Adjourning Stage
The adjourning stage (also called mourning) is the fifth and final phase of Tuckman's model, where the team completes its work, disbands, and members move on to other assignments.
Explanation
The adjourning stage occurs when the project work is completed and the team is released. This stage was added to Tuckman's original model in 1977. Team members may experience a range of emotions during this phase, from satisfaction at completing the project to sadness about leaving a high-functioning team.\n\nEffective project managers address the emotional aspects of adjourning by celebrating team accomplishments, conducting lessons learned sessions, providing recognition, and facilitating a smooth transition. This stage is an opportunity to capture knowledge, document best practices, and ensure that institutional learning is preserved.\n\nFrom a practical standpoint, adjourning involves releasing team resources, completing final documentation, archiving project records, and transitioning deliverables to operations or the customer. Failing to manage this stage well can result in lost knowledge, incomplete handovers, and a negative experience that affects team members' motivation on future projects.
Key Points
- •Team disbands after completing the project work
- •Also known as the mourning stage
- •Added by Tuckman in 1977 to the original four-stage model
- •Important for capturing lessons learned and celebrating success
Exam Tip
Adjourning is sometimes called mourning. It is the stage where resources are released and the project closes. Remember this stage was added later to the original four-stage model.
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Topics
Tuckman's Team Development Model
Tuckman's model describes five stages of team development: forming, storming, norming, performing, and adjourning. Teams progress through these stages as they mature and develop working relationships.
Performing Stage
The performing stage is the fourth phase of Tuckman's model, where the team functions as a well-organized, cohesive unit, achieving high levels of productivity and effectiveness.
Close Project or Phase
Close Project or Phase is the process of finalizing all activities for the project, phase, or contract, including archiving project information, releasing resources, and completing final deliverable acceptance.
Lessons Learned Register
A lessons learned register is a project document used to record knowledge gained during a project so that it can be used to improve future performance on the current project and for future projects.
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