However, I found it very difficult to let everyone understand one's idea, especially when everyone have different levels of understanding. If there's no time constraint, a group can work together as many times as they want until everyone in the group understands each other. Unfortunately, it is impossible in a university group study project. Then, how to maximize the group's ability on a group project under time constraint (that's say three times of meeting maximum)?
If you are solving a Kuhn-Tucker problem like this, inevitable you will come to the solution of three times group meeting to maximize the group's ability. But what should we do in the three meetings?
Before the first meeting, we assume there is a leader or at least one person want to be a leader. Each of these leaders should look through the instruction and materials, identify problems (usually include in the instruction), and come up with possible solution or methods to find solution and the way of distributing the work. Until now, they had done what they would do as if it's an individual project. But it's a group work, so don't just start the actual work.
(1.)In the first meeting, if there's only one leader, he/she will try to let everyone understand the problem, solution and the distribution; if there's more than one leader, they should come to an agreement and explain to everyone else. Let's just assume everyone understands the idea, so everyone can pick certain work and start working. Ideally, after the working, everyone can call up each other to ensure the flow of the work. The next two meeting will be main consist of editing and solving some unforeseen problems.
If someone in the group does not understand certain parts, it's better to let them do what they understands. Leaders should not pull it to themselves, it's just proved to be a pain in the ass. If no one understand the idea at all, then whether the idea has some problem or the leader are too damn smart to be a human being.
(2.)However, sometimes leaders doesn't come up with solutions, they need research. Then, the research distribution will make the first meeting. The distribution should be explicit to everyone. People should know what exactly they are expected to find from the research, don't just tell people to research about too general things. (i.e., the target should be as narrow as you can)
Then, the second meeting should be similar to the first meeting in the first case and the third meeting will mainly about editing and solving some small problems.
Life is not perfect, shit will happen. If you work to the middle of the project and find the idea is just wrong, it's definitely not one of your good days. Also, leaders should be condensed to one leader if they can. And this person has to take care of the flow of the work, that's crucial. These need tremendous leadership skills.
