What is the correct order of team development stages?

What is the correct order of team development stages?

• A. Forming → Norming → Storming → Performing
• B. Storming → Forming → Norming → Performing
• C. Forming → Storming → Norming → Performing
• D. Forming → Performing → Storming → Norming

Answer: (C)

The idea being tested is how a team typically develops from initial formation to high performance. In the forming stage, people are getting oriented, testing the waters, and looking to the leader for direction as goals and roles are not yet clear. Then comes the storming stage, where conflicts and power struggles can surface as team members push for influence and different approaches clash. After that, norms begin to solidify in the norming stage: members agree on ways of working, roles are clearer, trust grows, and cooperation improves. Finally, in the performing stage, the team operates smoothly and productively, coordinating well to achieve goals. This sequence—forming, then storming, then norming, then performing—explains why high performance emerges only after orientation and conflict have been resolved and norms are in place. Other orders would imply skipping or reversing stages (for example, starting with performing or placing storming before forming), which doesn’t fit how teams typically develop.

The idea being tested is how a team typically develops from initial formation to high performance. In the forming stage, people are getting oriented, testing the waters, and looking to the leader for direction as goals and roles are not yet clear. Then comes the storming stage, where conflicts and power struggles can surface as team members push for influence and different approaches clash. After that, norms begin to solidify in the norming stage: members agree on ways of working, roles are clearer, trust grows, and cooperation improves. Finally, in the performing stage, the team operates smoothly and productively, coordinating well to achieve goals.

This sequence—forming, then storming, then norming, then performing—explains why high performance emerges only after orientation and conflict have been resolved and norms are in place. Other orders would imply skipping or reversing stages (for example, starting with performing or placing storming before forming), which doesn’t fit how teams typically develop.