Group Discussion

and
Team Work
Group Discussion
 INTRODUCTION
• A group discussion (GD) is a form of
communication in which a small number of people
meet face to face and exchange ideas through free
oral interaction in order to discuss few solution to
a problem and arrive at a consensus.
• In the workplace, discussions enable the
management to draw on the ideas expertise of its
employees, and acknowledge them as valued
members of a team
• GDs can be conducted at work spaces; they can also serve as an
effective tool for an interviewer to assess the various competencies
of candidates appearing for a job interview.
• A GD allows you to exchange information and ideas, and gives you
the experience of working in a team.
BENEFITS OF A GD
• Ideas can be generated, tried out, and exchanged.
• Group members get an opportunity to respond to each others ideas.
• Groups provide a supportive and nurturing environment for academic
and professional endeavors when the dynamics are right.
• GD skills have many professional applications.
• Working in group is both fun and fruitful.
PARTICIPANTS :
• There are no specific requirements for the participants, apart from
them having some knowledge of the discussion area. Also,there is no
restriction in the number of participants through generally the
maximum number is limited to 10.

• For complex issues, it is useful to have discussion groups that are

multidisciplinary, so that different perspectives and viewpoints can be
aired. For other purposes, relatively homogeneous groups might be
preferred
PURPOSE :
• GDs can be used to serve a variety of purpose-in identifying problems,
in clarifying issues relevant to a particular topic and in the evaluation
of products.

• GDs form a part of brainstorming and focus groups, and are very
common in the ‘user requirement’ stage of product development.
FUNCTIONAL ROLES IN GD
• The members of an efficient and productive discussion group must
provide for meeting two kinds of needs- what it takes to do the job and
what it takes to strengthen and sustain the group. What members do to
serve group needs may be called functional roles. Statements and
behaviors that tend to make the group inefficient or weak may be
called non-functional roles.
FUNCTIONAL ROLES
1. TASK ROLES
These are related to selecting and carrying out a
group task.
Initiating:
Includes getting things started, suggesting new ideas, giving
new definitions to a given problem, trying a new attack on the
problem or introducing new material.
Giving and asking for information:
Includes offering facts or generalizations, sharing understanding
of a topic, giving information freely, soliciting everyone’s input
and gathering information.
Giving and asking for reactions:
Includes stating opinions and reactions, sharing feelings
about what has been said, getting reactions from all
group members, and seeking clarifications of values,
suggestions or ideas.

Restating and giving examples:

This results in the presenter of the original idea getting
feedback. Restating clarifies ideas. Examples reinforce
meaning and aid understanding; they aid in the search
for accurate statements and in understanding an idea.
Confronting and reality testing:
Includes challenging ideas and information. Often
groups allow misinformation and misstatements to pass
by out of politeness. Learning takes place when ideas
are challenged (politely, of course). Try to envision how
a proposal might work and, if adopted, how an idea will
work in the real world.

Clarifying, synthesizing and summarizing:

Includes clarifying ideas and previous statements, and
pulling together related ideas or suggestions after the
group has discussed them. Clarifying, synthesizing and
summarizing help provide closure.
2. GROUP BUILDING AND
MAINTENANCE ROLES
• Group building roles are the functions required in strengthening and
maintaining group life and activities.
• Includes encouraging and supporting, being friendly, warm, and
responsive to others, encouraging all members to contribute, agreeing
with and accepting the contributions of others, praising others for their
ideas, and supporting ideas of others, especially of those who may be
less aggressive in speaking out.
3. GATEKEEPING AND
TIMEKEEPING ROLES

• Includes trying to make it possible for another member

to make a contribution to the group or suggesting
limited talking time for everyone so that all will have a
chance to be heard, or limiting the discussion on a
topic to an agreed upon time limit.
Standard setting:

Includes expressing standards for the group to use in choosing its

content or procedures or in evaluating its decisions and reminding the
group to avoid decisions that conflict with group standards.

Following:
Includes going along with the decisions of the groups, thoughtfully
accepting ideas of others and serving as audience during the GD.
4. GROUP TASK AND MAINTENANCE
ROLES
• Evaluating: Includes submitting GDs or
accomplishments to compare with group standards or
measuring accomplishments against goals.
• Diagnosing: Includes determining the source of
difficulties and the appropriate steps to take by
analyzing the main blocks to progress.
• Testing for consensus: Includes tentatively asking
for group opinions in order to find out whether the
group is nearing consensus on a decision and sending
up trial balloons to test group opinions.
• Mediating: Includes harmonizing, conciliating differences in points
of view, and making compromise solutions.

• Relieving tension: Includes draining off negative feeling by jesting or

pouring oil on troubled waters and placing a tense situation in a wider
context.
Steps in G.D.
Tips for success in GD’S
The following is a list of steps and handing a GD successfully :

• be thorough with current issues.

• always enter the room with a piece of paper and a pen
• listen to the topic carefully
• jot down as many ideas as possible in the first few minutes
• try to discuss the topic and explore the underlying causes
• Organized the idea before speaking.
• Speaking first is a high risk high returnstrategy.Hence
speak first onlyif there is something sensible to say.
• try to contribute meaningfully and significantly every
time you speakdo not respect just for the sake of saying
something
• identify supporters and opponent’s and allow the
supporters toargument your idea
• Keep track of time and share time Fairly
Conclusion
Team Work

Activity
 What is a TEAM?
A group of people working
together to achieve a
common goal.
What is TEAMWORK?
•The ability to cooperate and
communicate effectively with others to
achieve a common goal.
•Crucial Part of a business.
Stages of Team Development
• Forming
• Storming
• Norming
• Performing
Key Teamwork SKIILS
1. INTERPERSONAL
• Trust
• Communication
• Collaborative Problem Solving
• Conflict Resolution

2. SELF/PROJECT MANAGEMENT
• Goal Setting
• Planning
• Task co-orientation
• Performance Management
Benefits of TEAMWORK
• Fosters Creativity and Learning
• Blends Complementary Strengths
• Builds Trust
• Teaches Conflict Resolution Skills
• Encourages Healthy Risk-Taking
A few TEAMWORK guidelines…
• Effective Communication
• Team Working Agreement
• Effective Meetings
• Project Management
• Conflict Management
Effective Communication
• Communicate openly & supportively
• Listen openly
• Interpret nonverbal messages
• Give useful feedback
• Receive feedback effectively
Team Working Agreement
What is it?
• Effectively a contract which all team members
sign up to… each team member is expected to
abide by that contract
• Expectations each team has for its members
• Designed specifically for your team
Effective Meetings
• Plan Plan Plan
• Communicate the agenda to your colleagues
• Short Meetings
• Carefully Chosen Space
Project Management
• Communicate Effectively
• Organise and Juggle
• Solve Problems and Make Decisions
• Build Good Teams
Conflict Management
• Conflict in the Workplace
• Effective Workplace Conflict Resolution
• Stay Neutral
• Acknowledge the Problem
• Focus on the Problem, Not the People
Disadvantages of TEAMWORK
• Unequal Participation
• Not Team Players
• Limiting Creativity
• Longer Process
• Inherent Conflict
RolePlay
Conclusion