Make decisions about site management.

By this point, your work team has enough information to designate a site manager for each focus group. The same person could coordinate simultaneous focus groups if the rooms are in close proximity, although it is easier to have one person for each group. The site manager has these responsibilities:

• setting up the rooms in the proper arrangement
  
• greeting facilitators and assisting them with any last minute preparations
  
• arranging for and setting up refreshments (juice, fruit, and donuts in the morning; pizza, cookies, chips, soda, or other snacks in the afternoon)
  
• checking in participants, including making sure that all have returned a permission form
  
• setting up the recording equipment and checking its functioning
  
• being on hand to deal with any problems, should they arise

See the checklist for site managers.

The designated site managers should be in constant contact with the overall project manager and with other people in the school who have some role in the process (the recruiter, the facilitator coordinator, etc.). They also need to report back upon completion of the focus group. All site managers will serve on the logistics team.

Next: Make decisions about focus group recording and analysis.