What typically happens to team cohesion when Development Team membership changes?

When there are changes in Development Team membership, it typically reduces team cohesion. This occurs because cohesion is built through shared experiences, trust, and understanding among team members, which can be disrupted when new individuals join or when existing members leave.

New members need time to integrate into the team, understand its dynamics, and establish relationships with their teammates, while departing members take with them their knowledge and relationships that contributed to the existing cohesion. This process of adjusting to new roles, responsibilities, and interpersonal dynamics can lead to a period where the team feels less unified and members may struggle to communicate effectively or align on goals immediately after membership changes.

As a result, while some positive outcomes may emerge over time as new members bring in fresh perspectives and skills, the immediate impact of changing team composition often acts as a hurdle to maintaining strong cohesion. Long-term benefits may develop with time and effective team-building practices, but initially, the stability and strength of team bonds are usually compromised.