During which team development stage do team members gauge dependencies and establish initial goals?

The correct choice is the stage known as "Forming." During this initial phase of team development, team members come together and start to understand their roles within the group. At this point, they are often focused on understanding the project goals, identifying dependencies among tasks, and determining their initial goals and objectives for teamwork.

In the Forming stage, team members are also typically getting to know one another, which allows them to start establishing a foundation for working relationships. This phase emphasizes clarity over expectations, fostering open communication, and setting the groundwork for future collaboration. Establishing initial goals is a critical step, as it helps align the team’s efforts and provides a pathway for moving forward into subsequent stages of development. This clarity is essential to help guide the team toward more complex interactions and effective problem-solving.