Developmental Patterns of Organizational Task Groups: A Preliminary Study

The lack of research on organizational task group development is considered in the light of methodological difficulties, including group availability, threats to internal and external validity, and limitations of the existing research technology. Possible benefits from such research are compared to the difficulties. From this discussion a design for preliminary research more closely approaching the conditions of the organizational task group is developed and executed. This research tests and confirms a previously published model of task group development through the use of a Developmental Rating Scale. Clinical observations of the groups are used to supplement the conclusion of the study. The need for continued research in successive approximations of organizational task groups is suggested.