Group work
Table of Contents
Introduction
Group work is often used in university assessments, so you will probably take part in it during your degree. Working in a group helps you develop many important skills that employers look for. These include communication, working well with others, managing conflict, organising projects, leadership, and more. Even though group work has many benefits, it can sometimes be difficult. This module gives you tips and advice to help you succeed in group work and deal with any problems that might come up.
After you complete this module, you should feel confident in your ability to:
- Use project management skills to organise a group assessment
- Work with people from different backgrounds
- Handle conflict that may happen
- Use different strategies and tools to improve group work
First meeting
Once your group has been formed, Aston’s “Complete Guide to Project Kickoffs” explains that the first step in a successful group project is a kick-off meeting. This first meeting is where the team sets expectations for how they will communicate and work together.
By the end of the meeting, the team should have a shared understanding of what the project is, why it is being done, and how the work will be completed, as stated by Martin’s “10 Steps to supercharge your project kickoff meeting”.
Starting with a strong foundation can help avoid conflict and confusion later.
During the kick-off meeting, you should complete a group assessment planner. This planner records all decisions and important information so everyone in the group can refer to it when needed.
The goal of the kick-off meeting is for the group to agree on the following:
- When will we submit the assessment?
- How will we stay in contact?
- What grade are we aiming for?
- How often will we meet?
- When is our next meeting?
- What does each task involve?
- Who will do each task?
- How will we solve problems if they come up?
These questions may seem simple, but each person may have a different view on deadlines, communication, and handling conflict. Writing these answers in the group assignment planner helps make sure everyone agrees and gives you something to refer back to if there are any issues later.
Project management
Good project management is the key to successful group work. Wrike’s “Project Management Basics” defines project management as using knowledge, skills, tools, and techniques to complete a project based on specific requirements.
Group work is not just about the final product. It also involves teamwork, organisation, time management, responsibility, and accountability.
There are four main stages in managing a group project:
- Familiarisation
- Planning and preparation
- Implementation
- Completion
Stage one: Familiarisation
In this first stage, group members get to know each other and begin to understand the task. You do not need to be close friends to work well together.
Each person in your group will have different skills and experiences. These differences can make your final product stronger.
Make sure everyone understands what the group needs to achieve.
Actions
- Introduce yourselves
- Look at the unit outline or assessment rubric and go through the question together
- Talk about the final topic, theme, or product
- Think about your own strengths. What can you offer the group?
- Identify any rules or guidelines (such as word count or number of sources)
- Write down the due date and how much time you have
- Share contact details
Stage two: Planning and preparation
In this stage, your group decides what needs to be done, how it will be done, and who will do each part.
It might seem easy to divide the work by giving each person one section, but it is important to look closely at each part to see how much work is involved. For example, a presentation needs visual aids, written notes, preparation for questions, and practice. A written report needs brainstorming, research, writing, editing, and proofreading. Each task takes a different amount of time and effort, so make sure you understand the sub-tasks before assigning them.
Actions
- Identify all parts of each task, including smaller sub-tasks
- Assign tasks fairly so that everyone has a similar workload
- Create a plan showing what needs to be done and when
Stage three: Implementation
This is the longest stage. It involves doing the work for the assessment. Everyone works on their tasks and stays in touch to share updates and solve problems.
Each time you meet, record any updates or decisions. You can use the group work minute template. Choose one person to lead the meeting and another to take notes.
After the meeting, make sure everyone can access the notes. These will show what actions were agreed on and any challenges discussed.
Important!
At the end of each meeting, schedule the next one while everyone is present. This makes planning easier.
You might face some conflict during this stage, but most issues can be solved within the group.
Actions
- Share updates with the group regularly
- Hold regular meetings to check progress and review tasks
- Take notes during each meeting
- Solve any conflict respectfully and calmly
Stage four: Completion
This final stage can be the most challenging. You need to pay close attention to detail, finish any remaining tasks, and review the whole project—not just your own part.
It is also important to meet again and agree on a final plan to complete the project.
Actions
- Make sure all parts of the assessment match and work well together
- Check the marking rubric to confirm all requirements are met
- Decide when to submit the final version
- Edit and proofread carefully
- Submit the assessment