Ideation Techniques

1. Brainstorming or free-writing

In this first technique, what you really need to do is to write non-stop for some time (pre-
determined) without paying any attention to grammar, spellings, and vocabulary or even the how
the ideas actually seems. While free writing, try to stay as close to the topic as possible. Further, use
phrases and keywords, rather than writing full sentences to create a list of all your ideas. When you
are finished, look over the list carefully. Cross out useless information and logically organize what is
left.

2. Concept mapping

This is more of a graphic technique that will help you visualize the issue and its relationship with
diverse areas. Hence, you might want to draw a circle or a square and add spokes or lines coming
out from that shape. While you are to keep the main idea in the center of the shape, you can keep
the sub-topics and other related ideas around the shape through the lines, following the
development of your idea.

3. The 5Ws technique

Asking “who, what, where, when, and why” is a formula used by professionals in many fields, like the

journalists, detectives, and researchers for getting a complete story. This technique is particularly
useful for choosing a topic, and for focusing on a topic.

(a) Who: Who is the topic about? Who does this topic revolve around? If there are many more
people involved, who all are they? At what different levels are they involved?

(b) What: What is the central issue and what is its importance?
(c) Where: Where does all this occur?
(d) When: When does all this occur? When is the beginning and when is the action supposed to be
taken?
(e) Why: Why are we talking about this anyway? Why should everyone talk or know about this?

Use this technique for any topic, even topics that you have little or no idea about!

4. Keyword Analysis
Use of keywords is extremely important in a GD. For example, you might be given a topic: Should
mercy killing be legalised?Now, the first thing you need to focus is one the keyword ‘mercy
killing’. The best way get a head start is by defining the term and laying out a framework for the
discussion. Also, you can question yourself about the topic and understand the major concerns.

The term mercy killing (the act of painlessly killing someone who is suffering from an incurable
illness) should instantly lead you to the following points:·

Do humans have the right to take life?

Is it fair on the person and his relatives to suffer so much when there is an easier way out?

Is there a chance of abuse of this act?

These are some of the basic points about this topic that should come to your mind. You could delve
into each one of these in the discussion and present an informed view on the topic.

5. Multi-perspective Analysis

Generally, when we are given a GD topic, we simply start enumerating various ideas that come to our
mind. Though this is helpful, it also creates confusion and does not outline a clear path for you to
follow. Also, one tends to face frequent mental blocks as one does not open oneself up to various
possibilities for generating content.

Then how you should analyse a topic? Well, for any given topic, keep the following perspectives in
mind:

Social

Political

Legal

Economic

Personal

Media-related
Management

Business-related

Technology

Now, all you need to do is think of two to three points for each of the above perspectives. This way,
you will be able to generate a substantial number of points for the topic.

Acronym for the above approach: SPELT

The five salient perspectives-social, political, economic, legal, and technology- form the acronym
SPELT. This acronym will enable easy retention of the aspects and help you analyse a topic.

6. VAP:

Say the topic is “Dowry continues to haunt Indian brides”. So who are the parties involved with this
topic: Bride, Bride’s family, Groom, Groom’s family, Society, Media (who shall be make the issue
public), NGOs (for supporting the bride), Government & Panchayats (their role in dowry removal),
Law enforcers like courts & police. Now each of these parties’ view-points and roles related to the
topic becomes a valid point for the GD.

Do's and Don'ts of a GD:

 Maintain an accurate posture. Sit straight and confidently.

 Be natural. Be yourself. In an attempt to be someone else, your thoughts will not come
across.
 Gather your thoughts, evaluate the pros and cons of the given subject/ topic and then speak.
 If you are thorough with the topic and have full knowledge on the same, then do not miss
the chance to speak up first. The candidate who initiates the conversation, mostly, leaves a
good impression on the examiner.
 Learn to choose your words, wisely. Remember, you are being judged.
 Eye contact is a must. It shows that you are interested in other participants' views too. Also,
when the other participants speak, keep nodding your head, it shows receptivity.
 Let others speak too. Remember, it is a group. Listen to what others have to say, let them
contribute to the discussion as well.
 In order to express a thought, you can also use real life examples, experiences, quotes, facts
etc. This shows that you are aware of your surroundings and well-read.
 Be an active participant. Do not keep quiet, learn to make a move. Do not forget that the
evaluator wants to hear you speak. But, at the same time, do not speak more than the
required. Nobody wants to hear lengthy answers.
 If you are opposing something that the other person has spoken, be very sure and confident
of your answer. You must have a solid reason to counter-attack.
 Do not show over-confidence.
 Be crisp and clear. Do not demonstrate a flop show of confused thoughts.
 Roles that Participants Play in a Group
Discussion

There are a number of roles that a candidate can play in a GD. It has been observed that
many candidates act or behave in a certain way or make their points in a particular
manner.
Let us discuss some of the roles that candidates may choose to play:

The Initiator

Such a person typically is the one who tries to commence the discussion and make his
point in the beginning. He may try to give direction to the GD and speak as much as
possible in the beginning, before the GD gets too noisy or chaotic.
However, this person does not speak much later or participate in subsequent stages of
the discussion. It appears that he has exhausted himself early in the game.
• Remember that if you initiate, do so with a structure and aim to give direction to the
discussion. Lay down the ‘paramaters’ of the discussion-i.e. what all can be discussed
• Do not think speaking in the beginning is enough. You need to participate actively
throughout the discussion

The Data Giver

The person playing the role of a data giver provides all the statistics and data relevant to
the discussion. He seems to be a ‘talking newspaper’ or ‘talking journal’. However, he
does not use the data that he gives to present his point of view in a logical manner.
Thus, the points he makes can be considered as being incomplete-although the
supporting statistics are there, it is not really clear what the point of presenting them is.
You must try and go beyond just giving data in the Group Discussion-you are not meant
to play a role of being a ‘talking newspaper’!

The Criticiser

Some participants play this role, in which they contradict or criticize the points that
others make. Whatever others say, these participants object and state that the point may
not be correct or accurate.
However, such participants do not make sufficient and impactful points of their own;
they merely respond to the points that others make. They are unlikely to score well.

The Supporter

These participants play an opposite role to that described above. Here, participants agree
with or support the points that others make. Whatever others say, these participants
indicate their agreement, possibly by nodding their heads or saying, ‘hmm’.
Once again, the issue is that such participants do not make sufficient and impactful
points of their own; they merely respond to the points that others make. Hence, just like
above, they are unlikely to score well.

The Questioner

Rather than make points of his own, the ‘Questioner’ asks others questions-he solicits
the opinions of others or asks them for data. He seems to almost play the role of an
interviewer.
Since he doesn’t make substantial points of his own, the evaluation panel is not going to
be too impressed with his performance and will not award him too many marks.

The Gatekeeper

Have you ever heard, during a Group Discussion, someone suddenly state that the others
had better hurry up as only a few minutes were left?! This is the gatekeeper’s role, among
other things.
This role is played by some participants who keep a check on various aspects-the time
that has elapsed during the discussion or the time left, who all have spoken and how
much etc. They seem more bothered by these aspects and in maintaining order and
decorum rather than in making substantial and impactful points of their own.

Hence, the evaluation panel will not give such a participant high marks.

The Traffic Policeman

This person behaves like a traffic policeman trying to control the flow of traffic. He
makes a number of gestures with his hands, trying to stop someone from speaking or
waving his hands about while making a point.
Too many gestures are unlikely to impress the evaluation panel; so try and avoid this. do
not stop others from speaking by raising your hands!

The Spectator/ Audience

These participants hardly say anything on their own, but almost seem part of the
audience or spectators. They make no contribution, except nodding their heads or saying
‘Hmm’ almost to themselves!
When probed as to why they did not speak, they sometimes claim to be listening to
others in the group. Such participants are unlikely to get selected.

The Leader

This is the role that you should try and play. We have discussed in another module as to
how you could be perceived as the leader of the group.
Keep in mind that if you wish to be recognized as the group leader, then:
• You must try to initiate the discussion and provide a structure to the discussion
• You must try and provide a direction to the GD
• You may try and lay the framework or boundaries of the discussion
• You support your points by strong logic
• You give adequate examples to support your views
• You may try and involve others in the discussion
• You could try and manage the ‘flow’ of the discussion
• In the end, the ‘leader’ may try and summarize the discussion and review all the ideas
discussed

The Summariser

This person tries to summarize the discussion at the end. Remember that this could be a
good strategy, but you also must participate during the course of the discussion; you
cannot only summarize!
Keep in mind, the following points while summarizing the discussion:
• Present both sides of the discussion while summarizing, not only the points reflecting
the view you support
• Do not add new points during the summary-typically limit the summary to what was
discussed during the GD
• Remember that you need to summarize the points that the group as a whole discussed,
not just the points you made!
• Points mentioned during the summary must be in brief; yet the summary as a whole
should be comprehensive: Present both sides of the picture, as mentioned earlier, and try
to mention at least 4-5 points that came up during the discussion in the summary.