A project manager has an engineering team mostly comprised of new hires. The project manager has to carefully predict in which stage of the project…

According to the Tuckman ladder model of team development, the Forming stage is the initial phase where team members are introduced. In this stage, individuals are often uncertain about their roles, are not yet a cohesive unit, and are highly dependent on the leader for direction and guidance. For a team comprised of new hires, the project manager must invest the most significant effort in this stage to establish clear objectives, define roles and responsibilities, set expectations, and build a foundation of trust. This directive leadership style is crucial for integrating the team and is more intensive than in later stages.

1. Project Management Institute. (2021). A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK® Guide) – Seventh Edition. Project Management Institute

Inc. See Section 2.4

"Project Team Development

" p. 44. The guide states

"The team leader needs to provide clear direction and purpose during this [Forming] phase

" highlighting the leader's critical and effort-intensive role at the outset.

2. Tuckman

B. W. (1965). Developmental sequence in small groups. Psychological Bulletin

63(6)

384–399. https://doi.org/10.1037/h0022100. The original paper describes the Forming stage as a period of "testing and dependence" where the group relies on the leader to provide structure and direction

implying a high level of required leadership effort.

3. Project Management Institute. (2021). The Standard for Project Management. Project Management Institute

Inc. See Section 3.4

"Principle: Foster a Collaborative Project Team Environment

" pp. 39-42. The activities described for creating a collaborative culture

such as establishing ground rules and building trust

are most intensive for the project manager during the initial Forming stage with a new team.