Group Discussion

DR Rohit Vaid
DEPARTMENT OF CSE
MM(DU), Mullana
 GD- Design
⚫ Objectives of Group Discussion
⚫ Definition of Group Discussion
⚫ Group Discussion
⚫ Why group testing?
⚫ Factors that matter in GD
⚫ Do’s and Don’ts in Group Discussion
⚫ Suggestions
⚫ Administrative Details
⚫ Topics of importance frequently discussed
 Objective
⚫ Students will participate actively in a group setting
⚫ Students will share their knowledge with others
⚫ Students will improve their communication skills
⚫ Students will think as a team and find a solution to
a given problem
⚫ Students will impress the employers to get a job
Definition of Group Discussion
⚫ Group Discussion is a modern method of
assessing students personality.
⚫ It is both a technique and an art and a
comprehensive tool to judge the worthiness
of the student and his appropriateness for
the job.
WHAT IS GROUP DISCUSSION?
Nowadays Group Discussion is being extensively used along with
personal interviews for the final selection of candidates.
It plays a main role in selecting the best among the best. Having
scored high marks, students who get selected for a
higher/another course or employment are placed on a par - on
equal footing - based on their age, qualification and experience.
It becomes necessary to conduct further screening for choosing a
few among many. It is here, the Group Discussion plays an
important part.
It helps in choosing the socially suitable candidate among the
academically superior achievers.
Features Of Group Discussion
⚫ It is an exchange of ideas among the individuals of a
group on a specific topic.
⚫ Group Discussion is an informal discussion in which
participants of the same educational standard discuss a
topic of current interest.
⚫ It is also known as leaderless discussion. It means its aim
is to find out the natural leadership level of the candidates.
 Group Discussion
⚫ It refers to the situation where a particular
number of people (three to eight) meet face to
face and through free oral interaction,
originate, share and discuss ideas to arrive at a
decision or solution to a problem.
⚫ Group discussions are used for decision-making
and problem solving.
⚫ They are also used widely as a personality test for
evaluating several candidates simultaneously.
The elements of an effective group
discussion:
⚫ All members of the group have a chance to speak,
expressing their own ideas and feelings freely, and to
pursue and finish out their thoughts.
⚫ All members of the group can hear others’ ideas and
feelings stated openly.
⚫ Group members can safely test out ideas that are not yet
fully formed.
The elements of an effective group
discussion (cont.):
⚫ Group members can receive and respond to respectful
but honest and constructive feedback.
⚫ A variety of points of view are put forward and
discussed.
⚫ The discussion is not dominated by any one person.
The elements of an effective group
discussion (cont.):
⚫ Arguments, while they may be spirited, are based on
the content of ideas and opinions, not on
personalities.
⚫ Even in disagreement, there’s an understanding that
the group is working together to resolve a dispute,
solve a problem, create a plan, make a decision, find
a precept or set of precepts all can agree on, or come
to a conclusion from which it can move on.
Possible uses for a group discussion:
⚫ Create a new situation – form a coalition, start an
initiative, etc.
⚫ Explore cooperative or collaborative arrangements
among groups or organizations.
⚫ Discuss and/or analyze an issue.
⚫ Create a strategic plan – for an initiative, an
advocacy campaign, an intervention, etc.
⚫ Discuss policy and policy change.
Possible uses for a group discussion
(cont.):
⚫ Air concerns and differences among individuals or
groups.
⚫ Hold public hearings on proposed laws or
regulations, development, etc.
⚫ Decide on an action.
⚫ Provide mutual support.
⚫ Solve a problem.
⚫ Resolve a conflict.
⚫ Plan your work or an event.
Why should you lead a group
discussion?
⚫ A group discussion gives everyone involved a voice.
⚫ A group discussion allows for a variety of ideas to
be expressed and discussed.
⚫ Group discussion is generally a democratic,
egalitarian process.
⚫ A group discussion leads to group ownership of
whatever conclusions, plans, or action the group
decides upon.
Why should you lead a group
discussion? (cont.)
⚫ An effective group discussion encourages those who
might normally be reluctant to speak their minds.
⚫ Group discussions can often open communication
channels among people who might not communicate
in any other way.
⚫ In some cases, a group discussion is simply the
obvious, or even the only, way to proceed
You might lead a group discussion
because:
⚫ It’s part of your job.
⚫ You’ve been asked to.
⚫ A discussion is necessary, and you have the skills to lead
it.
⚫ It was your idea in the first place.
Some people who might find
themselves leading a group
discussion:
⚫ Directors of organizations
⚫ Public officials
⚫ Coalition coordinators
⚫ Professionals with group-leading skills
⚫ Teachers
⚫ Health professionals and health educators
⚫ Respected community members
⚫ Community activists
When might you lead a group
discussion?
⚫ At the start of something new.
⚫ When an issue can no longer be ignored.
⚫ When groups need to be brought together.
⚫ When an existing group is considering its next step or
seeking to address an issue of importance to it.
How do you lead a group discussion?
If you have the opportunity to prepare beforehand:
⚫ Choose the space.
⚫ Provide food and drink.
⚫ Bring materials to help the discussion along.
⚫ Become familiar with the purpose and content of the
discussion.
⚫ Make sure everyone gets any necessary information,
readings, or other material in plenty of time to study
it well beforehand.
General guidelines:
⚫ Think about leadership style.
⚫ Put people at ease.
⚫ Help the group develop ground rules.
⚫ Generate an agenda or goals for the discussion.
Lead the discussion:
⚫ Set the topic.
⚫ Foster the open process.
⚫ Involve all participants.
⚫ Ask questions or provide information to move the
discussion.
⚫ Summarize and/or clarify important points and
conclusions.
⚫ Wrap up the session.
⚫ Follow-up if necessary
 NATURE AND SCOPE
⚫ The more your ideas and the more your knowledge of the
subject, the more interested, enthusiastic and confident
you would become and the more fluent and forceful would
be your speech and contribution to the discussion.
Categories of Group Discussion
❖ Organizational group discussions
❖ Group discussions as a part of a selection
process.
The Nominal Group technique
▪ Restricts discussion or interpersonal communication
during the decision-making process

▪ Though group members are all physically present as in a

tradition committee meeting, they operate independently
 Structure

⚫ The group sits in circle or U-shape

⚫ They may either be given their choice of seat or
seat allotted.
⚫ This panel observes and evaluates
Evaluation Components
❑ During a GD employers evaluate potential for
leadership and ability to work in a team.
❑ The four components generally evaluated in a
group discussion are:
▪ Knowledge
▪ Communication skills
▪ Group behaviour
▪ Leadership potential
Communication Skills
Candidate assessed in terms of:

⚫ Active listening
⚫ Clarity of thought and expression
⚫ Apt language
⚫ body language
⚫ Lucidity
⚫ Tone: Quality or character of the voice expression
a particular feeling or mood
⚫ Voice: Power of speech
⚫ Articulation: Act of speaking or expressing an idea
in words
⚫ Fluency: Speaking or writing in an easy, flowing
style
⚫ Modulation: Variations in rate, tone, or volume of
voice
⚫ Good delivery: The ideas expressed fluently in the
right voice, right tone, and right articulation.
⚫ It isn’t sufficient to have ideas. They have to be expressed
effectively.
Apt Language
o Fluency and accuracy in use of language free from
grammatical errors.
o Directly, clearly and precisely put ideas in a
organized fashion.
o Simplicity and unambigusity
o Using too much of jargon or high-sounding words
or ambiguous expressions may project as a
show-off and may not endear to group members.
Effective Use of Body Language
❑ Looking attentively at the speaker and nodding
❑ While speaking, ensuring no one is ignored. Looking at
everybody.
❑ Avoiding overt gestures
❑ Avoiding pointing out fingers
❑ Avoiding monotonous posture by shifting slightly in the
chair or placing arm on the back of your chair
❑ Not showing interest or dislike in the topic.
❑ Even if one does not like the topic he should try to
develop interest and reveal interest and enthusiasm
through appropriate facial expression.
Group Behaviour ( Team Spirit)
⚫ group behaviour is reflected in ability to interact with
other members of the group on brief acquaintance.
⚫ Emotional maturity and balance promotes good
interpersonal relationships. One is expected to be
more people centric and less ego centric.
⚫ Remaining objective, empathetic, and
non-threatening, and behaving maturely as a good
team player
 Essence
⚫ Consistency participation
⚫ Keenness in listening and observing
⚫ Time sharing and orderly conduct
⚫ Ability to handle turbulent situations
⚫ Ability to cut excessively exuberant participants
down to size
⚫ Ability to dominate the proceedings without
bullying others
⚫ Avoiding personal comments
Leadership Skills
o The success of any team depends to a large extent, on
its leader.
o The candidate who possesses both functional ability
and coordinating ability would emerge as the leader.
o Functional ability involves knowledge, mental and
physical energy, emotional stability, objectivity,
communication skill, integrity and emotional
intelligence
 Dos
⚫ Sitting comfortably ⚫ Keeping track of time
⚫ Listening to topic ⚫ Sharing time fairly
⚫ Organizing ideas ⚫ Maintaining eye contact
⚫ Speaking at the earliest ⚫ Taking notes
⚫ Identifying supporters/ opponents ⚫ Aiming for summary if
needed
Do’s for discussion leaders:
⚫ Model the behavior and attitudes you want group
members to employ.
⚫ Use encouraging body language and tone of voice,
as well as words.
⚫ Give positive feedback for joining the discussion.
⚫ Be aware of people’s reactions and feelings, and try
to respond appropriately.
More Do’s for discussion leaders:
⚫ Ask open-ended questions.
⚫ Control your own biases.
⚫ Encourage disagreement, and help the group use it
creatively.
⚫ Be a recorder if necessary.
⚫ Keep your mouth shut as much as possible.
Don’ts for discussion leaders:
⚫ Don’t let one or a small group of individuals
dominate the discussion.
⚫ Don’t let one point of view override others.
⚫ Don’t assume that anyone holds particular opinions
or positions because of his culture, background,
race, personal style, etc.
⚫ By the same token, don’t assume that someone from
a particular culture, race, or background speaks for
everyone else from that situation.
⚫ Don’t be the font of all wisdom.
 Don’ts
⚫ Being in a hurry
⚫ Being silent
⚫ Dominating vocally/physically
⚫ Assuming role of chairman
⚫ Introducing topic
⚫ Taking extreme stance
⚫ Looking at faculty
⚫ Moving excessively
⚫ Throwing all ideas at one shot
⚫ Speaking fast
⚫ Digressing
⚫ Indulging in ill conversation
⚫ Paying attention to bull dozers
⚫ Using slang
⚫ Getting emotional
Questions…