Student Resources : Working in Groups : Group Ground Rules

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Group Ground Rules

"The problem with groups is that I always do most of the work, but the entire group gets credit for the project."

This is a common concern when working as part of a group. Nobody likes to put forth a solid effort, just to see the group freeloader enjoy the same grade without expending any energy at all. This problem can be avoided, but only if the entire group is committed to holding individual group members accountable for their performance.

One way to hold each group member accountable for his or her performance is to assign each member a specific role within the group. You can learn more about the different roles and responsibilities required in most groups by reading the Group Roles document on this web site.

Another way to help ensure full participation from all group members is to establish – and live by – a set of mutually-agreed upon Group Ground Rules. The ground rules specify behaviors that will and will not be tolerated by the group. Work with your group to develop ground rules that will help you work efficiently and effectively. As a group, discuss the behaviors and attributes you expect from all members of the group. All group members must agree to the ground rules; otherwise, the ground rules will be ineffective. When the ground rules are finalized and agreed-upon, make sure each group member has access to a copy of the ground rules.

Ground rules tend to vary from group to group, but they nearly always address the issues listed below. Add to the list as your group sees fit. Your instructor may have already addressed some of these issues in the course syllabus. If that's the case, make sure that your ground rules fit within the parameters specified in the syllabus.

• Attendance. How many absences are acceptable? Will you differentiate between "excused" and "unexcused" absences? If a group member is absent, what are the expectations regarding submission of assigned work? Do you expect to be notified in advance of an absence? Are some absences more detrimental to the team than others? For example, an absence on the day before a project is due may have a more significant impact on the group than one earlier in the project timeline.
• Timeliness. How will you handle late arrivals or early departures?
• Preparation expectations. What will you do if a group member is not prepared for a group meeting? For example, perhaps the group member did not complete readings that were assigned by the group; as a result, the member was unable to participate in the group discussion of the topic.
• Communication expectations. What is the group's preferred method of communication? Email? Phone call? Group discussion board? Tin cans connected by rope? What is the expected turnaround time for communication? Is 24 hours reasonable for an email response, or does 48 hours make more sense?
• Group roles. How will group roles be assigned? Will you rotate the roles from project to project?
• Deadlines. What will you do if a team member misses a deadline?
• Appropriate group behavior. How will you handle a group member who does not treat other members with respect? How will you ensure that all group members have an equal voice? How will you handle a group member who tends to dominate group meetings?

Naturally, rules don't mean much if there are no consequences for group members who violate the rules. Your ground rules should spell out the consequences for various ground rule offenses. You probably can't address every conceivable violation, but you can come up with some general guidelines. Examples of consequences for ground rule violations include the following:

• If a group member did not participate in a meaningful way on a specific problem, that member will not receive a grade for that problem.
• A group member who doesn't pull his or her weight on a specific problem will be responsible for a greater share of the next problem. (Risky, but sometimes works.)
• A group member who doesn't respond to communication attempts by the other group members will be responsible for all communication logistics in the next problem. (Risky, but sometimes works.)
• After two violations, a member can be expelled from the group permanently.

Your instructor may want to approve your ground rules before they are implemented. In addition, your instructor is most likely willing to help you enforce the ground rules, as long as they are applied regularly and equitably over the duration of the course.