A highly complex IT project is being tackled by a self-managing team of three technical specialists who had never met each other before.

A highly complex IT project is being tackled by a self-managing team of three technical specialists who had never met each other before.

At first they argued constantly for nearly two days over the best way to tackle the work and what technical software tools to use. Finally these issues were resolved, the team went out for dinner together and they agreed how best to share the workload between them.

After this point, the productivity improved dramatically and good work progress was made.

All was going well until two days later when another IT specialist turned up unexpectedly.

This person was far less experienced than the other three.

The new arrival explained that he would be taking over as project manager and immediately started to give explicit orders to the team.

In the context of Tuckman’s team development theory, which interpretation fits the facts of the scenario.
A . The team had reached the performing stage but the arrival of the new specialist may result in the team reverting to the storming stage.
B . The team had reached the norming stage and instructions from the new arrival will quickly help the team reach the performing stage.
C . The team had already formed and were moving into the storming stage when the new arrival turned up and reset development at the forming stage.
D . The new arrival will mean that the team will move forward from norming through storming into the final performing stage.

View Answer

Answer: A