Tuckman’s Team Development Model


Building and managing successful teams does not happen automatically but rather it develops as teams work together. Ensuring that the team works well together and delivers to a high standard is a critical component of achieving organisational and project success.

Technique Overview

Tuckman’s Team Development Model

Tuckman’s Team Development Model Definition

Tuckman's team development theory, introduced by Bruce Tuckman in 1965, delineates the stages that teams typically undergo to achieve optimal performance. The theory identifies five distinct phases: Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing, and Adjourning. Each phase represents critical processes in team evolution, from initial formation and conflict resolution to the establishment of norms and peak performance, culminating in the disbandment of the team. This model provides a framework for understanding team dynamics and enhancing team effectiveness in various organisational contexts.

Tuckman’s Team Development Model Description *

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Business Evidence

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Business Application

Implementation, success factors and measures of Tuckman’s Team Development Model *

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Professional Tools

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Further Reading

Tuckman’s Team Development Model web and print resources *

Tuckman’s Team Development Model references (4 of up to 20) *

  • Tuckman, B. W. (1965). Developmental sequence in small groups. Psychological Bulletin, 63(6), 384–399.
  • Bonebright, D. A. (2010). 40 years of storming: a historical review of Tuckman's model of small group development. Human Resource Development International, 13(1), 111-120.
  • Tuckman, B. W., & Jensen, M. A. C. (1977). Stages of small-group development revisited. Group & Organization Studies, 2(4), 419-427.
  • Wheelan, S. A. (2005). Group Processes: A Developmental Perspective. Pearson Education.

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