Group Discussions

What is a GD?
A GD is an evaluation tool that
simulates actual corporate
environment to test/gauge candidates
on various parameters
 Logic of Group Discussions
Ideal way to test candidates on qualities that
are a MUST for success in most jobs…

► People Management
► Time Management
► Stress Management
► Analytical Ability
 Who uses this evaluation
tool?
► Organizations/Companies—while
screening the candidates for
recruitments

► Educational Institutes—for admission

to various courses; particularly used
by Business Schools
 What is Evaluated/Gauged?
► Team Behavior/Skills
► Communication Skills
► Analytical ability
► Leadership Skills
 What is the Group Size?
► The group size is variable
► Can vary from 8 to 15 members
► 8 is usually considered to be the ideal
size
 What is discussed?
► Topic
► Case
► VideoClip
► News Paper article
► Group members may be asked to
choose the topic themselves
 Topic Based GD

Factual Controversial Abstract

 Factual
Awareness/Sensitivity to your
surroundings

Examples:

► Education Policy in India

► Tourism in India
 Controversial
Ability to present your perspective
objectively without getting
personal/emotional

Examples:
► Reservation should be abolished
► Women make better Managers
 Abstract
Lateral thinking & Creativity

Examples:

► Blackis black white is white

► World without watches
 Remember a GD is NOT
►A Debate
► An Extempore/Elocution
► A Dialogue
► A Fish market
 Therefore Don’t
► Argue
► Interrupt
► Converse with only one/few people
► Do simultaneous talking
► Use slangs
► Point fingers
 Roles
► Leader
► Follower
► Gatekeeper
► Gatecrasher
 LEADER
Leads the group to

► discuss ALL aspects of topic

► avoid chaos and confusion
► focus on the given issue and not get
sidetracked
► invite participation
► arrive at a consensus
 FOLLOWER
AGREEs with the group

► Agrees with people whose viewpoints

are similar to his/hers
► Accepts / Recognizes the logic of the
opposition
 GATEKEEPER

Ruling the Group is my Birthright!

wants to decide

► the method of GD
► the way people will speak
► who will summarize / conclude

Will never be able to continue in this

manner
 GATECRASHER
If I don’t play…I wont let others
play

► Opposes any order in the GD

► Fights with the Gatekeeper

Will never be able to continue in

this manner!
 When you run out of ideas!!
SPELT: Social, Political, Economic, Legal
and/or Technical Aspects of a topic

Exercise:

Nuclear War cannot be won and so

should not be fought
When you run out of ideas !!
VAP: Viewpoint of affected parties

Exercise:

Child Labor should be abolished

 When you run out of ideas
KWA: Key word approach

Exercise:
Advertising is all glitter and little gold
 When you run out of ideas
SWOT: Strengths, Weaknesses,
Opportunities, Threats

Exercise:
Should managers be good technical
persons
 What If ?
►I don’t know anything about the topic
► I do not get a chance to speak
► Before I get a chance to speak
someone else makes exactly the same
point
► I am constantly interrupted
► No consensus is reached
► I didn’t start the GD
Questions ?
And Now Lets Start Practice