Norms in groups have many functions. Simply put, norms help the group identify itself and get the job done. It also sets the standard as to whether or not people fit in the group, and it overall represents the group's purpose and values that make it a specific group.
When I took a comm class in jr college, we had a group project that was our final project. One essential norm in school group projects are that everyone does their part. Someone usually takes notes, someone collects email addresses & phone numbers, someone does a powerpoint or visual, etc. But everyone contributes.
Continuing with that story, the one member violated the norms we had established greatly when she decided she wanted to go to Las Vegas for the weekend before the project was due. She missed all her emails and the powerpoint slides that everyone needed to review, and on Sunday night she emailed everyone from her cellphone frantically asking for someone to call her and explain it over the phone. We were all upset that she violated the norm of doing roughly equal work in a school group project, and that she wanted people to work around her schedule instead of going by the agreed upon times that worked for everyone.
I like how you explained the purpose of group norms. Expectations can help identify a lot of things like purpose and roles. I find that when working in a group, especially for a class grade, it is important that norms are established at the beginning. This way, everyone knows what the expectations are and when someone violates the norm, they know it. It is unfortunate that your one team member put everyone else in a difficult position. I do not think anyone wants conflict in their group, but when someone violates a known norm, it creates tension and throws off the balance. I can see how it would be even more upsetting since it is your grade riding on the last presentation. Thank you for sharing Happy Waiter!
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