This document discusses the rationale for using group projects in college courses. It notes that group work is common in many professional jobs, with companies finding that groups are more creative, complete tasks on schedule, and can handle complex problems. The document then outlines the group project being assigned in the course. Students will research a non-governmental organization (NGO) focused on alleviating hunger or poverty. Guidelines are provided on selecting an NGO, contacting group members, and requirements for the written report and presentation.

1. Dynamics of Group Projects
Dr. WJ Mueller
Why Give a Group Project? I remember being in college and
not liking group projectsMany times I remember feeling it
would be so much easier to do it myselfNow I am asking you to
do a group project, Why?
Who Uses Group Projects?I have talked to a number of former
students and many are required to do the equivalent of group
projects in their workI have talked to executives who use the
“teams” approach to problem solving and for completing
projects Another name for groups is: multidisciplinary
environmental problem-solving (Shaw)
Why are Companies Going to Groups?They are finding
that:creativity increasesTasks are more likely to be completed
on scheduleIt is a way of working through a task that is too
complex for one person to doProductivity increasesJob
satisfaction increases (hard to imagine at first)
(Glick, Shaw)

2. If this is happening in the real world, then I need to be teaching
it, so you go into the real world better prepared
How does it apply to this class—a web class?I know several
people who are working on teams comprised of individuals from
different parts of the country. Some never meet their group
members personally, but do everything electronically or by
telephone.A friend is an engineer and is working on several
projects at a time. He commonly has projects going in such
places as Russia, Washington DC, and Los Angeles all at the
same time
How does this apply to this class, a web class (cont.)?He often
works with people from different companiesHe assembles his
teams according to expertise, without regard to where the
physical location of these experts areA lot hinges on these
groups succeeding; all are multi-million dollar projects
ObjectiveThe objective of the group project for this class is to
develop the skills needed to work effectively in a group setting
How do you go about it? Follow these steps…Establish and
maintain communicationsGather information about the
subjectCommunicateOutline the processSteps that must be taken
to complete the taskOutline when each task must be completed
in order to complete the assignment by the deadline

3. How do you go about it (cont.)?CommunicateUse the
information gathered to outline the projectCommunicateFind out
who in the group has what strengthsCommunicateDivide the
tasks evenly among the group membersCommunicateSet
deadlines CommunicateDevelop Conflict-resolution skills
CommunicationThis is the key
Conflict ResolutionMost groups will have conflict or experience
problemsThe problems need to be addressedGlick, et al, suggest
that people take one of three approaches to conflict
this one)Bargaining and forcingIt is worthwhile to go to the web
and read more about it (see Glick, next slide)
Literature Cited2004. Research-Group Projects.
http://www.bren.ucsb.edu/research/group_projects.aspGlick, LJ.
Surviving the Group Project: A Note on Working in Teams.
http://web.cba.neu.edu/~ewertheim/teams/ovrvw2.htm#Introduct
ionShaw JD, MK Duffy, EM Stark. 2000. Interdependence and
Preference for Group Work: Main and Congruence Effects on
the Satisfaction and Performance of Group Members. Journal of
Management. Vol. 26 No. 2 pp. 259-279
Subject of the Group Projects This Semester: NGO’s (probably
the first thing you need to know is what the acronym NGO
stands for!)
Assignment goals:
· Find out about organizations working to alleviate world

4. hunger and/or end poverty
· Learn skills needed for working with groups
First, I want you to contact each member of your group and
share contact information. Next I want you to select a NGO and
then I would like one of you to e-mail me telling me that
everyone has contacted each other, and what NGO you selected.
If you did not get a response from someone in your group, let
me know that as well. (Due April 4th;use the Drop Box in the
Week 10 folder). I do not want two groups doing the same
NGO, so I will write back telling you if you are the first to
submit the particular one you choose.
Select an NGO that is dedicated to alleviating poverty/hunger.
Here is a list of some organizations that you might consider
(there are many others):
ACCION International
ACDI/VOCA
Action Against Hunger-USA
African Medical Research Foundation
America’s Second Harvest
Bread for the World
CARE International
CARE USA
Doctors Without Borders (MSF)
Feed the Children
Food Research and Action Center
Freedom from Hunger
Heifer International
Millennium Promise
Namlo International
Orphan’s Hope
Oxfam International
The Hunger Project
The Hunger Site
United Children’s Fund
IMPORTANT NOTE: When there is a successful NGO, others
name theirs close to the same name, for obvious reasons. You

5. must make sure that as a group you are all searching for
information about the same NGO.
I have posted a presentation about the how’s and why’s of group
projects in this week’s folder. Go through this.
Grading:
· How well you address the topics and issues listed below
· How well you followed the instructions in the syllabus
· Quality of your writing
· Quality of the presentation
I want you to turn in ONE copy of the paper, and ONE copy of
the presentation, for the entire group using the Drop Box
provided in Moodle. I have also opened a Forum, and a Drop
Box area for you to discuss ideas and exchange drafts of your
paper and Presentation with other members of your group. This
area you can use as you see fit, I will not grade any part of this.
Assignment:
Select an “NGO” dedicated to the elimination of hunger, or
poverty (or similar goal). Avoid NGOs that are dedicated to
human rights (Amnesty International), the environment
(GreenPeace), etc. That is, try to avoid the ‘politically-active’
NGO’s.
1. Write a brief introduction to the NGO that you chose
(including an appropriate thesis statement)
2. Provide pertinent information about the NGO you have
selected. This should include:
· Name of Organization, and its web address
· Overview including Christian, Muslim, secular, international,
non-profit, etc.)
· Mission/objective/goals
· History
· Where does this organization focus its energy (U.S., Asia,
Africa, Third-World, etc.)?

6. · Key Statistics
· Number of countries served
· Number of beneficiaries
· Number of years it has been operating
· Success rate
· Financial Information
· Funding sources
· Costs
· Efficiency (how much donated money actually reaches the
target?
· How is the work of this organization helping solve world
hunger problems?
· How might someone get involved with or help this
organization?