Business Communication

Group Discussion
Desired Parameters in Candidates

● Original ideas

● Clarity in
articulation

● Good listening skills

● Positive body
language
 Group Behaviour
Candidates’ group behaviour is checked on the
following parameters:

• Participation

• Leadership qualities

• Problem-solving capability

• Handling turbulence
Participation
GDs check a candidate’s level of participation:

● High

● Low

● Consistent
 Leadership

Leadership is determined by:

• Initiative

• Team spirit

• Problem-solving skills

• Decision-making skills
Leadership Qualities
Suggested leadership qualities:

● Participate constructively

● Provide rational arguments

● Convince others

● Build support

● Logically weaken opponent’s point of view

Leadership Styles
Various leadership styles are evident during a GD:

● Driver (imposes, evaluates, blocks)

● Amiable leader (eagerly supports, avoid

conflicts)

● Democrat (includes everyone, tries to control)

 Orderly Conduct
Strive to:

● Dominate without bullying

● Listen and react

● Be a gate opener not closer

Avoiding Turbulence
Strive to:

● Restore order

● Activate inert participants

Evaluation

A GD evaluates a candidate’s:

● Personality

● Knowledge

● Communication skills

● Leadership skills
Personality
Personality is determined by:

● Appearance

● Temperament

● Posture and gesture

● Mental state
Knowledge
Knowledge is determined by:

● Depth

● Range

● Analytical ability

● Organization of ideas
Communication Skills
Communication skills are determined by:

● Listening Skills

● Fluency

● Language

● Phonetic Ability
 Do’s

● Sit comfortably • Aim for conclusion, not consensus

• Share time fairly

● Understand the topic
• Maintain eye contact
● Organize ideas
• Take notes
● Speak at the earliest
• Keep track of time
● Identify supporters

and opponents
Don’ts

● Be in a hurry ● Move excessively

● Be silent
● Throw all ideas at one shot
● Dominate
● Use slang
vocally/physically
● Speak fast
● Assume role of chairman
● Introduce topic ● Digress

● Take extreme stance ● Pay attention to

● Look at faculty troublemakers

● Shut out inert participants ● Get emotional

Types of GDs

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.
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
Case Study
A case is a statement of conditions, attitudes, and practices
and it:

● 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

Steps for Case Analysis
● 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 (…contd)

● 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.
 Tips
● 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

REPLA