Developed by Bruce A. Tuckman in the mid-1960s, Form, Storm, Norm and Perform (FSNP) provides the stages for project team development. It’s useful for project leaders who want to better understand team dynamics, as well as for team members who benefit from self-analysis. Much like the development stages of a child, experts (including Tuckman himself) felt it was necessary for teams to go through each of these phases.
Form
When a team first comes together, they feel a sense of excitement about participating on the team and working together for a common goal. They will have a lot of questions about roles, but the general feeling is one of anticipation and working together to achieve something significant. Some may feel a level of anxiety about their role.
Storm
This often turbulent stage is when reality kicks in and, in some cases, team momentum is lost. The excitement of the initial expectations about working on the team have given way to feelings of frustration and even anger about completing the work involved. Some may even maneuver to win a different role on the team at the expense of others. Once polite conversations may now turn heated. During this time, it’s important for a team leader to redefine roles, make boundaries clear, and ensure that every team member has the resources they need to do their tasks.
Norm
In this stage, team members develop a strong ability to close the gap between their initial excitement about the project and the current reality of doing the work involved. Support from leadership has helped build better team cohesion, and the diversity of opinions on the team is more welcomed than in the storm phase. This is an excellent time to review the project team’s work processes and make changes where necessary.
Perform
Teams hit their stride. With a renewed sense of purpose, team members work together toward a achieving a common goal, They become more productive and take significant steps completing the project. Individual members gain a renewed sense of confidence in their abilities as well as a belief in what the team can accomplish.
While not part of Form, Storm, Norm and Perform, Tuckman added a fifth phase in 1977 called Adjourn. This covers the end of a project team, including a slowdown in productivity as the end of the project draws closer. Team leaders during this phase should ensure that the team “crosses the finish line” and also plan for a celebration to mark the end of the team and celebrate everyone’s contribution to the team’s achievements.
