The team forms the backbone of any project in an Agile environment. As the name implies, team formation is the process of bringing people together with different backgrounds and expertise to form a cohesive, efficient and high-performing team.
I. Stages of Team Formation
Dr. Bruce Tuckman, a famous psychologist, outlined the four stages of team development, namely: Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing.
- Forming: This is the initial stage where team members are brought together. The members may be unfamiliar with each other or the project. As such, leadership plays an instrumental role in providing guidance and defining clear goals for the team.
- Storming: Inevitably, as members begin to understand their roles and the dynamics of the team, conflicts may arise, challenging the harmony of the team. This stage involves the resolution of these conflicts and team members understanding each other’s working style.
- Norming: As the team overcomes its conflicts, they start to work more cohesively. The team members begin to respect each other’s strengths and weaknesses, and norms are established to define expectations within the team.
- Performing: In this final stage, the team has learned to work together efficiently. They can make decisions without conflict, and the team members become more autonomous.
It is essential to remember that these stages are not always linear and teams can oscillate between different stages based on the project’s dynamics.
| Stage | Characteristics |
|---|---|
| Forming | Uncertainty, confusion, polite interactions |
| Storming | Conflict, tension, power struggles |
| Norming | Agreement, clear roles and objectives, stronger relationships |
| Performing | High productivity, independence, collaboration |
II. Agile Team Formation
In an Agile environment, the formation of self-organizing, cross-functional teams is encouraged. The Agile team is often made up of a product owner, Scrum Master, and the development team. The product owner represents the stakeholders and the Scrum Master facilitates the Scrum process. The development team members possess varied skills necessary for the projects.
In Agile team formation, the goal is to rapidly advance to the performing stage, allowing the team to become highly productive as quickly as possible. Agile team formation also takes into consideration the team size, aiming to keep the team small to promote better communication and decision-making.
III. Key Principles for Effective Team Formation in Agile
- Build Inter-Disciplinary Skills: Having team members with a broad range of skills increases the flexibility and effectiveness of the team.
- Establish Trust and Communication: Establish clear communication channels that encourage open dialogue and foster trust among team members.
- Empower the Team: Giving the team autonomy to make decisions increases engagement and ownership.
- Develop Team Norms: Establish norms that define expectations and behavior within the team.
- Encourage Collaboration: The team should work together to identify and solve problems.
In conclusion, team formation is a critical aspect of project management, especially in Agile environments. The ability to form effective teams, manage conflicts, and ensure open communication are key skills of an Agile Practitioner. As you prepare for your PMI-ACP exam, understanding and applying the principles of team formation is certainly going to be highly beneficial.
Practice Test
True or False: During the team formation process, the storming stage is when the teams are finally performing without any conflicts.
A. True
B. False
Correct Answer: B. False
Explanation: The performing stage is when the team finally works without any conflicts and not the storming stage. Storming is usually the stage where conflicts and disagreements occur.
Which of the following roles are NOT typically included in a Scrum Team?
- A. Scrum master
- B. Product Owner
- C. Quality Assurance
- D. Stakeholder
Correct Answer: D. Stakeholder
Explanation: Although stakeholders are important in the project, they are not typically considered part of the Scrum Team. The Scrum Team usually comprises the Scrum Master, Product Owner, and the Development Team.
What is the first stage in Tuckman’s stages of team development?
- A. Performing
- B. Forming
- C. Storming
- D. Norming
Correct Answer: B. Forming
Explanation: According to Tuckman’s stages of team development, teams initially go through the Forming stage, where members get to know each other.
True or False: In an Agile project, the project manager is responsible for managing the project team.
A. True
B. False
Correct Answer: B. False
Explanation: In Agile projects, there usually isn’t a titled role of a project manager. Typically, the entire team self-manages and shares responsibilities.
What is the primary role of a Scrum Master in team formation?
- A. To document the project progress
- B. To ensure code quality
- C. To remove impediments for the team
- D. To assign tasks to team members
Correct Answer: C. To remove impediments for the team
Explanation: In team formation, the primary role of the Scrum Master is to facilitate the team’s progress by removing obstacles and impediments that the team might face.
True or False: In Agile methodology, it is better to have a team with a mix of specialists and generalists.
A. True
B. False
Correct Answer: A. True
Explanation: Cross-functional teams where team members have a variety of skills and specializations are preferred in Agile methodology.
Which stages are part of Tuckman’s stages of team development? (Multiple Select)
- A. Forming
- B. Storming
- C. Adapting
- D. Performing
Correct Answer: A. Forming, B. Storming, D. Performing
Explanation: Tuckman’s stages include forming, storming, norming, and performing. Adapting is not one of Tuckman’s phases.
What stage of team development is characterized by the most significant amount of conflict?
- A. Forming
- B. Storming
- C. Norming
- D. Performing
Correct Answer: B. Storming
Explanation: The storming phase is when team members often have disputes due to different opinions and perspectives.
True or False: The norming stage in team development involves disputes and conflicts.
A. True
B. False
Correct Answer: B. False
Explanation: The norming stage involves starting to work together more effectively being respectful of others’ ideas.
Which of the following roles is responsible for maximizing the value of the product in a Scrum team?
- A. Scrum Master
- B. Product Owner
- C. Development Team
- D. Stakeholder
Correct Answer: B. Product Owner
Explanation: The Product Owner is accountable for maximizing the value of the product resulting from the work of the Development Team.
Interview Questions
In Agile, what is team formation?
Team formation in Agile is the process of assembling a group of individuals who are capable, autonomous, cross-functional and organized around achieving a common goal. The Agile approach encourages a high degree of collaboration, iteration, and openness to adapting throughout the project.
What are the typical stages of team formation in Agile principles?
The typical stages of team formation in Agile are: Forming, Storming, Norming, and Performing. This is known as the Tuckman model.
Can you define a “cross-functional team” in Agile context?
A cross-functional team in Agile consists of members with different functional expertise and skills working toward a common goal. It includes people who work on different aspects of a project, for example, coding, design, testing, and business analysis.
Can you explain the term “self-organizing team”?
A self-organizing team is a fundamental concept in Agile. It refers to a team that has the ability to manage their own work, make their own decisions, and adapt their process to the changing needs of the project, with minimal supervision.
How does Agile methodology encourage team collaboration?
Agile methodology encourages team collaboration through regular communication, feedback, and retrospectives. Tasks are divided among team members who work together in iterations and any issues or problems are immediately discussed and solved.
What is the purpose and benefit of a “co-located team” in Agile?
Co-located teams in Agile refer to team members working physically in the same location. The purpose is to facilitate communication, collaboration, and problem solving. The benefit is higher productivity, quicker issue resolution and a stronger team bond.
How is team size determined in Agile?
In Agile, there’s no fixed rule for team size. However, it’s generally recommended that an Agile team should be between 5 to 9 members. This size is considered optimal for effective communication and collaboration.
What is the role of the Product Owner in an Agile team?
The Product Owner in an Agile team is responsible for maximizing the value of the product resulting from work of the development team. They manage the product backlog, set the project goals, prioritize the tasks, and interact with stakeholders and the team.
What is the importance of trust in an Agile team?
Trust in an Agile team is crucial as it enhances open communication, expands collaboration, encourages shared ownership of tasks and ensures quick response to change in requirements, leading to high-quality deliverables.
What is the meaning of “servant leadership” in Agile context?
Servant leadership in Agile context is a leadership approach where the leader prioritizes the needs of the team members, helps remove obstacles, encourages collaborations, and aids in personal and career development of the team members.
What is the role of a Scrum Master in an Agile team?
A Scrum Master in an Agile team serves as a facilitator for the team and the product owner. Their main role is to clear any obstacles that the team may be experiencing, facilitate meetings, and ensure that all practices are followed in the Scrum framework.
How are conflicts resolved in an Agile team?
Conflicts in an Agile team are encouraged to be resolved directly by the parties involved and as soon as they occur. Teams might use conflicts as opportunities for improvement, focusing on the issue and not on personalities. Facilitation, negotiation or mediation by Scrum Master or another team member may be needed sometimes.
What are some strategies for developing a strong and effective Agile team?
Strategies for developing a strong and effective Agile team include maintaining open and clear communication, promoting trust and respect among team members, providing a safe environment for innovation and risk-taking, encouraging active customer engagement, and continuously improving through lessons learned in retrospectives.
What’s the value of diversity in an Agile team?
Diversity in an Agile team is highly valued as it adds different perspectives, ideas, and solutions to problems. Diversity can come in various forms, including skill sets, experiences, and backgrounds. A diverse team enhances creativity and innovation.
How do Agile teams handle changes to team members?
Agile teams handle changes to team members by ensuring a smooth and transparent transition. This includes updating the new member on the project scope, objectives, and workings of the team. The goal is to avoid disruption of the team’s productivity and morale.
extutorials.com