
237 – Setting the Ground Rules
Purpose/Objectives: Ground rules are essential to the smooth functioning of
any work group. Ground rules not only clarify the
group’s operating procedures, but they also contribute
to the group’s commitment and teamwork.
This exercise addresses ground rules on two levels. At
the explicit level, participants work in small groups to
discuss various aspects of ground rules and their impor-
tance to teamwork. At the implicit level, the task
groups actually establish ground rules of their own
without even knowing it. In the follow-up discussion,
participants analyze their own task group’s ground rules
and the impact ...