Module Four Critical ThinkingGroups, Communication and Politics Within most organizations there is a need to interact with the people you work with directly and indirectly. Employees can be part of an informal or formal group setting or placed on a team designed to improve performance. No matter what role an individual or group is assigned, there are characteristics and stages of development that take place within such teams. It is important that leaders recognize the need for diplomacy and realize that there will be demands in the areas of communications and politics. Team Development One of the most popular modes of team development is the five-stage model. Created by Bruce W. Tuckman in 1965 and revised by Tuckman and Mary Ann Conover Jensen in 1977, the model introduces the five stages of development in small groups (Bonebright, 2009 p. 111). The phases are forming, storming, norming, performing and updating. From the beginning the model was carefully examined. One criticism of the model presented by Hurt and Trombley (2007) is that the model suggests that a group cannot move to the next stage until it has finished the previous stage. In that case, any group unable to complete a stage would not complete their task. Another controversial point is the focus of Gersick (1988) who asked the question “how long does it take a group to move through each stage”? While no two groups are the same, there is no explanation in the model of tracking the progression of a group's development over time (as cited by Hurt & Trombley 2007). Not being able to complete a task or not being able to set an expectation for completion are two very important factors in business today. In defense of five-st...... middle of paper...... small group development, Human Resource Development International. vol. 13 no. February 1, 2010, p. 111-120.Gersick, C. J. G. (1988). Time and transition in work groups: towards a new model of group development. Academy of Management Journal, 31(1), 9-41.Hurt, CA & Trombley, MS (2007) The Punctuated-Tuckman: Towards a New Group Development Model, Retrieved from http://www.eric.ed.gov/ pdfs/ed504567.pdfProfessional hazards; The whistleblower was reinstated after termination for OSHA complaint. September 2006, vol. 68 Issue 9, p12-12, 1/4p"Ringelmann Effect." A dictionary of business and management. 2006. Retrieved March 31, 2011, from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O18-Ringelmanneffect.htmlRogers, M. (June 2008). Resolve conflicts through peer mediation, a variety of solutions and strategies. National Center for the Prevention of School Dropout, #9,