9.3 Summarize the four stages of group and team development.

The four stages of group and team development are

(1) orientation, (2) conflict, (3) emergence, and (4) reinforcement.

During the orientation phase, group members get acquainted with both the task and one another. The second phase, conflict, occurs when group members recognize that they have differing ideas and opinions about both the group’s task and its procedures for accomplishing the task. The third phase, emergence, is evident when the group begins to make decisions and starts to complete the task. The reinforcement phase occurs when the group has accomplished its task and takes some time to recognize and confirm the group’s actions.