Understanding the models of team formation and development is a fundamental aspect for any ScrumMaster seeking the Advanced Certified ScrumMaster (A-CSM) certification. One of the most widely accepted models for team formation and development is Bruce Tuckman’s model, which features four distinct stages: Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing.
1. Forming Stage
During this initial stage, team members are usually quite polite and excited about the start of the team journey. Roles and responsibilities are not clear and team members might be quite independent and not fully cognizant of their relevance within the group. As a ScrumMaster, this stage requires strong leadership and guidance to help the team understand the team’s mission and their roles and responsibilities within.
2. Storming Stage
Conflict often characterizes this stage as team members start to express their ideas and opinions strongly, while their understanding of the team task or project increases. This often leads to clashes as people’s personalities and working styles begin to differ. As a ScrumMaster, managing team conflict is crucial in this stage to prevent the team from falling apart and to help them navigate through their differences into understanding each other’s perspectives.
3. Norming Stage
In the norming stage, team members start resolving their differences and develop a stronger respect for each other. They begin to appreciate the strengths of their team mates and understand how to compensate for the weaknesses. Norms and work procedures are established and shared. Here, the role of the ScrumMaster is to foster a collaborative culture and to encourage team members to share knowledge and work together.
4. Performing Stage
This is the most productive stage characterized by high levels of motivation, knowledge, and trust. Team performance peaks as they work cohesively towards their goals. In this stage, the ScrumMaster is expected to delegate most of the work while focusing primarily on the development of the team and ensuring any blockers to the team’s success are removed swiftly.
Tabular Comparison of the Stages
| Stage | Characteristics | Role of ScrumMaster |
|---|---|---|
| Forming | Polite interactions, role ambiguity | Provide guidance and clarity |
| Storming | Conflict, strong expression of ideas | Conflict management |
| Norming | Conflict resolution, shared norms | Foster collaboration and knowledge sharing |
| Performing | High motivation, trust, productivity | Delegate and remove blockers |
However, it’s important to note that the progression through these stages doesn’t always follow a linear path. Teams can regress, usually when new members join or major changes occur, and might need to go through earlier stages again. As ScrumMasters, understanding these stages helps to facilitate better group interactions, address conflicts efficiently and more importantly, steer the team towards becoming a high-performing one.
Practice Test
True/False: Bruce Tuckman’s model of team development stages is a well-recognized model used in Scrum.
Answer: True
Explanation: Bruce Tuckman’s model includes four stages: forming, storming, norming, and performing. This model is widely used as a means to describe the process of team development within Scrum.
Multiple Select: The Tuckman model of team development includes which of the following stages?
- a) Forming
- b) Storming
- c) Warming
- d) Norming
- e) Performing
Answer: a, b, d, e
Explanation: The Tuckman model includes the stages Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing. There’s no ‘Warming’ stage in the Tuckman model.
Single Select: What is the first stage of Tuckman’s team development model?
- a) Forming
- b) Storming
- c) Norming
- d) Performing
Answer: a) Forming
Explanation: The first stage of Tuckman’s model is ‘Forming’ where teams are just starting to come together and understand their roles and the task at hand.
True/False: In the ‘Forming’ stage of Tuckman’s model, team members are familiar with each other and work smoothly.
Answer: False
Explanation: In the ‘Forming’ stage, team members are not familiar with each other. It is the first stage and people are just starting to work together.
Multiple Select: In the ‘Storming’ stage of Tuckman’s model, which of the following scenarios can you expect?
- a) Team members agree on everything.
- b) Team members are confrontational and have conflict.
- c) Team members develop a clear plan.
- d) There is uncertainty in team members’ roles.
Answer: b, d
Explanation: The ‘Storming’ stage is marked by conflict and confrontation among team members and there could be uncertainty about roles and responsibilities.
Single Select: Which stage of Tuckman’s model involves team members starting to work together effectively?
- a) Forming
- b) Storming
- c) Norming
- d) Performing
Answer: c) Norming
Explanation: In the ‘Norming’ stage, team members start working effectively together, agree on rules and work as a group.
True/False: The ‘Performing’ stage of Tuckman’s model is when the team has high performance and productivity.
Answer: True
Explanation: The ‘Performing’ stage is identified by high productivity, good interpersonal relations, and individuality within the coherence of the team.
Multiple Select: Which stages in Tuckman’s model are associated with conflicts and miscommunication?
- a) Forming
- b) Storming
- c) Norming
- d) Performing
Answer: a, b
Explanation: ‘Forming’ and ‘Storming’ stages are where conflicts and miscommunication are commonly encountered as the team tries to establish their roles, responsibilities, and working relationships.
Single Select: Who proposed the addition of a fifth stage, ‘Adjourning’, to Tuckman’s model?
- a) Kent Beck
- b) Bruce Tuckman
- c) Ron Jeffries
- d) Mary Ann Jensen
Answer: d) Mary Ann Jensen
Explanation: The fifth stage, ‘Adjourning’, was proposed by Mary Ann Jensen to describe the process that occurs when teams disband.
True/False: Tuckman’s model of team development is linear and the team must go through one stage to reach the next.
Answer: False
Explanation: While Tuckman’s model is helpful in understanding team development, it is not strictly linear. Teams can oscilate between stages or skip stages depending on their dynamics and challenges.
Interview Questions
What is the Tuckman model of team formation and development?
The Tuckman model consists of four stages of development: forming, storming, norming, and performing. In the forming stage, team members are polite and well-behaved. In the storming stage, conflicts arise as team members start to assert themselves. During the norming stage, the team becomes more cohesive and establishes norms. Lastly, in the performing stage, the team is highly functional and can achieve its goals effectively.
How does the Tuckman model relate to team development in Scrum?
The Tuckman model is relevant in Scrum as it helps Scrum Masters understand the different stages teams go through during their development. It allows them to identify potential challenges and provide the necessary support to help the team progress towards high performance.
What are the key characteristics of the forming stage in the Tuckman model?
In the forming stage, team members are polite and well-behaved. They are often eager to please and avoid conflict. This stage is marked by uncertainty and a lack of clear roles and responsibilities.
What challenges might teams face during the storming stage of team development?
During the storming stage, conflicts may arise as team members start asserting themselves and expressing their opinions. Team members may struggle to find common ground and agree on ways of working together.
How can a Scrum Master support a team during the norming stage of team development?
During the norming stage, a Scrum Master can help the team establish norms and ways of working together. They can facilitate discussions to ensure everyone’s voice is heard and support the team in finding common ground.
What are the characteristics of a team in the performing stage of team development?
In the performing stage, the team is highly functional and can achieve its goals effectively. Team members work well together, trust each other, and are committed to the team’s success.
How does the Tuckman model inform the role of a Scrum Master in supporting team development?
The Tuckman model provides a framework for Scrum Masters to understand the different stages of team development. By recognizing where a team is in its development, a Scrum Master can provide the right support and guidance to help the team progress towards high performance.
What strategies can a Scrum Master use to help a team move from the storming to the norming stage?
A Scrum Master can facilitate open communication, encourage collaboration, and help resolve conflicts during the storming stage to support the team in moving towards the norming stage.
How can the Tuckman model help Scrum Masters anticipate and address potential challenges within a team?
By understanding the stages of team development outlined in the Tuckman model, Scrum Masters can anticipate potential challenges that might arise and proactively address them to support the team in achieving high performance.
How can the Tuckman model be used to assess team progress and performance in a Scrum environment?
Scrum Masters can use the Tuckman model to assess where a team is in its development and identify areas for improvement. By recognizing the characteristics of each stage, Scrum Masters can tailor their support to help the team progress towards high performance.
extutorials.com