreement in order to make the collaboration an affective one.

Mike misses most meetings but ends up sending rough concise notes to Christine on his part of meeting. He later gives unreasonable excuses to why he is unable to make the meetings: busy with work, and girlfriend trouble.

Performing Stage- total integration stage, team members are well organized and well-functioning; it is a time of team maturity when performance of even...