For Mayterm Astronomy, we (Angela and Marin) chose to do a blog. This isn't any old blog about Astronomy though, this blog critiques and comments on aspects of Astronomy through the perspectives of a philosophy and a business major at a liberal arts institution with an intense Mercurian Iron core.

Monday, May 30, 2011

Are the stages of star formation in the universe synonymous with the stages of group formation in business?


As a business major, we discuss many different circumstances that we will encounter in our business career. One of those major areas is learning how to work with others in a group situation to create an outcome or a product. Thinking about it… it actually sounds pretty similar to star formation….

            The 5 stages of group formation are – Forming, Storming, Norming, Performing and Adjourning.
            The 5 stages of star formation are – forming, Storming, Norming, Performing and Adjourning.
            Coincidence???

In business the 5 stages represent how a group achieves its product. For stars, the stages represent how they are formed. Lets compare the process…
            - forming in business means bringing people together from different areas to form the group --- forming in star formation is gravity bringing together Gas and dust together.            
            - Storming in business is the process where individuals confront others with difficulties and frustration. – storming in star formation where the core of the shrinking cloud starts to heat up (tension between people or objects).
            - Norming in business is after people have settled their conflicts and they develop a clear procedure based on mutual respect and a set of obligations towards one another. --- Norming in stars is when the star reaches the appropriate temperature, fusion starts and stops the shrinking – Proto Star. (conflicts stop, and tension stops).
            - Performing in business is where the group starts to create a product or outcome that is working and effective based on their mutual respect – performing in star formation is when a star becomes able to sustain fusion (star settles on main sequence).

Adjourning is the final stage of business – this is when the product has been completed and the group can disassemble. For stars… this is similar, except we call it a Planetary Nebula, and at the end of this, all that’s left is a carbon core or a carbon copy. 


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