During this semester, we took organizational behavior and put it to the test. With our small group setting as our organization, we worked together for three months. With Professor Wayne Rawcliffe’s guidance, we had a meeting solely for the purpose of getting to know each other better. We didn’t talk about homework, school, or work. It was purely about understanding them and listening to their life story. With the conclusion of our first team meeting, I believe that our group took a step in the right direction.

As time went on and we constructed a contract to solidify the do’s and the don’ts of the group, we started on our first assignment and began our journey through the five-stage model of group development. By constructing the contract and having our introductory meeting, we had completed the forming stage and moved onto the storming stage. A stage in which we clarified individual roles, responsibilities and got a general feel of how each person worked. Although there were some bumps along the way, I think our group performed well together and we were able to finish the assignment promptly and efficiently. Nevertheless, we went over the issues that appeared during the duration of the project in class and resolved any lasting doubt. By committing time to resolve any potential conflicts, we moved on from the storming stage and to the norming stage.

With the first assignment under our belts, we were introduced to another assignment, one that would account for 30% of our grade. Having everyone understand the importance of this assignment was integral to our group’s performance, so to see that everyone saw this as important made tackling the assignment so much easier. With everyone understanding each other’s strengths, weaknesses, responsibilities, and roles, we were able seamlessly move from the norming stage to the performing stage. Throughout the assignment, because of the free flow of information, I sensed a gradual shift of attitude which made me really appreciate my group. I could feel the lowering of walls as everyone acknowledged each other not as team mates but as friends. It was at this moment that I knew that once we completed this assignment, we would have reached the fifth and final stage, adjourning.