The use of group work in large and diverse business management classes: Some critical issues.

Although group work has a long and distinguished history, changes that have taken place in British higher education have led to its widespread application as a ‘quick-and-easy’ assessment tool. This trend has resulted in many dysfunctional group work experiences, and growing frustration among students and tutors alike. This paper explores some of the critical issues in the design, organisation and administration of group work projects in the context of a large and diverse undergraduate class of international management. It also highlights a set of conceptual tools that have proved to be useful in guiding practice and which may be of value to other teaching practitioners committed to overcoming the difficulties and maximise the opportunities that lie at the heart of co-operative learning.