SAMPLE: Initial Group Formation

To be used when introducing group work
submitted by April Whitman

Once you have been assigned a group, you have some work to do ensure your group runs smoothly. Follow the instructions below and complete these tasks before the next class. You may complete them in person, via email, or whatever way is easiest for your group.

1. Introduce yourself and exchange contact information with your group members. It is important that your group members be able to get in touch with you. Exchange whatever information is most convenient for you—email address, home phone number, cell phone number, screen name, etc.

2. Read the job titles and descriptions below. Decide what group member would be best for each job, which means you have to discuss your abilities and work habits. Keep in mind that each group member is expected to contribute significantly to the group’s project, no matter what position he or she holds.

Website Manager

Responsibilities: Creating website using group’s ideas, solicits ideas from group members concerning website, resolves technical issues, shares small web tasks with group members.

Abilities: Comfortable using computer, enjoys looking up answers to and solving technical questions, technologically creative.

Sponsor Liaison

Responsibilities: Establishes and maintains communication with sponsor, serves as a link between group members and sponsor, coordinates appointments with sponsor and group members, aware of and able to report group’s progress to sponsor.

Abilities: Excellent communication skills; comfortable relaying information to various people—group members, sponsor, instructor.

Project Manager

Responsibilities: Oversees entire project. Organizes project by creating timetables and deadlines for group tasks. Delegates tasks to group members (including himself or herself). Encourages group members to complete tasks in a timely manner and tracks progress of group’s tasks.

Abilities: Organized, detail-oriented, diplomatic, comfortable leading,

Writer/Editor

Responsibilities: Composing and editing project documents (letter of inquiry, proposal, progress report and final report) with the help of group members, submits documents to instructor and sponsor as needed, stores documents for group’s reference.

Abilities: Writes well, proofreads effectively, has an eye for document design and conforming to document design guidelines.

3. Set up your next group meeting time to discuss potential sponsors. You may meet however and whenever your group chooses—virtually or face-to-face. You will need to develop a game plan for choosing a sponsor by the class deadline.