Which statement best summarizes the overall model of team development?

Which statement best summarizes the overall model of team development?

• A. Teams do not require norms or culture to perform effectively.
• B. Teams start directly at performing with no development.
• C. Teams remain in forming stage indefinitely.
• D. Teams go through four stages: forming, storming, norming, performing.

Answer: (D)

Teams typically move through a series of developmental stages. The most widely taught model describes four stages: forming, storming, norming, performing. In forming, members meet and start understanding goals and boundaries. In storming, disagreements and competing ideas surface as people push for their preferred approaches. In norming, the team establishes shared norms, clarifies roles, and builds trust. In performing, the group works smoothly and productively toward its goals. This progression explains why teams need time and structure before reaching high effectiveness. Why this fits best: it reflects how teams actually develop—starting with orientation, working through conflict, aligning on norms, and eventually performing well together. The other statements contradict common patterns: teams don’t skip development and start performing right away; norms and culture arise as the team grows, not as an assumed prerequisite; and teams don’t stay in the forming stage indefinitely.

Teams typically move through a series of developmental stages. The most widely taught model describes four stages: forming, storming, norming, performing. In forming, members meet and start understanding goals and boundaries. In storming, disagreements and competing ideas surface as people push for their preferred approaches. In norming, the team establishes shared norms, clarifies roles, and builds trust. In performing, the group works smoothly and productively toward its goals. This progression explains why teams need time and structure before reaching high effectiveness.

Why this fits best: it reflects how teams actually develop—starting with orientation, working through conflict, aligning on norms, and eventually performing well together. The other statements contradict common patterns: teams don’t skip development and start performing right away; norms and culture arise as the team grows, not as an assumed prerequisite; and teams don’t stay in the forming stage indefinitely.