W1_Thuraiya_Leadership Styles analysis Using Tuckman model

W1_Juhaina_Leadership Style using Tuckman Analysis

-       Problem Definition

The team’s performance is one of the team manager’s highest concerns during every project. There are several factors that affect the performance with the leadership style having a great influence. Therefore it is essential for the team manager to identify the leadership style required to be adopted according to the stage that the group is operating in order to lead and manage his/her team effectively.

-       Identify the Feasible Alternative

Psychologist Bruce Tuckman introduced the 4 stage model of "forming, storming, norming, and performing" in his 1965 article, "Developmental Sequence in Small Groups." Which described the path that most teams follow on their way to high performance. He later added a fifth stage, "adjourning".

Each stage has its own group dynamics and the team manager should use the leadership style that is appropriate to improve the team’s performance. Following are the different leadership styles to be compared:

1.     Directing Style

2.     Coaching Style

3.     Facilitating Style

4.     Delegative Style

-       Development of the Outcome for Alternative

The Future OPWP 2017 team has completed a questionnaire prepared by Erin Barkema and John W. Moran. The questionnaire consists of 32 questions with statements about team work in order to assess what stage the team is operating in and accordingly identify the leadership style to be adopted.

-       Selection Criteria

Using the above mentioned questionnaire, the below table includes the results of the questionnaire made by me and the group average:

Group Stage	My Score	Average Score
Forming	19	23
Storming	20	20
Norming	28	30
Performing	31	31

Table 1: Resulting scores of the questionnaire made by me and the group

-       Analysis and Comparison of the Alternative

From Table 1, it is clear that the scores are the highest at the Norming and Performing stages. It is mentioned in the questionnaire that if the group scores high in both these stages, then the group is in the Performing Stage.

Since the group is in the Performing Stage, we can now analyze the most appropriate style required for the group. At the performing stage, the team has clarity of the objectives targeted and is able to operate efficiently without instructions from the leader, by making decisions against criteria that is agreed with the leader. The team members help one another and may ask the leader’s assistance in terms of personal and interpersonal development.

In this case, the leader cannot adopt the Directive Style as the group is aware and efficient without the leader’s instructions. The leader does not need to adopt the Coaching Style either due to the team’s ability to make decisions easily. The Facilitating Style is not required as the team is fully functional without participation from the leader. Therefore, it is concluded that the Delegative Style is most appropriate for the group.

-       Selection of the Preferred Alternative

The Delegative Style is the best alternative among the four styles that will improve the performance of the team according to the results of the scores of the questionnaire.

-       Performance Monitoring and the Post Evaluation of Result

The team’s performance shall be monitored using the results of the weekly report in order to determine the efficiency of using the Delegative Style.

-       References

1.     Bruce Tuckman 1965 original 'Forming-storming-norming-performing' concept; Alan Chapman 2001-2013 review and code.

2.     Scoring The Tuckman Team Maturity Questionnaire Electronically, Erin Barkema and John W Moran

3.     https://www.businessballs.com/team-management/tuckman-forming-storming-norming-performing-model-234/