Tuckman's Stages of Team Development & Supply Chain Management's Impact

Tuckman's Stages of Team Development

3) Identify and define the stages of team development according to Bruce Tuckman.

Forming

The forming stage is a period of orientation and ice-breaking. Members get to know each other, determine what types of behaviors are appropriate within the group, identify what is expected of them, and become acquainted with each other’s task orientation.

Storming

In the storming stage, members show more of their personalities and become more assertive in establishing their roles. Conflict and disagreement often arise during the storming stage, as members jockey for position or form coalitions to promote their own perceptions of the team’s mission. Although it is necessary for this storming to occur, team members need to make sure the team doesn’t lapse into counterproductive behaviors before it has a chance to resolve these emerging conflicts.

Norming

During the norming stage, conflicts are resolved, and team harmony develops. Members come to understand and accept one another, reach consensus on who the leader is, and reach agreement on member roles.

Performing

In the performing stage, members are truly committed to the team’s goals. Problems are solved, and disagreements are handled in the interest of task accomplishment.

Adjourning

Finally, if the team has a specific task to perform, it goes through the adjourning stage after the task has been completed. In this stage, issues are wrapped up, and the team is dissolved.

Strategic Impact of Supply Chain Management (SCM)

4) Explain the various ways in which supply chain management (SCM) can have a profound strategic impact on companies and the broader economy (use examples).

Managing Risks

SCM can help companies manage the complex risks involved in a supply chain, risks that include everything from cost and availability to health and safety issues.

Managing Relationships

SCM can coordinate the numerous relationships in the supply chain and help managers focus their attention on the most important company-to-company relationships.

Managing Trade-offs

SCM helps managers address the many trade-offs in the supply chain. These trade-offs can be a source of conflict within the company, and SCM helps balance the competing interests of the various functional areas. This holistic view helps managers balance both capacity and capability along the entire chain.

Promoting Sustainability

As the part of business that moves raw materials and finished goods around the world, supply chains have an enormous effect on resource usage, waste, and environmental impact. A major effort is underway in the field of SCM to develop greener supply chains.