Group Discussion

• Original ideas

• Clarity in articulation

• Good listening skills

• Positive body language

Desired Parameters in Candidates

Candidates’ group behaviour is checked on the following

parameters:

Group Behaviour

• Participation

• Leadership qualities

• Problem-solving capability

• Handling turbulence

• High • Low

• Consistent

Participation

GDs check a candidate’s level of participation:

Leadership

Leadership is determined by

• Initiative

• Team spirit

• Problem-solving skills

• Decision-making skills

• Participate constructively

• Provide rational arguments

• Convince others

• Build support

• Logically weaken opponent’s point of view

Leadership Qualities

Suggested leadership qualities:

• Driver (imposes, evaluates, blocks)

• Amiable leader (eagerly supports, avoid conflicts)

• Democrat (includes everyone, tries to control)

Leadership Styles

Various leadership styles are evident during a GD:

• Dominate without bullying

• Listen and react

• Be a gate opener not closer

Orderly Conduct

Strive to:

• Restore order

• Activate inert participants

Avoiding Turbulence

Strive to:

• Personality

• Knowledge

• Communication skills

• Leadership skills

EvaluationA GD evaluates a candidate’s

• Appearance

• Temperament

• Posture and gesture

• Mental state

PersonalityPersonality is determined by

• Depth

• Range

• Analytical ability

• Organization of ideas

KnowledgeKnowledge is determined by

• Listening Skills

• Fluency

• Language

• Phonetic Ability

Communication SkillsCommunication skills are determined by

• Sit comfortably

• Understand the topic

• Organize ideas

• Speak at the earliest

• Identify supporters and

opponents

• Keep track of time

• Share time fairly

• Maintain eye contact

• Take notes

• Aim for conclusion, not

consensus

Do’s

• Be in a hurry

• Be silent

• Dominate vocally/physically

• Assume role of chairman

• Introduce topic

• Take extreme stance

• Look at faculty

• Shut out inert participants

• Move excessively

• Throw all ideas at one shot

• Use slang

• Speak fast

• Digress

• Pay attention to

troublemakers

• Get emotional

Don’ts

• Topic-based A controversial or factual topic may be used to evaluate candidates

• Case-based A case study is used to evaluate a candidate’s analytical and decision-making skills among others.

Types of GDs

Topic-based GDs

Interpret correctly; explore adequately

Case-based GDs Understand the situation, work out alternatives, explore pros and cons, suggest solutions, and work out implementation and contingency plan

• Describes a challenging situation that the company is facing or has faced earlier.

• Illustrates a specific set of management issues

• Provides facts and figures

• It is written in a manner that needs rearrangement and interpretation of facts as well as evaluation of opinions, behavior, and interaction

• It includes data on alternative courses of action

Case StudyA case is a statement of conditions, attitudes, and practices and it:

• Put the case information together

• Evaluate the actions and plans of the company and identify, and describe business opportunities and problems

• Recommend a coordinated plan of action to correct business problems or to take advantage of opportunities

• Justify the recommended action

• Try to get a quick sense of the whole case – title, heading, outline, introduction, and conclusion

Steps for Case Analysis

• Does this require a decision? Who is the decision maker? What decision does she have to make? What are her objectives? Are there other actors there? What are their objectives?

• At this point reread the case carefully; underline key facts

• Note the key problems on paper; go through the case again for relevant information. What are the resources/constraints?

• What are the possible courses of action? Rank alternatives; likely short- and long-term consequences.

Steps for Case Analysis (…contd)

• Be prepared to present ideas with conviction. • Listen• Keep an open mind• Grab the earliest opportunity to get involved• If you have a totally new idea-wait • Be alert for constructive solutions• Try to give space to others• Don’t hesitate to admit confusion or ask for clarification• Keep the group focused• Accept a critical atmosphere and be willing to submit

your conclusions to rebuttal• Overcome the fear of making and admitting a mistake

Tips

REPLAY