Business Communication 2e

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 vocally/physically
• Use slang
• Assume role of chairman
• Speak fast
• Introduce topic
• Take extreme stance
• Digress
• Look at faculty • Pay attention to 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

REPLAY