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Teams establish ground rules for collaboration primarily through the creation of team norms. These norms serve as collective agreements among team members on how they will conduct themselves, communicate, and interact within the group. By agreeing on these behaviors and expectations, teams create a foundation for effective collaboration, promoting a healthy and productive work environment.

Team norms may include agreements about communication styles, decision-making processes, conflict resolution strategies, and responsibilities. They provide clarity on what is acceptable behavior and help to align the team's values and objectives, leading to enhanced collaboration and efficiency in achieving project goals.

In contrast, project guidelines typically relate to the overall direction and objectives of the project rather than the interpersonal dynamics of the team. Meeting minutes serve to document the discussions and decisions made during meetings, but they do not establish ongoing behavioral expectations. Work contracts are legal agreements that may outline specific deliverables and responsibilities but do not focus on the norms of collaboration among team members. Therefore, the strongest and most relevant mechanism for establishing ground rules is through team norms.