Temporal pacing in task forces: Group development or deadline pressure?

Abstract

Research on the punctuated equilibrium model of group development confounded group life span with member tusk completion. We report two studies that separate task pacing, from life span development. In one, 50 students simultaneously performed group and individual projects. In the second, student groups worked on two tasks sequentially. Results indicate that the temporal pattern postulated in the punctuated equilibrium model reflects task pacing under u deadline, rather than the process of group development.