On this page, the primary focus is on the concept of group contracts. A group contract serves as an agreement that outlines the shared expectations and responsibilities of all members within a group. It establishes clear guidelines for collaboration, ensuring that each member is aligned with the group's objectives and working principles.

Activities:

1) Watch the film:

Here is a link to the slides of the film: Film 4, Group Dynamics - Group Contract – a Tool for Collaboration.pdf

2) Follow-up activity: Reflect and discuss: Creating a group contract

References:

Aaron, J. R., McDowell, W. C., & Herdman, A. O. (2014). The effects of a team charter on student team behaviors. Journal of Education for Business, 89(2), 90–97. doi: 10.1080/08832323.2013.763753

Andrade, M. S., Westover, J., & Workman, L. (2023). The perceived value of using a team charter in business education. International Journal for Business Education, 165(1), 1–30. doi: 10.30707/IJBE165.1.1680319303.

Brannen, S. F., Beauchamp, D., Cartwright, N. M., Liddle, D. M., Tishinsky, J. M., Newton, G., & Monk, J. M. (2021). Effectiveness of group work contracts to facilitate collaborative group learning and reduce anxiety in traditional face-to-face lecture and online distance education course formats. International Journal for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, 15(2). doi: 10.20429/ijsotl.2021.150205

Bresman, H., & Edmondson, A. C. (2022). Exploring the relationship between team diversity, psychological safety and team performance: Evidence from pharmaceutical drug development (Harvard Business School Working Paper No. 22-055). Harvard Business School.

Bodla, AA., Tang, N., Jiang, W. & Tian, L. (2018). Diversity and creativity in cross-national teams: The role of team knowledge sharing and inclusive climate. Journal of Management & Organization. 24(5). 711-729.

Cartwright, N. M. et al. (2021). Enhancement of Professional Behaviours and Perceptions of Critical Skill Job Preparedness through the Use of a Group Work Contract in Fourth Year Nutritional Science, Journal of Higher Education, 10(2):27. 27–41.

Chau, M., Singh, C. L., & Bowman, T. (2025). Group learning contracts in healthcare education: A systematic review. Journal of Medical Imaging and Radiation Sciences, 56(2). doi: 10.1016/j.jmir.2024.101843

Courtright, S. H., McCormick, B. W., Mistry, S., & Wang, J. (2017). Quality charters or quality members? A control theory perspective on team charters and team performance. Journal of Applied Psychology, 102(10), 1462–1470. doi: 10.1037/apl0000229

Edmondson, A. C. (2013). Teaming to innovate. John Wiley Sons.

Edmondson, A. C., Auger-Dominguez, D., Keswin, E., & Carucci, R. (2024). Psychological safety (HBR Emotional Intelligence Series). Harvard Business Review.

Feuer, M., & Wolfe, J. (2023). Planning for difference: Preparing students to create flexible and elaborated team charters that can adapt to support diverse teams. IEEE Transactions on Professional Communication, 66(1), 78–93

Forsyth, D. (2018). Group Dynamics. Wadsworth Publishing Co.

Francis, N., Pritchard, C., Prytherch, Z., & Rutherford, S. (2025). Making teamwork work: Enhancing teamwork and assessment in higher education. FEBS Open Bio, 15(1), 35–47. doi: 10.1002/2211-5463.13936

Franz, T. M., & Vicker, L. A. (2024). Making team projects work: A college instructor’s guide to successful student groupwork (1st ed.). Routledge.

Gopinath, C. & Saleem, F. (2020). Effect of structuring on team behavior and learning, Journal of Education for Business, 95(6). 359–366.

Gorup, A. et. al. (2020). Teamwork challenges and solution strategies of first-semester engineering students. 43rd International Convention on Information, Communication and Electronic Technology, MIPRO 2020, Opatija, Croatia.

Hackman, R. (2002). Leading Teams: Setting the Stage for Great Performances. Harvard Business Press.

Hagvall Svensson, O., Johansson, A., Adawi, T. (2024). How do students negotiate groupwork? The influence of group norm exercises and group development norms. Journal of Engineering Education, 113(3): 533-554. doi: 10.1002/jee.20596

Hansen, Z. K., Owan, H., Pan, J., & Sugawara, S. (2014). The impact of group contract and governance structure on performance - Evidence from college classrooms. The Journal of Law, Economics, & Organization, 30(3), 463–492.

Johnson, W. H. A., Baker, D. S., Longzhu Dong, Taras, V., & Wankel, C. (2022). Do Team Charters Help Team-Based Projects? The Effects of Team Charters on Performance and Satisfaction in Global Virtual Teams. Academy of Management Learning & Education, 21(2), 236–260. doi: 10.5465/amle.2020.0332

Kimpton, C., & Maynard, N. (2024). Factors shaping teamwork skills development in tertiary engineering education: a systematic literature review. European Journal of Engineering Education, 50(2), 253–280. doi: 10.1080/03043797.2024.2357343

Lantz, A., Ulber, D., & Friedrich, P. (2020). Problemen med teamarbete och hur du löser dem. Studentlitteratur.

Mathieu, J. E., & Rapp, T. L. (2009). Laying the foundation for successful team performance trajectories: The roles of team charters and performance strategies. Journal of Applied Psychology, 94(1), 90.

Nilsson, B. (2022). Samspel i grupp: Introduktion till gruppdynamik. Studentlitteratur.

Oakely, B., Felder, R. M., Brent, R. & Elihajj, I. (2004). Turning student groups into effective teams. Journal of Student Centered Learning, 2(1), 9-34

Passow, H. J., & Passow, C. H. (2017). What competencies should undergraduate engineering programs emphasize? A systematic review. Journal of engineering education, 106(3), 475–526.

Pertegal-Felices, M. L., Fuster-Guillo, A., Rico-Soliveres, M. L., Azorín-Lopez, J., & Jimeno-Morenilla, A. (2019). Practical method of improving the teamwork of engineering students using team contracts to minimize conflict situations. IEEE Access, 7, 65083–65092. doi: 10.1002/9781405186407.wbiecc134

Tuckman, B. W., & Jensen, M. A. C. (1977). Stages of Small-Group Development Revisited. Group & Organization Studies, 2(4), 419-427.

Wheelan, S. (2024). Creating Effective Teams. A Guide for Members and Leaders. SAGE Publications.