Question

Compare and contrast Tuckman’s five-stage model of group and team development with Gersick’s punctuated equilibrium model (Kinicki & Williams, 2018, pp. 442-444). Which of these two models do you think would best describe team development at Whole Foods? Explain the reasons for your conclusion.

Answer 1

Bruce Tuckman’s 5 Phase Model

Connie Gersick’s Model of Punctuated Equilibrium

Forming=The team members acquaint with each other and develop fundamental rules Storming-=In this stage the feelings of members are started to be communicated by them but even now they act as individuals rather than the part of the team Norming- The team members started to have a good understanding of each other Performing- The team starts to operate effectively with an environment of trust and open communication Adjourning- The team members develop the evaluation of the plan to identify the contribution of different members *This is the longest and well-considered model *This model is quite comprehensive * All the probable breaking point and delays are included *The focus is on success.

Period of inertia Midpoint Period of concentrated change *The can be treated as the basic model of team development *Communication is not included in it *Potential breaking points or delays are he part of this model

If we look at the comparison of both the models presented above, I will propose that Tuckman’s five-stage model of group and team development best describes the team development at Whole Foods as this explain the process in which a team is developed. In case of Whole food, different teas are developed to focus on a given task, the members communicate with each other and after initial stages of confusion and goal setting stages, they start working in the form of a team having collaborated efforts.