In a group, a coordinator brings ideas, information, and suggestions together.

Allowing students to self-select groups can work well in a face-to-face class for short in-class activities, but for longer projects on online classes, where students may not know each other, it’s preferable for the Instructor to provide more structure.  This can mean selecting the topics, assigning students to groups based on previous experience, skill levels or other criteria you deem important. Specifying roles within the group can save time at the start of a project and provide structure to students who are not experienced in group work.

Group roles

Below are some possible roles for group members. The roles can be identified by you, or established by the groups themselves, e.g., by giving groups a list of potential roles and asking them to decide on and delegate appropriate roles within their group.  The roles you – or your students – assign will depend on the goals of the assignment, the size of the team, etc.   Team members can play more than one role, depending on the needs of the project.  Roles can be fixed or rotating.  Consider the final product.  Does it require the use of new technologies?  If so, then one of your roles should include the responsibility for learning this technology, e.g. the Chief Technology Officer.   Below are some options for possible group roles, but don’t be afraid to be creative.  One idea is to use (and adapt as needed) the roles that might be included for a large, collaborative project within your discipline.    

Of course, it’s not necessary to use all of these roles and a student may play more than one role in a team. Choose roles based on group size and task.  The roles you assign for shorter, in class activities may be different than those used for more permanent teams. As a rule of thumb, then shorter the task, the smaller the groups should be, to minimize the time spent on getting organized and started.   

Roles

• Facilitator: Responsible for getting the group started, keeping it on task, and involving all members.
• Recorder: Responsible for keeping a record of what happens in the group meetings.
• Spokesperson/Reporter: Responsible for summarizing group decisions for the larger class.
• Timekeeper: Responsible for keeping group on task and on time (specific to in-class activities).
• Reality checker: Responsible for noting group decisions and whether they are realistic.
• Devil’s advocate: Responsible for pointing out alternate viewpoints and asking tough questions.
• Spy: Responsible for getting info from other groups when appropriate.
• Prioritizer: Makes sure group focuses on most important issues and doesn’t get caught up in details.
• Explorer/Innovator: Seeks to uncover new potential in situations and people (fellow team members but also clients) and explore new areas of inquiry, alternative perspectives and ideas.
• Wildcard: Assumes the role of any missing member and fills in wherever needed.
• Materials/Equipment Manager: Responsible for distributing and tracking all materials, notes, and equipment.
• Technologist: Learns any new technologies required, assists other members using the technology, ensures final product is in correct format and available for sharing.

Another Option:

This role breakdown was shared by Katherine Brown, Associate, Professor of Communications. At the start of the team project, she asks students to submit their first choice and second choice of topic and their first choice of roles.  She also asks which is more important, that they get their desired topic or desired role.   You can gather this information using the Cougar Courses Feedback or Questionnaire tool. You can tweak these roles to fit your project better.

• Leader – fosters inclusive participation, sets agendas, tracks due dates, facilitates any synchronous meetings, sends  reminders, etc.
• Documentarian – puts together and maintains the record of the group’s time, drafts, meeting agendas, meeting attendance,  etc.  Also responsible for assembling the final presentation into the selected technology and submitting it.
• Researchers – there can be one or more.  The researchers gather the raw material, the sources, etc. and bring it back to the  group.  Assign multiple researchers to research specific aspects of a topic when warranted.

The group as a whole reads, evaluates, integrates, analyzes, etc.   

References

The roles are adapted from Barkley, E.F., (2014). Collaborative learning techniques.  Chapter 5, forming Groups. Available as an ebook in Kellogg Library

1. Career development
2. 10 Group Roles for Workplace Teams (With Examples)

By Indeed Editorial Team

Updated July 6, 2022 | Published June 29, 2021

Updated July 6, 2022

Published June 29, 2021

Group roles have an important function in workplace teams because they help members work together effectively. Assigning different group roles that aim to balance the strengths and weaknesses of each team member can help contribute to the success of the team in specific and measurable ways.

In this article, we discuss what group roles are, list types of group roles for workplace teams and explain the definitions and benefits of each.

Related: Guide to Group Dynamics

What are group roles?

Group roles are specific assignments or functions that individual members of a team oversee as part of their duties. The number of group roles within a team depends on the team's size and purpose. Organizations rely on many team roles to complete projects successfully, and some of these roles align with specific categories. The primary types of beneficial team roles include:

• Task roles: People in task roles keep the group focused on reaching the goal by completing specific assignments.

• Procedural: Team members in procedural roles manage the information and communication shared in the group.

• Social-emotional roles: Also known as building and maintenance roles, social-emotional roles involve maintaining harmony within the group and fostering interpersonal relationships among members.

Related: 8 Steps To Building a Successful Team

10 group roles for workplace teams

Here are 10 common group roles organizations assign to team members in the workplace:

1. Facilitator

The facilitator is often the leader of the group. They clarify the team's objectives, make sure every member understands their role and assign tasks to members so they can help the team achieve their goals. Facilitators lead group meetings and set deadlines to keep members on task.

Facilitators have different leadership styles. Some take an autocratic, or authoritative, approach to team management. They establish structured rules for members and maintain complete control. Democratic facilitators welcome feedback from team members when making decisions and delegating tasks, and laissez-faire facilitators have a laid-back approach and exercise minimal authority.

Example: "Based on last week's meeting, I concluded that the primary issues within the team are communication and structure. If that sounds right to everyone, let's start by finding resolutions to these problems."

Related: 5 Roles and Responsibilities of a Team Leader

2. Initiator

Initiators contribute ideas and suggestions for resolving problems within the group. They listen closely to what other team members say and use the information they gather to propose alternative solutions. Initiators also gather information from old ideas to find new solutions to important or recurring issues. People in the initiator role tend to be highly vocal and proactive in their duties. They drive change and encourage others to take action.

Example: "Bill's method of monitoring our goal progress works well, but it could use an update. Maybe we could implement that same approach using software instead of keeping paper records."

3. Arbitrator

Arbitrators function primarily as observers. They monitor interactions and progress within the group and may attempt to intercede to prevent conflict. If they sense a misunderstanding, they offer to clarify both sides for the team members involved. Arbitrators contribute to team success by making sure every member can express their perspective, offering praise to all members, providing a neutral perspective for issues and improving team morale.

Example: "Linda, I'm hearing that you feel it's important to contact the vendor every week regarding invoicing. Is that what you meant?"

4. Notetaker

Notetakers have the critical role of recording team meetings and maintaining documentation of group activities. They record important points team members make, data, updates, changes and other important ideas and decisions. Then, they organize the meeting minutes and distribute them to team members. Their notes help keep the team working toward the same goal and ensure everyone has the information they need to complete their tasks.

Example: "Would you mind repeating that, Brett? I want to make a note of that so no one forgets before the next meeting."

5. Coach

Coaches provide their team members with individualized support throughout a project. They have an extensive understanding of each of the roles and the tasks they need to accomplish, and they assist other team members by helping them overcome obstacles. Experienced professionals usually function as coaches because they can advise others based on their personal experience, so managers or supervisors often fill this role.

Example: "That can be challenging when you first start, Jessica. Let's talk after the meeting, and I'll give you some tips."

Related: Coaching Leadership: How To Become a Coaching Leader and When To Use This Style

6. Coordinator

Coordinators bring people and information together to help them collaborate on common goals. They help arbitrators clarify ideas and suggestions team members make and determine ways certain team members can work together to streamline their tasks. A coordinator may also make recommendations to the facilitator about who would thrive in various roles and responsibilities. Coordinators recognize their teammates' strengths and know how they can complement those of others to create productive results.

Example: "Lisa mentioned she has a lot of experience in that software, too. Since you two understand it best, maybe you could work together on that marketing collateral."

7. Evaluator

Evaluators measure the team's progress in working toward the group objective. They communicate with individual members and the entire team to validate the completion of their tasks and make sure everyone agrees on roles and expectations. They also use the information they gather from members to determine if the team should change tasks or deadlines to accomplish their objectives. Evaluators understand the important key performance indicators for measuring each team member's success and progress.

Example: "We're making good progress overall, but we ran into an obstacle last week when the system went down. How about moving the deadline back a week so we have time to complete the project?"

8. Compromiser

The compromiser recognizes when conflict occurs between team members and formulates strategies for reaching a compromise. They help the team overcome challenges by explaining both sides and collecting feedback about how to find a reasonable solution that works well for everyone. Compromisers help their teams by mending relationships and preventing distractions associated with conflict. While the arbitrator may work to prevent issues from occurring, compromises thrive at resolving active conflicts.

Example: "I know you both have strong opinions about this issue, but I'm sure there's a way we can come to a conclusion that works for everyone. Let's talk about it."

Related: 5 Conflict Management Styles and How To Use Them Effectively

9. Gatekeeper

A gatekeeper focuses on encouraging communication between group members. They make an effort to include everyone, particularly quieter members of the group. Gatekeepers believe everyone has something to contribute, and they help their team by facilitating a unified approach to reaching goals. People who act as group gatekeepers may also act as the main contact for all group members in between meetings.

Example: "Pat actually has a lot of experience in this area. Pat, would you mind sharing your thoughts with us about this? I think you could provide valuable insight."

10. Critic

The critic encourages others on their team to consider all sides of an idea or argument before concluding. They discourage the group thought mentality, where team members agree with each other simply because they feel like everyone else is doing it. Like gatekeepers, critics value all points of view and motivate others to do the same. They address any perspectives that don't already exist within the group to provide a thorough, objective discussion.

Example: "That makes sense, but I like Sabrina's idea, too. Let's discuss the pros and cons of both so we can make sure we all agree on a plan."