[1] The basic idea of Cog's ladder is that there are five steps necessary for a small group of people to be able to work efficiently together.
Some of those who contributed freely to the group discussion in earlier stages now remain silent, wishing not to engage in a power struggle.
* Members not only begin to accept that others have an opinion worth expressing, but a team spirit replaces vested interests.
If new individuals are introduced into the membership at this point, they will be viewed as outsiders or intruders, and the group will have to evolve again, much as it did initially.
Charrier states that the planning team can do its finest work and be most productive in this final stage in the model.