The forming / storming / norming / performing model of the group life cycle is derived from work by Bruce Tucker.
Here are a few useful links in explaining the concepts and helping to identify the stages:
Original article on the stages:
Tuckman, B.W. "Developmental Sequence in Small Groups," Psychological Bulletin, vol. 63, 1965, pp. 384-399.
Looking to create teams online? This site may provide some useful tips.
Virtual Organization: "This site is concerned with various aspects of virtual organization such as leadership, structure, collaboration, teams, technology, methods, and learning."
Information from the Unitarian Universalist Association on how to run an annual canvass, part of the annual financial process of a congregation.
UUA InterConnections Canvass Resource Library
Resources from the Unitarian Universalist Association, many easily adapted for congregational use, on planned giving, endowments, and other long-term fundraising and stewardship campaigns.
Interconnections - Endowment Resources - UUA
Many religious organizations have adopted Carver Policy Governance® as a model for their boards. The Policy Governance® model is, according to its originators, "the world’s only complete, universal theory of governance—a conceptually coherent paradigm of principles and concepts (not of structure)." It is not simply a quick-fix for part of the organization -- it changes the whole organization. The theory "informs board planning, mission, committee work, agenda control, budgeting, reporting, CEO evaluation, management relationships, fiduciary responsibility, and all other aspects of the board job."
RESOURCES:
Resources: Essential books on Carver Policy Governance
Official Web Site: CarverGovernance.com
Resources: The Carver Model of Policy Governance - a presentation at the 2000 Unitarian Universalist General Assembly, with copies of many handouts, including articles, policies, etc. Even an email discussion list for UU congregations working on policy governance!
Article: Ends and Means by John Carver - especially about congregation boards
More Articles: From the UUA's collection of resources
Update: Policy Governance for Church Boards - a summary of a panel presentation at the UU General Assembly 2002
Samples: Governing Documents from several UU congregations using Policy Governance
Article: Does the Carver Policy Governance Model Work? A Yes and a No
Article: Carver's Policy Governance® Model in Nonprofit
Organizations by John Carver and Miriam Carver - a PDF file, requires (free) Adobe Acrobat to open
Article: Policy Governance® Principles by Jannice (Jan) Moore
Article: Policy Governance Board (Carver model) overview -- includes a critique
Article: A Brief Overview from Miriam Carver Consulting
Related Concept: Servant-Leadership
Some books related to congregational development that I'd recommend:
"Christian Schwarz has done extensive research world-wide and found that healthy, growing churches seem to share eight quality characteristics. These characteristics are: ..."
"Empowering leadership
Gift-oriented ministry
Passionate spirituality
Functional structures
Inspiring worship service
Holistic small groups
Need-oriented evangelism
Loving relationships "
Find the book here: Natural Church Development by Christian Schwarz
The Character of Organizations : Using Personality Type in Organization Development
by William Bridges
One of my favorite authors, William Bridges, author of Transitions and Managing Transitions, applies personality type -- a la MBTI -- to the character of organizations.
If you're interested in but new to Systems Theory or System Dynamics, here's a self-study course available on the Net. Covers basic concepts and includes a good variety of case studies for testing your developing knowledge.
Note that most of the documents are downloadable Adobe Acrobat documents; you'll need a free Adobe Acrobat Reader.
Also, they recommend several books, available on their site. I'm not familiar with all of them, but the one I know is a good one.
Here's the table of contents of the course: Road Maps: A Guide to Learning System Dynamics
If you'd like a very simple and quick introduction to systems thinking, here's a good summary.
Excerpt:
Why Is Systems Thinking Important?
Why is systems thinking valuable? Because it can help you design smart, enduring solutions to problems. In its simplest sense, systems thinking gives you a more accurate picture of reality, so that you can work with a system's natural forces in order to achieve the results you desire. It also encourages you to think about problems and solutions with an eye toward the long view -- for example, how might a particular solution you're considering play out over the long run? And what unintended consequences might it have? Finally, systems thinking is founded on some basic, universal principles that you will begin to detect in all arenas of life once you learn to recognize them.
The article: The Systems Thinker Newsletter
Organizations that can change and adapt are those that will survive. In The Fifth Discipline, Peter Senge set out some key concepts that help organizations thrive and survive. This article is a quick and thorough summary of Senge's basic organizational learning theory.
Excerpt:
WHAT IS ORGANIZATIONAL LEARNING?The world seems to be changing faster and faster -- from the technologies available to us, to the increasingly global scope of our interactions. Moreover, the problems facing us as a global community seem to be growing ever more complex and serious. How do we navigate such change and address these problems -- not only in our work lives but also in our families, communities, and schools?
We believe that organizations groups of people who come together to accomplish a purpose -- hold an important key to these questions. The field of organizational learning explores ways to design organizations so that they fulfill their function effectively, encourage people to reach their full potential, and, at the same time, help the world to be a better place.
Article: The Systems Thinker Newsletter