Cohesive Groups and Tuckman's Model of Development

In the last class, we briefly discussed the concept of a cohesive group, as well as Tuckman’s Model of Group Development, and how Tuckman’s model relates to a cohesive group. A cohesive group is one that has individual or group attraction, a shared vision or goal, and revolves around the concept of teamwork. Tuckman’s Model of Group Development states that there are five stages that create a cohesive group; forming, storming, norming, performing and adjourning. Forming is the creation of a new group with individuals from different backgrounds. Storming is the problematic period or period where conflict in the group arises, and not much performance is done. Norming, is the stage after storming, where conflicts are settles, and performance starts to increase.  Performing is the stage where the group is working at its maximum potential, due to the fact that the group now knows the quirks of its members. Adjourning is the point in the group process where every individual goes their separate ways, and from then on s not able to reform the group they were a part of in the exact same way. A cohesive group may not display all stages of Tuckman’s Model of Development, but most stages will be observed throughout a cohesive group’s existence.

Throughout my experience here at the University of Arizona, I have had several groups that were cohesive and that displayed all five stages of of Tuckman’s model. Recently, however, I have entered into a new cohesive relationship with my new roommate, Hillary. Hillary moved into my dorm room a week after my old roommate moved out. Our first meeting was our group “forming”. Throughout the past several months, I have experienced a time of storming and a time of norming with Hillary; we have learned what each other’s schedules are like, what our pet peeves are, and how to live together in the same small room together while providing the other with the space they need to get their homework and studies done. We have not as of yet experienced a point where we are performing, and we may not demonstrate this stage simply because we are not in a situation where we are the only friends we have. At the end of the semester, we will be adjourning our time together as roommates(since we will not be roommates in the 2011-2012 Academic School Year), and will part and go on our separate ways. Although Hillary and I are not best friends, we still are a cohesive group; we like each other well enough that we talk about our other friends to each other, sometimes watch television together, and every once and a while, help each other out with things the other may need. We do like each other, we are both committed to making this dorm work the best for us, and we believe the best way that commitment is going to hold true is if we work together. Although it may not seem like the perfect cohesive group, it still is one in every way.