Group Discussion

Objective
• Definition
– Wrong notions
– What platform GD creates
– Difference b/n Debate/GD
• Types of GD
1. Topic based GD
2. Case Based GD (IIM)
3. Article Based GD

• Performance Parameters in a GD
– Content
– Communication
– Group Behavior
– Leadership Skills
 Group Discussion
• Definition
a forum in which people sit together and
discuss the issue administered to them with
the common objective of discussing it in
wholesome way
 Group Discussion
• Exact wording of the topic is very important
for a proper discussion
• Avoid thinking GD is ‘me’ verses ‘them’ but
‘us’ philosophy
• ‘win-lose’ situation ‘win-win’ situation
 Why GD in the selection Process
• It reveals
– The abilities of the participants
– Other attributes very hard to assess
– To Identify
• people who can talk in one-to –one/many situation but
can’t one-among- many
• Person who is patience in listening one-to-one
conversation not in GD
• Mere spectators in the GD
 What is GD and What not?
• Not
– Gift of gab – talking confidently in a way that makes
people want to listen
– Only convent educated student can do
– One who has public speaking experience can do well

– GD/Debate
• One to many/many to many
• Individual views/group views
• deny, defend/ acceptance, reject, support
 What is GD and What not?
• But
– Exercising one’s mental faculties to think
throughout the topic
– Listening your group members and integrating it
with your views
– Arriving at a logically coherent solution to a
problem
 Moderator
• Coordinating smooth conduct of GD
• Evaluating the participants
• Monitor the process (start/close)
• Observer than an anchor
• Topic – a mini GD
• Intervene in the chaotic situation of the GD
– Out of the topic
– Hold the dominant person speaking
 Types of GD
1. Topic based GD
2. Case Based GD (IIM)
3. Article Based GD
 Types of GD
1. Topic based GD
– Statement
– Incomplete
• The biggest problem of the country is …..
2. Case Based GD
– A problem needs a solution
3. Article Based GD
News paper articles (Current affairs)
1. Knowledge based (India should withdraw from the WTO)
2. Non-Knowledge based –
Concrete/abstract
 Various Topics for GD
– Economics
• India should slow down the pace of liberalization
– Social
• Education should become the fundamental right
– Political
– Sports
– IT based ( increasing fertilizer or bandwidth)
– Concrete (Love marriage/arranged marriage)
– Abstract (The farther we look, the closer we are)
Performance Parameters in a GD
– Content
– Communication
– Group Behavior
– Leadership Skills
Performance Parameters in a GD
– Content
• In-depth understanding of the topic
• Cover all sides of the topic
• Valid points leads to more score
• Group should gain from your contribution
• Knowledge pertains to “What to say aspect”
Performance Parameters in a GD
– Communication
• Correctly conveying what you want to say
– Avoid communication gap in your communication
• Listening
– Listen to others also instead of speaking your points alone
• Language
– Mess up – Fluent/non fluent in English
– How you convey is tested not vocabulary
 Performance Parameters in a GD
• Group Behavior
– All should participate
– How much as well as the quality of the content*
– Express, listen, understand, integrate ideas
– Don’t try to get other’s attention by shouting
 Performance Parameters in a GD
• Group Behavior
– Leadership Skills
• Leader is not speaking most but the most spoken
• Giving directions
• Balanced thinking
• Don’t be policy maker but be the part of the group
 Performance Parameters in a GD
• How to improve your performance in GD
– Build your knowledge base
– Generating ideas about topic
– Improving your participation in GD
 Performance Parameters in a GD
• How to improve your performance in GD
– Build your knowledge base
• Improve your knowledge on the topic
• Hurried preparation leads to Shoddy job
• Prepare in advance and immediately
• Refer magazines, civil service exam books
 Performance Parameters in a GD
• How to improve your performance in GD
– Generating ideas about topic
• Keyword approach (KWP)
• View point of affected parties (VAP)
• Socio-cultural, political, economic, Legal and
technological (SPELT)
Performance Parameters in a GD
– Generating ideas about topic
• Keyword approach (KWP)
– Understand the meaning of each word helps generating new
ideas/points
– Bring the frame of reference in common
– Define scope and limit the discussion towards the expected
point
Performance Parameters in a GD
– Generating ideas about topic
• View point of affected parties (VAP)
– Considering the concerns of affected parties. It helps
– Generating strong and relevant points
– Looking at the positive and negative each parties affected
Performance Parameters in a GD
– Generating ideas about topic
• Socio-cultural, political, economic, Legal and
technological (SPELT)
– Discussing the from the point of
 Improving Participation in GD

– Taking a position vis a vis the topic

– If you have a soft voice
– If you are interrupted when you are discussing
– how to get into the discussion
– If you are not noticed when you are speaking
– If you do not know anything about the topic
 Improving Participation in GD
– Support somebody whose ideas are similar to
your points (the art of verbal pampering)
– What if you know a lot and others know only
little
– The first to start discussion
– Questioning other members on points made by
them
– Using statistics
– Role of Body Language