Group work requires clear planning, communication, and shared organisation.

 

Start well: your first meeting

Most group assessments expect all members to show a range of skills — use your first meeting to discuss how to share responsibilities across the group, not divide them entirely.

Your first meeting is where the group agrees on how to work together:

  • Introduce yourselves and share strengths and constraints
  • Make agreements about attendance, communication, and how the group will handle disagreements
  • Read the assignment brief together
  • Break the task into clear sub-tasks
  • Decide what the group needs to produce, by when, and in what format (go to Planning your monthly workload for more help)
  • Discuss how the group can share responsibilities
  • Confirm how you will communicate — for example, Microsoft Teams, email, or a shared OneDrive folder
  • Set the date and purpose of your next meeting

 

 

Communicate clearly and constructively

Good communication reduces misunderstandings. Keep messages clear and professional, and give feedback about the work, not the person.

Ask open questions — these invite discussion rather than yes or no answers. For example:

 

Open: 'What does everyone think about that?'

Closed: 'Is everyone happy with that?'

 

Raise concerns early. If tensions arise, use a SWOT analysis — a simple list of strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats — to re-focus on shared goals.

 

 

Stay organised

Good organisation is an ongoing responsibility, not just a first-meeting task. Keep one shared document that records decisions, tasks, and deadlines. Use this as your reference point throughout the project.

  • Hold regular check-ins
  • Share a written summary after each meeting
  • Store notes, drafts, and resources in a shared folder — for example, OneDrive
  • Use real-time co-editing tools such as Word Online or PowerPoint Online to ensure everyone works from the same version
  • If the group is not co-editing in real time, use track changes to record what has been altered
  • Use a task list — for example, Microsoft Planner — to track progress and responsibilities

 

 

Deal with challenges early

The following problems are common in group work:

  • Some members completing less work than agreed
  • Missed deadlines (support with planning our workload is covered in our time management guidance)
  • Communication breakdowns
  • Imbalanced participation — one person directing all decisions, or a member becoming disengaged
  • Personal stress outside the project

 

Address problems with care and respect. Speak to the person first — they may be dealing with stress outside the project. Update your shared document with each person's agreed tasks and any changes to who does what. Return to this record if there are disagreements.

If the issue continues and affects progress, speak to your module leader. Bring your shared document and a brief record of the steps you have taken to resolve the problem.

 

 

Be aware of different working styles

Differences in working style are a common challenge in group work. Some people like to act quickly; others prefer to think first; others focus on how things work in practice. There is no best approach; the value comes from combining different styles.

Discuss working styles early — it helps the group avoid misunderstandings.

 

 

Page last edited: 25 August 2026
Next review due: 23 July 2029