Adjourning

     In thinking about the adjourning phase of group collaboration, whether it is difficult to disband or not varies with the importance of the goal. If the goal of the group's efforts were to get medication for a child which was not yet FDA approved, and they were successful, adjourning would be happy, sad, and satisfying at the same time. If the group's purpose was to write new policies and procedures for an organization, the members may become close during performing stage, but not as close as those participating in an emotional risk.
     A life saving drug was not available to a boy from Fredericksburg because it had not been properly tested by the FDA. A group of us got together to sensationalize the issue and promote the urgency of this little boy's plight to people outside our local area. Josh Hardy received approval for the medicine on March 14, 2014. He still has a long way to recovery, but without the efforts of our group and many others, he would not be here. It was bitter sweet to break up the group of people who worked passionately together. We all had opened up with our individual emotional burdens, and formed a strong network which can be called upon for future missions.
     I don't believe I will feel any emptiness when adjourning from my Walden classmates. I don't feel I made the connections I make with people I work with in person.
     Adjourning is an essential stage of teamwork because it ensures completion. Review of the success or failure of the efforts made by the team are a valuable learning experience.