PART I
Group Discussion Tips
Group discussion is an integral part of the selection procedure followed by reputed B-Schools in India and abroad. GD or Group Discussion is generally a formal discussion session where ten to twelve candidates participate to discuss on a given topic. This verbal test is conducted to judge various skills and qualities of the candidates. If you wish to join any of the reputed B-Schools in future then you need to qualify the group discussion session. Here are some group discussion tips that would help you come out with flying colors.
Group Discussion Tips
The job of the examiners present there in the session is to keep an eye on the proceedings and judge the abilities of the candidates as well. Unlike the examiners, your duty is to impress the panel members with your excellent group discussion skills.
Here are some basic tips that would help you do well in the group discussion session.
Try to keep your calm and never shout at the top of your voice. You should also see to the fact that the group is hearing your ideas. You will have to bring out your chance to speak and also let others speak.
You will have to be assertive to make a mark in the group discussion session.
Try to practice GD sessions as much as possible at home with friends or family members before appearing for the final round. This would help you earn confidence.
You will have to make a meaningful contribution and for that prior preparation is quite essential. You should be a good communicator and well aware of the current affairs.
Candidates with good reasoning ability are sure to get through the verbal test.
You need to be flexible and open to ideas put forward by other participants.
New ideas by participants are highly appreciated by the panel members. So it won’t be a bad idea to present your new ideas and perspectives.
PART II
Successful Group Discussion (GD) Tips
GDs Judge Your
* Communication skills
* Interpersonal skills
* Negotiation and Convincing skills
* Assertive skills
* Empathy and consideration for others opinion
Skills to be honed for GD
* Self-control and patience
* Be friendly, warm and cooperative
* Speak intimately, informally
* Don't see others as adversaries
* Be receptive
* Appreciate the good points of others
* During heated arguments, be silent, then give a studied opinion and take control of the situation
Pay attention to
* What you speak
* When you speak
* How you speak
During the GD
* Try for consensus
* If there is a conflict, take control
* Give positive angle to the discussion
* Complement and consolidate
* Don't cry out or shout
Ending the GD
* Sum up the discussion with the observer's consent
* Add some points as your view
* Thank all
Post GD
* Shake hands
* Thank All
* Give oral but personal compliments to the participants
To flavor your participation in GDs, use the expressions like
* With your permission, may i supplement?
* May I intervene?
* May I add to that - May I Suggest?
* There is or can be another angle?
* While supporting what you said, may I add?
* with your permission, sir, may I sum up the discussion?
The Five-step formula for success in interview and GD
* Practice
* Dynamic listening
* Think before you answer
* Cite reasons, examples and anecfotes
* Make a confident ending
PART III
Let's go on to how GD is initiated and summarized.
A group discussion can be categorically divided into three different phases:
i. Initiation/ Introduction
ii. Body of the group discussion
iii. Summarization/ Conclusion
Let's stress on the initiation and summarization:
Initiation Techniques
Initiating a GD is a high profit-high loss strategy.
When you initiate a GD, you not only grab the opportunity to speak, you also grab the attention of the examiner and your fellow candidates.
If you can make a favorable first impression with your content and communication skills after you initiate a GD, it will help you sail through the discussion.
But if you initiate a GD and stammer/ stutter/ quote wrong facts and figures, the damage might be irreparable.
If you initiate a GD impeccably but don't speak much after that, it gives the impression that you started the GD for the sake of starting it or getting those initial kitty of points earmarked for an initiator!
When you start a GD, you are responsible for putting it into the right perspective or framework. So initiate one only if you have in-depth knowledge about the topic at hand.
There are different techniques to initiate a GD and make a good first impression:
i. Quotes
ii. Definition
iii. Question
iv. Shock statement
v. Facts, figures and statistics
vi. Short story
vii. General statement
~ Quotes
Quotes are an effective way of initiating a GD.
If the topic of a GD is: Should the Censor Board be abolished?, you could start with a quote like, 'Hidden apples are always sweet'.
For a GD topic like, Customer is King, you could quote Sam (Wal-mart) Walton's famous saying, 'There is only one boss: the customer. And he can fire everybody in the company -- from the chairman on down, simply by spending his money somewhere else.'
~ Definition
Start a GD by defining the topic or an important term in the topic.
For example, if the topic of the GD is Advertising is a Diplomatic Way of Telling a Lie, why not start the GD by defining advertising as, 'Any paid form of non-personal presentation and promotion of ideas, goods or services through mass media like newspapers, magazines, television or radio by an identified sponsor'?
For a topic like The Malthusian Economic Prophecy is no longer relevant, you could start by explaining the definition of the Malthusian Economic Prophecy.
~ Question
Asking a question is an impactful way of starting a GD.
It does not signify asking a question to any of the candidates in a GD so as to hamper the flow. It implies asking a question, and answering it yourself.
Any question that might hamper the flow of a GD or insult a participant or play devil's advocate must be discouraged.
Questions that promote a flow of ideas are always appreciated.
For a topic like, Should India go to war with Pakistan, you could start by asking, 'What does war bring to the people of a nation? We have had four clashes with Pakistan. The pertinent question is: what have we achieved?'
~ Shock statement
Initiating a GD with a shocking statement is the best way to grab immediate attention and put forth your point.
If a GD topic is, The Impact of Population on the Indian Economy, you could start with, 'At the centre of the Indian capital stands a population clock that ticks away relentlessly. It tracks 33 births a minute, 2,000 an hour, 48,000 a day. Which calculates to about 12 million every year. That is roughly the size of Australia. As a current political slogan puts it, 'Nothing's impossible when 1 billion Indians work together'.'
~ Facts, figures and statistics
If you decide to initiate your GD with facts, figure and statistics, make sure to quote them accurately.
Approximation is allowed in macro level figures, but micro level figures need to be correct and accurate.
For example, you can say, approximately 70 per cent of the Indian population stays in rural areas (macro figures, approximation allowed).
But you cannot say 30 states of India instead of 28 (micro figures, no approximations).
Stating wrong facts works to your disadvantage.
For a GD topic like, China, a Rising Tiger, you could start with, 'In 1983, when China was still in its initial stages of reform and opening up, China's real use of Foreign Direct Investment only stood at $636 million. China actually utilized $60 billion of FDI in 2004, which is almost 100 times that of its 1983 statistics."
~ Short story
Use a short story in a GD topic like, Attitude is Everything.
This can be initiated with, 'A child once asked a balloon vendor, who was selling helium gas-filled balloons, whether a blue-colored balloon will go as high in the sky as a green-colored balloon. The balloon vendor told the child, it is not the color of the balloon but what is inside it that makes it go high.'
~ General statement
Use a general statement to put the GD in proper perspective.
For example, if the topic is, Should Sonia Gandhi be the prime minister of India?, you could start by saying, 'Before jumping to conclusions like, 'Yes, Sonia Gandhi should be', or 'No, Sonia Gandhi should not be', let's first find out the qualities one needs to be a good prime minister of India. Then we can compare these qualities with those that Mrs. Gandhi possesses. This will help us reach the conclusion in a more objective and effective manner.'
Summarization Techniques
Most GDs do not really have conclusions. A conclusion is where the whole group decides in favor or against the topic.
But every GD is summarized. You can summarize what the group has discussed in the GD in a nutshell.
Keep the following points in mind while summarizing a discussion:
* Avoid raising new points.
* Avoid stating only your viewpoint.
* Avoid dwelling only on one aspect of the GD.
* Keep it brief and concise.
* It must incorporate all the important points that came out during the GD.
* If the examiner asks you to summarize a GD, it means the GD has come to an end. Do not add anything once the GD has been summarized.
PART IV
Group Discussion is a very important round in any selection process, be it for an MBA course, campus recruitment or for any graduate/post graduate degree. The selection committee conducts GD to gauge whether the candidate has certain personality traits and/or skills that it desires in its members, say for example
§ Ability to work in a team
§ Communication skills
§ Leadership skills
§ Reasoning ability
§ Initiative
§ Assertiveness
§ Creatibility
§ Flexibility
§ Ability to think and act independently
Normally groups of 8-10 candidates are formed into a leaderless group, and are given a specific situation to analyze and discuss within a given time limit. The group may be given a Case Study and asked to come out with a solution for a problem. The group may be given a topic and asked to discuss on the same. A panel will observe the proceedings and evaluate the members of the group.
Let’s discuss some few relevant points which one should remember while appearing for a GD. One needs to know what one's objective in the group is---- to be noticed by the panel and to contribute meaningfully in an attempt to help the group reach the right consensus.
1) The first thing is that the panel should notice you. Merely making a meaningful contribution and helping the group arrive at a consensus is not enough.
• You must ensure that the group hears you. If the group hears you, so will the evaluator.
• You need to be assertive. It depends on you how you steer the group in the right direction, once it gets stuck to something. This gives you the chance to showcase your leadership skills.
• Most importantly, you have to make your chances. Many group discussion participants often complain that they did not get a chance to speak. The fact is that in no group discussion will you get a chance to speak. There is nothing more unacceptable in a GD than keeping one's mouth shut or just murmuring things which are inaudible.
2) The second most essential thing is that your contribution to the group should be meaningful. For that you need to have a good knowledge base. You should be able to think logically and hence put forth you ideas cohesively. The quality of what you said is more valuable than the quantity. It doesn’t help if you shout at the top of your voice and speak at great length, what matters most is what you speak and how it creates an impact on the group as well as the evaluators.
3) The last most important thing is that you must be clearly seen to be attempting to build a consensus. This shows your ability to work in a team, your ability to adjust yourself in new surroundings and help others in your team to reach a definite conclusion amidst difference of opinions. After all this is what all Group Discussions aim at: To be able to discuss and arrive at a consensus.
To be able to meet the above requirements during a Group Discussion, one should keep in mind the following basic mantras:
a) Be Yourself. Be as natural as possible and don’t try to be someone you are not.
b) Take time to organize your thoughts. Don’t suddenly jump to any conclusion. Think before you speak so that you don’t speak anything irrelevant to the topic being discussed.
c) Don’t make the mistake of looking at the panel while you are speaking. You are in a Group Discussion and you are expected to discuss among group members, so always look at your group members while you are speaking.
d) Seek clarifications if you have any doubts regarding the subject, before the discussion commences.
e) Your body language says a lot about you - your gestures and mannerisms are more likely to reflect your attitude than what you say.
f) Never try to show your dominance. Be assertive, speak yourself and let others speak as well.
g) Don’t lose your cool if anyone says anything you object to. The key is to stay objective: Don't take the discussion personally.
h) Show your leadership skills. Motivate the other members of the team to speak. Be receptive to others' opinions and do not be abrasive or aggressive.
i) Remember, opening the discussion is not the only way of gaining attention and recognition. If you do not give valuable insights during the discussion, all your efforts of initiating the discussion will be in vain.
Don’t be disheartened if you did not do well in your First Group Discussion. Instead try to learn from your past mistakes. Remember,
Practice makes man perfect!!!!!
PART V
Group Discussion Tips
The GD is an excellent platform for you to showcase your communication skills & ability to be a team player. Never assume that the GD has not begun because a topic has not been selected. Every word you speak in the GD room is on the record.
Pretend like it's real
Pretending like it's a real meeting will automatically make you more alert and less prone to making mistakes during the GD.
Treat everyone with respect
An important attribute you will be judged on is whether you are a team player or not. Be polite when dealing with opposing points of view. Try to explain with logical reasons why a person is incorrect, no matter how outrageous his line of reasoning is. Also, never ever tell someone that he is wrong. Use softer phrases like 'That's interesting but another point of view would be...' or 'That's true in some cases but I would also like to point out that...'
Don't panic
The point you were just trying to make was just stolen. The person next to you is shouting down everything you're saying. Relax. The panel judging you looks at how well you can deal with people and situations.
Take a deep breath, compose yourself, think of another point and jump back into the discussion like nothing happened.
Get plenty of practice
The more GDs you practice, the better you get. You can refine your style of speaking as well as your thought process with the aid of practice GDs. Practicing GDs also makes you adept at handling different types of situations and ensures that you're on top of your game when it counts.
Body language is important
While it is important to look alert during a GD, concentrating on how you look rather than on how you talk will only hamper your chances.
Ensure that you do the basics of sitting up straight, looking everyone in the eye while speaking and not being too animated (e.g. waving your arms wildly about).
Apart from that, make a genuine effort to listen to people. This will wipe that bored expression off your face, and also stop you from twiddling your pen and staring at your shoes.
Don't be scared to start
Do not hesitate to be the first one to speak, if you feel that everyone has taken sufficient time to think during the GD.
The panel appreciates leadership skills. At the same time, don't just say any old thing. Be prepared with a coherent opening statement, don't ramble, and never, ever summarize the topic given to you or start off with sentences like "Dear Friends, we are gathered here at the GD..."
Practice role-play
For case GDs, practice writing down the names of the concerned parties and writing points from their points of view.
This will help you gain a clearer understanding of the problem and help you channel your thoughts better.
Think before you speak
Needless to say, there is no sense in shouting down someone only to blurt out half a sentence. This creates a bad impression.
Mentally prepare at least a couple of sentences that you want to say. If someone cuts you off and prevents you from saying everything you wanted to, hey, at least you tried.
The panel will appreciate the effort. Also, concentrate on only one point at a time. Don't try and touch on multiple points during a single foray into the GD, as chances are that not only will the second point not be heard, it will also be stolen by someone else.
Conclusion
You can open your mouth just twice during a GD and end up looking like the best candidate in the room, or make 15 points and still find yourself on the list of rejects. There are no set rules that can be framed about the number of times you should speak.
Go with the flow, and do what you feel comfortable doing.
Quality and not quantity is what the panel is looking for. (Applicable to IBF also... )
Remember though, that to get some points you need to speak at least a couple of times.
PART VI
Group Discussion Tips
Parameters for evaluation in a GD (Group Discussion) vary from one organization to another. For e.g. a BPO (voice) company the highest weight age would be give to language and accent, whereas for a sales organization a group discussion would be more focused on team playing ability, confidence and initiative. Hence, it is very important to understand the job profile and to know exactly what would be the organization looking forward to while conducting a group discussion.
There are various kinds of group discussions conducted by the companies, the topics provides can be either factual, debatable, case studies, abstract or reflective. Each of these topics would have to be handled in a different way and the same strategy may not be of much use.
Three most important parameters for evaluation in a group discussion are Communication Skills, Ideas/Creativity, Knowledge and Team playing ability. All these skills when exhibited properly would help you contribute to the group discussion.
The following is to be taken care of in the group discussion.
Voice Level and Clarity of communication: Loud and clear voice is an asset. It gets you the attention of the other participants in the group discussion.
Language: One has to try and improve his language as a part of preparing for the group discussion. Good language skills can help you clearly express your ideas in a group discussion.
Body Language: Your body language should show confidence and basic communication etiquette is to be followed. Do not present your self as too casual or over-aggressive in a group discussion.
Eye Contact: Eye contact is essential to garner the interest of other people in the group discussion. A good eye contact will help you present yourself as a confident person.
New Ideas and Initiative: Ideas and initiative helps taking the group discussion forward. hence a person with ideas different from the group and also showing a lot of initiative can be a valuable player in a discussion.
Relevance of the discussion: Rather than speaking more, it is important that what you speak is relevant to the topic of the group discussion.
Team playing ability: Show that you are a team player, you can be a part of the team and hence contribute to the discussion.
All these parameters together account for the contribution. While preparing for a group discussion one should try to read about current issues across the world. Most of the topics that are discussed are current issues or ongoing debates. You can also conduct mock group discussion with your friends this would help you with practice and hence help in boosting your confidence.
PART VII
1. Always be the initiator and concluder of the GD then being a participant.
2. But if you are participant always try to be the most vial/key participant.
3. put points firmly and always try to get others support too.
4. if you find that the discussion on going off-track then never loose an opportunity to bring it back to stream this is the best point to score max.
5. try to keep latest information on the topic.
6. be very polite , people may try to provoke you to get more points but try to keep cool.
7. most important don't wait for your turn to speak when discussion is on. interrupt politely if you want to put forward your points.
8. last but not the least keep a tab on the time given for discussion. score points by wrapping up the discussion if you feel that the discussion is heating but the time is going to be over.
9. during conclusion, do end with the conclusion note. that shows your leadership quality.
Best scoring points are:
1. Initiation of discussion,
2. Always keeping/trying to keep discussion on track
3. conclusion on time
4. your capability to keep your cool and listen as well as putting your points.
GD basically means searching your team player, leadership, communication capability.
PART VIII
Group Discussion Topics With Answers
Now the campus recruitment has started in many colleges, here comes another important step in acquiring that elusive step towards selection - Group Discussions. I present here a few topics that I have collected which I think will certainly help you all. These are topics that are generally asked or are likely to be asked. Along with the topics I have also given the broad points along which these topics can be discussed.
1. Is coalition politics here to stay?
The following points could be discussed under this topic:
Nature of coalition politics. Indecisiveness of elections. No particular party is getting the peoples mandate. Advantage of coalition politics in enabling formation of government. Flipside of coalition politics- a party with a handful of seats become powerful. Government falls before tenure. Fresh elections each time. Suggest a way out of this problem, for e.g.: once a party pledges support to a coalition, it will not withdraw its support until it has watched a governments performance for at least three years...etc The future -will it only have coalitions ,emerging political trends...etc...
2. Does India need a dictator?
The following points could be discussed under this topic:
The current political structure. Drawbacks of it. Bureaucracy, layers in decision making, anarchy. Dictatorship would mean centralized power and faster decision making. But, country run on whims and fancies of an individual. Freedom on individuals could be clamped..etc....Present a balanced argument for and against and take up your position on the issue.
3. Is India moving away from a secularist state?
The following points could be discussed under this topic:
Define secularism. Constitution calls our country such a state, but how things have changed over the last 50 years. Spread of nationalism. Division into majority and minority groups-e.g. benefits given to minority groups perceived as a threat by others. Role of non-tolerant neighbors in fuelling fundamentalism. It is a passing phenomenon. We have the national character to overcome this....Points along these lines can be discussed.
4. Education in India-or the lack of it.
The following points could be discussed under this topic:
Discuss current education system. Discuss our sociological structure. Poverty which forces kids to drop out to supplement family income. Vicious circle-poverty due to lack of education and vice versa. Suggest solutions to get out of this-for e.g., governments are doing a commendable job with the midday meal schemes but we need more of such efforts. Going down further , why restrict it to government alone? why cant private people, NGOs and other voluntary bodies come forward to do the same? How about tapping corporate funds for such causes .....etc.....
5. What ails Indian sports?
The following points could be discussed under this topic:
A nation of 950 million, we fail to produce great champions barring the occasional Vishwanathan Anand or Geet Sethi. Sports system steeped in bureaucracy. Overriding popularity of cricket leading to neglect in other sports. Traditionally , sports not accorded much importance by us as a career. Need to develop sports from the primary school level-"catch em young". Various incentives to be given to budding sportsmen like academic credits, sports in lieu of a few other subjects etc. Development of sports infrastructure, making it amenable and affordable...etc.....
6. The Age of Information.
The following points could be discussed under this topic:
Today a plethora of sources to provide information-Newspapers, radio, Television, Internet etc. Information available at the touch of a button. Greater decision making power to the individual. Also easier decision making for the individual. Information is the key to ones success today. One who is more informed forges ahead. The flipside-information overkill. At times deciding is tough due to too much information ...etc.....
7. Is Philosophy just arm chair theory?
(This is an example of an abstract topic which is thrown up to students once in a while by the examiners)
The following points could be discussed under this topic:
Talk what you know about this topic . Talk of its relevance in day to day life( or irrelevance if you feel so..). Talk of its influence in literature e.g. Influence of Kant on the romantic poets especially Wordsworth or of Bacon , Voltaire et al on the "Enlightenment "period etc. Talk of its influence in politics e.g. Influence of Nietszche on Hitler and subsequent genocide during Nazi regime etc. Talk of ethics and morals and their importance in life. talk of Indian philosophy. the Gita . Discuss whether we use any of these in our lives and their importance in molding our values...etc...
8. Success is all about human relations
The following points could be discussed under this topic:
The most important skill for success in to have people on your side. One can get a lot of work done by superiority and hierarchy but one cannot be a leader of men unless one maintains excellent human relations. Its importance not only in professional life but personal life too. Knowledge and expertise does one no good if one cannot maintain proper human relations...etc.....
9. Borderless worlds-Dream or reality?
The following points could be discussed under this topic:
Globalization of business. Opening up of the various economies. Cross cultural exchanges. More and more people getting an opportunity to work in different lands among different peoples and absorbing a bit of their values and culture. This leads to greater tolerance and understanding of others' problems. The other side-people despite all this have nationalistic and regionalist chauvinism . A world divided into first, second and third worlds. People still talk of "their" economy and not world economy. Europe has shown a step in this direction with EU but its feasibility remains to be seen. So while people clamor for globalization, they still think only in terms of their national interests...etc...
10. Quality is a myth in India.
The following points could be discussed under this topic:
The Indian products and manufacturing techniques. Why are we unable to sustain against global competition. Our mindset towards quality. Indian attitude of "chalta hai" which leads to an undemanding customer which in turn lets people get away with substandard products and services. Today competition is forcing our industry to adhere to global standards so we are getting there in terms of quality. Examples of our software industry which is recognized for its ability to meet global standards etc. Since the topic is general, we can extrapolate it to our quality of life-the air , the water , the facilities we have, the infrastructure we have, the services we get and put up with ....etc......
11. Education and success-Is there a correlation?
The following points could be discussed under this topic:
This is a topic which provides ample scope for dialectics. One can argue for and against it. One of the best examples is Bill Gates who went on to become the richest man in the world despite dropping out of hid education. Closer home we have the example of Dhirubhai Ambani. What a person learns and what he really wants to do has no correlation many a times. A person succeeds only if he likes what he does. The argument for education will be that , in practice, it is your marks and qualifications that opens doors for you. While one can become successful without education, education brings about a richness in one's life. One is able to appreciate many facets of life due to the extended knowledge that education provides. It opens a new window and provides a different perspective towards things, ability to distinguish between ethical and unethical, moral and amoral ....etc.......
12. We don't learn from history, we repeat it
The following points could be discussed under this topic:
Relevance of history. Reminder of our past telling us what to do and what not to do. Still we have numerous examples which have occurred again and again for e.g. Time and again we have had innumerable wars and bloodshed , Hitler made the same mistake as Napoleon and Napoleon in turn the same ones as Alexander and all the three wanted to rule the world, countries making similar mistakes in world war II as they did during world war I ....etc....
But despite this there are also many examples which have not been repeated( or rather not brought out to the fore as they were not repeated). This could mean we have indeed learnt from history and avoided those mistakes. In fact that has been the purpose of teaching history so as not to repeat them. Today fear of war is directly due to the record history places before us...etc....
13. Indian villages-our strength or our weakness?
The following points could be discussed under this topic:
A typical Indian villages and its myriad problems. Lack of basic amenities and infrastructure. their contribution to the economy both in goods and services viz-a-viz their urban counterparts. they could be an even bigger drivers of our economy if they are made self reliant by improving infrastructure and reducing the general disparities between cities and villages ...etc...etc
14. Agrarian Economy in India-boon or bane
The following points could be discussed under this topic:
Speaking for the topic one can argue the following- time and again it has made us self reliant in food. This increases our bargaining power tremendously in the world economy. Internally also food prices can be kept low and this will have a direct bearing on inflation. This would bolster the economy and provide us freedom from world bodies and other nations.
Against the topic-agrarian economy is at the mercy of climatic conditions. A bad summer , monsoon, or winter could bring the nation down. It will have a spiral effect as increased prices will lead to inflation and problems associated with it. World bodies and other nations will dictate terms..etc....
15. If there were no armies in the world......
The following points could be discussed under this topic:
Wishful thinking indeed! It would be the key element for world peace. There will be no instrument to wage a war. It will also remove fear and distrust among various nations. We wont have a defense budget. This means more funds channelized into other productive areas. Reduced terrorism and very little separatist groups
But the disadvantage could be imposition by one group, anarchy,laissez faire politics, lawlessness..etc..
16. Do we need a global policeman?
The role of some countries in "disciplining" others. Assuming on itself to decide what is right and what is wrong for the whole world. Bullying others into submission by its sheer economic power. Overriding the brief of world bodies in world politics
Suggest alternatives like more authority to world bodies like UN etc which is more representative of everyone's interests. More assertiveness to be shown by other nations to such policing nations . making more nations self reliant so that we have less of "Big Brother" Syndrome....etc.....
17. Indian customs-are we in a time warp?
The following points could be discussed under this topic:
Some undesirable practices over a long time. Dowry- prevalent even among the educated class, Sati- recent example of a lady in North India, Child marriages-still prevalent in backward areas etc. Reason on why do we still follow such customs. Traditional subjugation of women-present even in big cities among upper class society. Allied problems due to such customs-intolerance, fundamentalism, exploitation, etc
Suggest ways out of this like education the masses, indicating the outmodedness and irrelevance of such practices today...etc...
18. "How green was my valley........".Are we paying the price of nature?
The following points could be discussed under this topic:
As every one tries to be one up on the other in the race for industrialization, deforestation is taking place on a large scale. This effect is more pronounced in developing countries . It has made a perceptible difference in the last 50 years with rising temperatures. Global warming . Greenhouse effect. Ozone layer depletion. El Nino type effects. Similarly it has affected other living beings-both plant and animals driving many of them to extinction..etc...
But people have realized it now. A lot of NGOs and voluntary bodies are working on it. Infact there is even a Greens party in Germany which has been winning elections using the environmental plank...etc....
19. Management Education-Is it necessary to succeed in business
The following points could be discussed under this topic:
This is again a topic where we can have for and against arguments. There are many examples of great visionaries and leaders in business who have succeeded without any formal management education. People have simply done it by their will, passion and desire. But management education has also produced many bigwigs. A management education gives a perspective towards analysis and problem solving. It enables one to take decisions in a scientific manner , it enables you to handle the stress and strains of a demanding job...etc...
20. The role of NGOs in economics and politics
The following points could be discussed under this topic:
NGOs have become very powerful today. They have a major role to play in politics as they swerve peoples opinion. They enjoy a lot of support and goodwill of the people. They can also make or break a business. They protect the interests of the people and represent a collective voice against anything that goes against their interests. Most of the times NGOs are more capable in securing a fair deal for the general good. Also the NGOs have shown that they are in a better position to handle social issues than most governments.
21. NGOs - Do they serve peoples interests or are they pressure groups?
22. Death of Socialism
23. Role of women in development
24. Kids today are not what they used to be
25. Casteless India - A pipe dream
26. Should Trade Unionism be banned in India
27. Repeated elections - Should taxpayers pay for it?
28. Indian bureaucracy - foundation strengths or colonial hangovers?
29. In India, the whole is less than the parts - Do we lack in team spirit?
30. Generation X - Drivers of our future or are they our lost souls?
31. Do we need a cut in the defense budget?
32. "Dot.com" companies - Is there room for everyone?
33. Artificial Intelligence - Will man be ever replaced by machines?
34. if I were to choose my person of the millennium...
35. All the world is a stage....
36. when managers become Hamlets...
37. If Patel were our first Prime Minister.......
38. Materialism - Have we sold our souls to the Devil?
39. You've come a long way, baby - The rise and rise of feminist power .
40. Role of ethics in tobacco industry, liquor industry etc.
41. Should gambling be legalized in India?
42. Are we unfit for Democracy?
43. Survival tools for the new millennium
44. Examinations - has it killed education
45. Cultural Invasion through the air waves
46. Should doctors be tried in Consumer Courts
47. Abortion and Euthanasia - Is it morally right for society
48. Are beauty pageants necessary?
49. The relevance of Gandhism today
50. India and the WTO
51. Did India handle the hijack issue properly?
52. Is E-Commerce the best thing for India
PART XI
About Group Discussions
Many companies conduct group discussion after the written test so as to check on your interactive skills and how good you are at communicating with other people. The GD is to check how you behave, participate and contribute in a group, how much importance do you give to the group objective as well as your own, how well do you listen to viewpoints of others and how open-minded are you in accepting views contrary to your own. The aspects which make up a GD are verbal communication, non-verbal behavior, conformation to norms, decision-making ability and cooperation. You should try to be as true as possible to these aspects.
What is the normal duration of a GD?
A GD is generally of 15-20 minutes duration.
How many panel members are there to evaluate?
There are usually 3-4 panel members to evaluate.
Is there time given for preparation after the topic is given and before starting the GD?
Usually some time (2-5 minutes) is given to collect one's thoughts, but there could be instances when this does not happen, so it is best not to bank on this.
Should I address the panel or the group members?
Don't ever make the mistake of addressing the panel members. The GD is between you and the other members, not the panel members. You must avoid even looking at the panel members while the GD is in progress. Just ignore their existence.
What is the seating arrangement like?
It could be semi-circular, or circular, or seating along side a rectangular table, depending upon the venue. It is best not to bother about trivial issues like this, which you have no control over.
How should I address the other group members?
If you are initiating the discussion, you could do so by collectively addressing the group as "Friends". Subsequently, you could use names (if the group has had a round of self-introduction prior to starting the discussion and you remember the names) or simply use pronouns like "he" or "she".
Suppose I have a lot to say on the topic, should I say all of it?
You would not be looked upon favorably if you kept speaking all the time and did not listen to anyone else. Contrary to the misconception, the person who talks the most is not necessarily the one who is judged the best. The quality and not the quantity of your contribution is the success factor.
Should I encourage others to speak up?
Do not directly put someone who is consistently silent on the spot by asking him/her to speak up. If someone has been trying to speak and has a good point but is cut off constantly, you may encourage him/her to continue with her point as you would like to hear her out.
Are the group members supposed to keep track of the time or will the panel keep track?
It would be good if you are conscious of the time, but not to the point of getting so distracted looking at your watch that you do not contribute to the discussion.
How is Evaluation Done In Group Discussions?
Winners' skills Group discussion is an important dimension of the selection process. Any institute requires students to work with others for effective functioning. Therefore, people skills are an important aspect of any MBA program.
In today's context, the educational institutes and organizations are interested in team players rather than individual contributors. During the Group Discussion, the panel essentially evaluates the candidate's potential to be a leader and also his/her ability to work in teams. Remember that institutes are typically on the look out for candidates who will inspire to lead and succeed and for that you need to be a good team player.
Here is a sample list of skills assessed during a group discussion:
Leadership skills:
Ability to take leadership roles and ability to lead, inspire and carry the team along to help them achieve group's objectives.
Example: To be able to initiate the group discussion, or to be able to guide the group especially when the discussion begins losing relevance or try to encourage all members to participate in the discussion.
Communication skills:
The participating candidates will be assessed in terms of clarity of thought, expression and aptness of language. One key aspect is listening. It indicates a willingness to accommodate others views.
Example: To be able to use simple language and explain concepts clearly so that it is easily understood by all. You actually get negative marks for using esoteric jargons in an attempt to show-off your knowledge.
Interpersonal skills:
Is reflected in the ability of the individual to interact with other members of the group in a brief situation. Emotional maturity and balance promotes good interpersonal relationships. The person has to be more people centric and less self-centered.
Example: To remain cool even when someone provokes you by with personal comment, ability to remain objective, ability to empathize, non-threatening and more of a team player.
Persuasive skills:
Ability to analyze and persuade others to see the problem from multiple perspectives without hurting the group members.
Example: While appreciating someone else's point of view, you should be able to effectively communicate your view without overtly hurting the other person.
Problem solving skills:
Ability to come out with divergent and offbeat solutions and use one's own creativity.
Example: While thinking of solutions, don't be afraid to think of novel solutions. This is a high- risk high-return strategy.
Conceptualizing skills:
The ability to grasp the situation, take it from the day to day mundane problem level and apply it to a macro level.
Example: At the end of the discussion, you could probably summarize the findings in a few sentences that present the overall perspective. Don't be disheartened if you don't make it after your first group discussion. The best possible preparation for a group discussion is to learn from one's past mistakes.
Common Mistakes In Group Discussions
Wise men learn from others mistakes, while the less fortunate, from their own.
Here's a list of the most common mistakes made at group discussions:
Emotional outburst
Rashmi was offended when one of the male participants in a group discussion made a statement on women generally being submissive while explaining his point of view. When Rashmi finally got an opportunity to speak, instead of focusing on the topic, she vented her anger by accusing the other candidate for being a male chauvinist and went on to defend women in general. What Rashmi essentially did was to
* Deviate from the subject
* Treat the discussion as a forum to air her own views.
* Lose objectivity and make personal attacks.
Her behavior would have been perceived as immature and de-motivating to the rest of the team.
Quality Vs Quantity
Gautam believed that the more he talked, the more likely he was to get through the GD. So, he interrupted other people at every opportunity. He did this so often that the other candidates got together to prevent him from participating in the rest of the discussion.
* Assessment is not only on your communication skills but also on your ability to be a team player.
* Evaluation is based on quality, and not on quantity. Your contribution must be relevant.
* The mantra is "Contributing meaningfully to the team's success." Domination is frowned upon.
Egoism Showing off
Krishna was happy to have got a group discussion topic he had prepared for. So, he took pains to project his vast knowledge of the topic. Every other sentence of his contained statistical data - "20% of companies; 24.27% of parliamentarians felt that; I recently read in a Jupiter Report that..." and so on so forth. Soon, the rest of the team either laughed at him or ignored his attempts to enlighten them as they perceived that he was cooking up the data.
* Exercise restraint in anything. You will end up being frowned upon if you attempt showing-off your knowledge.
* Facts and figures need not validate all your statements.
* Its your analysis and interpretation that are equally important - not just facts and figures.
* You might be appreciated for your in-depth knowledge. But you will fail miserably in your people skills.
Such a behavior indicates how self-centered you are and highlights your inability to work in an atmosphere where different opinions are expressed.
Get noticed - But for the right reasons
Srikumar knew that everyone would compete to initiate the discussion. So as soon as the topic - "Discuss the negative effects of India joining the WTO" - was read out, he began talking. In his anxiety to be the first to start speaking, he did not hear the word "negative" in the topic. He began discussing the ways in which the country had benefited by joining WTO, only to be stopped by the evaluator, who then corrected his mistake.
* False starts are extremely expensive. They cost you your admission. It is very important to listen and understand the topic before you air your opinions.
* Spending a little time analyzing the topic may provide you with insights which others may not have thought about. Use a pen and paper to jot down your ideas.
* Listen! It gives you the time to conceptualize and present the information in a better manner. Some mistakes are irreparable. Starting off the group discussion with a mistake is one such mistake, unless you have a great sense of humor.
Managing one's insecurities
Sumati was very nervous. She thought that some of the other candidates were exceptionally good. Thanks to her insecurity, she contributed little to the discussion. Even when she was asked to comment on a particular point, she preferred to remain silent.
* Your personality is also being evaluated. Your verbal and non verbal cues are being read.
* Remember, you are the participant in the GD; not the evaluator. So, rather than evaluating others and your performance, participate in the discussion.
* Your confidence level is being evaluated. Decent communication skills with good confidence is a must to crack the GDs.
Focus on your strengths and do not spend too much time thinking about how others are superior or inferior to you. It is easy to pick up these cues from your body language.
