I have difficulty the project is almost over, but there is still a lot left to do (G12).
1. Finishing the project
Finalising a research project is always a very hectic moment. There is hardly any time left which require you to work under extreme pressure. Small irritations during the project stage can become major conflicts during the final stage. To prevent this from happening, take the following pointers into account:
• Make clear that everybody needs to be available or present during and immediately after the final stages of a project. Do not allow people to plan a holiday. In case of a bigger project: do not allow that people take up a holiday immediately after the deadline (how rewarding this might seem). It happens very often that you do not reach the deadline exactly, which requires that some people have to work on finishing the project even after the deadline. Make this decision not into a negative one by making yourself unavailable. Another reason for not taking up a holiday, is because you want to evaluate the project properly which best can be done immediately after finishing the project.
• Make the specific tasks assigned to each group member as concrete as possible. In the last phase of a project your group should really develop a very functional division of labour, but without putting too much responsibility into the hands of individual group members.
• Designate a final editor or agree upon a procedure in which it is clear who is responsible for the final result. One of the biggest problems that can
• Give one group member the responsibility for the final layout of the report, but discuss the options before you make a choice as a group.
• Group projects often lead to sloppy and careless use of language. In particular differences in spelling are irritating to the reader. Make a list of words which require a specific spelling. Each member of the group contributes to this list on the basis of an own list, made during the writing process.
• Always take time to use a spell check: use software programmes and decide – in case you have not yet done this in advance which is to be preferred - whether you want to use British or American spelling if you write in English. In addition to this, check the spelling yourself by proof-reading carefully (E10-13). In principle, each group member should be responsible for this.
• Make a final check: did you explain concepts, have you given short introductions, have you written an executive summary (E3-5). Finally, never barter with free-riders (G7, G10) to compensate for their insufficient participation in the project during the final stages of the group process. Free-riders will not be able to bring the research to an end in an adequate manner, because they have not been actively involved. Do not allow the group to be dependent on weak group members.
