Governing the Group Project

I. The ProblemII. What you need to do

A. RulesB. MonitoringC. Sanctions

“I like being able to bounce ideas off one another because sometimes members of the group thought of things I wouldn’t have.”

“Different ideas make it easier to solve problems.”

“I liked making new friends.”

“Trying to coordinate times to meet was almost

impossible with everyone’s schedules.”

“I often feel that one or two people do most of

the work, and the other people tend to free ride.”

“I hate having to compromise and come to a

consensus.”

What students say…

Ostrom

“…how a group of principals who are in an interdependent situation can organize and govern themselves to obtain continuing joint benefits when all face temptations to free-ride, shirk or otherwise act opportunistically.”

Common Pool Resources

Best Practice

Ostrom’s Pre-requisites for Self-Governance

1. Boundaries are clearly defined

2. Local needs and conditions

3. Individual participation

4. Rights are respected by the external authority

5. System of monitoring by members of the group

6. Graduated sanctions

7. Access to low-cost conflict resolution.

Rules

What is a RULE?

1. A RULE MUSTForbid,Require, orPermit a specific action.

2. A RULE MUST BE MONITOREDMonitoring is costlyMonitoring is more effective if done by members of the group

3. A RULE MUST BE ENFORCEDGraduated sanctionsLow-cost outside conflict resolution mechanism

Rules

“Participants are REQUIRED to show up to meetings on time…”“… or else bring coffee/snacks for the group at the next mtg.”

“Each group member is PERMITTED to slack off for one week with prior notice to the group that it will be a bad week.”

“If the person slacks off without prior notice then that person will be responsible for drafting the discussion questions for the next week.”

“Participants are FORBIDDEN to bring personal problems/drama to group meetings…”

“… or else the person becomes the “secretary” recording the work for the evening”

Other issues: individual or group submission of homework, how to define emergencies, rules for participation in monitoring and sanctions

Monitoring

You are REQUIRED to submit a group evaluation form with every group assignment.Google “group evaluation form” for many examples.

Other monitoring ideas:1. Time stamps on electronic

submissions2. Record keepers3. Grades on hw/quizzes4. Audio/video

Sanctions

What you need to do NOW

1. Write at least four (4) RULES. Be specific! Think about what can go wrong and how you would know.

2. Write a MONITORING process for each rule plus the required group monitoring form to be handed in with every group assignment (papers and case).

3. Write graduated (e.g. at least two if not three or more) SANCTIONS for violations of each rule.

4. POST your document AND your group monitoring form on Moodle (one per group) to be graded as a homework.