Group Work Policy Statement for BM562 Consultancy in Practice
How we will support you to work in groups
Lectures in the first semester (BM561 Business Consulting) have explored in detail a range of issues relating to working in teams, and how teams can work effectively with clients.
These included how resistance and conflict can be managed and how teams can be developed to perform effectively.
Groups were confirmed in Semester 1, so that you could undertake various related practical exercises in lectures and seminars, in the actual groups that you will be working in for the assignments
We hope that all of the above will support you to approach team working with confidence.
How we (and you) need to monitor attendance
A register will be taken every Tuesday when there is a lecture.
Project supervisors will keep records of attendance.
As a group you must keep your own records of meeting attendance at team, client and supervisory meetings. A template for this is available in the BM562 Proformas for Coursework 1 Portfolio 2020-21.
Setting ‘Ground Rules’ and Expectations
Each group must formally draw up a Working Agreement which clearly lays out the ground rules and expectations of group members. (This should have been done in Semester 1).
You should all draw the Working Agreement up together and confirm you agree to it. You should review it at the start of this module and see if there is anything which you wish to add or change. A signed copy of this document will be required for the CW1 portfolio.
Thereafter we expect you to work collaboratively and supportively, to stick to the terms of the agreement that you have signed up to.
Three strikes and you’re out
The ‘three strikes’ relate to whether the ground rules and terms of the Working Agreement are being met…so for example;
Failure to attend a scheduled team meeting
Failure to prepare what was agreed for a client meeting
Fulfilling tasks that were agreed, but only after the deadline has passed
would be enough for a strike to be issued.
Chris and Suzanne will take the responsibility for issuing a strike, but they will need firm evidence from the team to decide if it is necessary to do so. Therefore please note the importance of;
Creating a working agreement for your group, which is really clear about the ground rules and expectations, and getting this signed by all members
Keeping an evidence trail of all decisions e.g. writing and circulating meeting minutes promptly. Further information such as mails setting out what needed doing by when, would also be useful evidence.
We will also refer to our own registers of attendance.
What happens if you receive three strikes and are asked to leave your group
The penalties of poor contribution levels are made clear in the opening lecture.
If you receive three strikes you can no longer work with your group or client and will be given a separate piece of work to complete. Your module mark will be capped at 40%.
Assessed Work
All group members will receive the same mark for the portfolio, unless it can be clearly demonstrated with appropriate supporting evidence, that participation has been unequal.
As above, you need to manage that evidence trail, but supervisors will also be monitoring attendance – and participation – in supervisory meetings.
Please remember that the client will also provide a mark for your performance on and contribution to the project. This can lead to different members receiving different marks for the portfolio.