THE GROUP DISCUSSION

1. GROUP DISCUSSIONGROUP DISCUSSION
RATHOD GAMBHIRSINHRATHOD GAMBHIRSINH
(130210125097)(130210125097)

2. BackgroundBackground
APRMAPRM
Difference in evaluationDifference in evaluation
Procedural dichotomyProcedural dichotomy

3. Today’s CharterToday’s Charter
 Group Discussion(GD)Group Discussion(GD)
 Personal Interview(PI}Personal Interview(PI}
 ExtemporeExtempore
 Mock GDMock GD
 Mock PIMock PI
 Extempore lecturetteExtempore lecturette

4. GroupGroup
DiscussionDiscussion

5. Group DiscussionGroup Discussion
 It refers to the situation where aIt refers to the situation where a
particular number of peopleparticular number of people
(three to eight) meet face to face(three to eight) meet face to face
and through free oral interaction,and through free oral interaction,
originate, share and discussoriginate, share and discuss
ideas to arrive at a decision orideas to arrive at a decision or
solution to a problem.solution to a problem.
 Group discussions are used forGroup discussions are used for
decision-making and problemdecision-making and problem
solving.solving.

6. Categories of Group DiscussionCategories of Group Discussion
 Organizational groupOrganizational group
discussionsdiscussions
 Group discussions as a partGroup discussions as a part
of a selection process.of a selection process.

7. The Nominal Group techniqueThe Nominal Group technique
 Restricts discussion or interpersonalRestricts discussion or interpersonal
communication during the decision-communication during the decision-
making processmaking process
 Though group members are allThough group members are all
physically present as in a traditionphysically present as in a tradition
committee meeting,committee meeting, theythey
operate independentlyoperate independently

8. Structure and ObjectiveStructure and Objective
 A group of candidates is given aA group of candidates is given a
topic or case for discussion.topic or case for discussion.
 Normally groups of eight to tenNormally groups of eight to ten
candidates formed into acandidates formed into a
leaderless groupleaderless group , and are given a, and are given a
specific situation to analyze andspecific situation to analyze and
discussdiscuss within a given time limitwithin a given time limit

9. Structure and ObjectiveStructure and Objective
 The group sits in circle or U-shapeThe group sits in circle or U-shape
 They may either be given theirThey may either be given their
choice of seat or seat allotted.choice of seat or seat allotted.
 This panel observes and evaluatesThis panel observes and evaluates

10. Evaluation ComponentsEvaluation Components
 During a GD employers evaluateDuring a GD employers evaluate
potential for leadership and abilitypotential for leadership and ability
to work in a team.to work in a team.
 The four components generallyThe four components generally
evaluated in a group discussionevaluated in a group discussion
are:are:
 KnowledgeKnowledge
 Communication skillsCommunication skills
 Group behaviourGroup behaviour
 Leadership potentialLeadership potential

11. Communication SkillsCommunication Skills
Candidate assessed in terms of:Candidate assessed in terms of:
 Active listeningActive listening
 Clarity of thought and expressionClarity of thought and expression
 Apt languageApt language
 Appropriateness of body languageAppropriateness of body language
 LucidityLucidity

12.  ToneTone: Quality or character of the voice: Quality or character of the voice
expression a particular feeling or moodexpression a particular feeling or mood
 VoiceVoice: Power of speech: Power of speech
 ArticulationArticulation: Act of speaking or: Act of speaking or
expressing an idea in wordsexpressing an idea in words
 FluencyFluency: Speaking or writing in an: Speaking or writing in an
easy, flowing styleeasy, flowing style
 ModulationModulation:: Variations in rate, tone,Variations in rate, tone,
or volume of voiceor volume of voice
 Good deliveryGood delivery:: The ideas expressedThe ideas expressed
fluently in the right voice, right tone,fluently in the right voice, right tone,
and right articulation.and right articulation.
 It isn’t sufficient to have ideas. They haveIt isn’t sufficient to have ideas. They have

13. Apt LanguageApt Language
o Fluency and accuracy in use ofFluency and accuracy in use of
language free from grammaticallanguage free from grammatical
errors.errors.
o Directly, clearly and precisely putDirectly, clearly and precisely put
ideas in a organized fashion.ideas in a organized fashion.
o Simplicity and unambigusitySimplicity and unambigusity
o Using too much of jargon or high-Using too much of jargon or high-
sounding words or ambiguoussounding words or ambiguous
expressions may project as aexpressions may project as a
show-off and may not endear toshow-off and may not endear to
group members.

14. Effective Use of Body LanguageEffective Use of Body Language
 Looking attentively at the speakerLooking attentively at the speaker
and noddingand nodding
 While speaking, ensuring no one isWhile speaking, ensuring no one is
ignored. Looking at everybody.ignored. Looking at everybody.
 Avoiding overt gesturesAvoiding overt gestures
 Avoiding pointing out fingersAvoiding pointing out fingers
 Avoiding monotonous posture byAvoiding monotonous posture by
shifting slightly in the chair orshifting slightly in the chair or
placing arm on the back of yourplacing arm on the back of your
chairchair
 Not showing interest or dislike inNot showing interest or dislike in
the topic.the topic.
 Even if one does not like the topicEven if one does not like the topic

15. Group Behaviour ( Team Spirit)Group Behaviour ( Team Spirit)
 group behaviour is reflected in ability togroup behaviour is reflected in ability to
interact with other members of the groupinteract with other members of the group
on brief acquaintance.on brief acquaintance.
 Emotional maturity and balanceEmotional maturity and balance
promotes good interpersonalpromotes good interpersonal
relationships.relationships. One is expected toOne is expected to
be more people centric and lessbe more people centric and less
ego centricego centric ..
 Remaining objective, empathetic, andRemaining objective, empathetic, and
non-threatening, and behaving maturelynon-threatening, and behaving maturely
as a good team playeras a good team player

16. EssenceEssence
 Consistency participationConsistency participation
 Keenness in listening and observingKeenness in listening and observing
 Time sharing and orderly conductTime sharing and orderly conduct
 Ability to handle turbulent situationsAbility to handle turbulent situations
 Ability to cut excessively exuberantAbility to cut excessively exuberant
participants down to sizeparticipants down to size
 Ability to dominate the proceedingsAbility to dominate the proceedings
without bullying otherswithout bullying others
 Avoiding personal commentsAvoiding personal comments

17. Leadership SkillsLeadership Skills
o The success of any team depends to aThe success of any team depends to a
large extent, on its leader.large extent, on its leader.
o The candidate who possesses bothThe candidate who possesses both
functional ability and coordinating abilityfunctional ability and coordinating ability
would emerge as the leader.would emerge as the leader.
o Functional ability involves knowledge,Functional ability involves knowledge,
mental and physical energy, emotionalmental and physical energy, emotional
stability, objectivity, communication skill,stability, objectivity, communication skill,
integrity and emotional intelligenceintegrity and emotional intelligence

18. DosDos
 Sitting comfortablySitting comfortably
 Listening to topicListening to topic
 Organizing ideasOrganizing ideas
 Speaking at theSpeaking at the
earliestearliest
 Identifying supporters/Identifying supporters/
opponentsopponents
 Keeping track ofKeeping track of
timetime
 Sharing timeSharing time
fairlyfairly
 Maintaining eyeMaintaining eye
contactcontact
 Taking notesTaking notes
 Aiming forAiming for

19. Don’tsDon’ts
 Being in a hurryBeing in a hurry
 Being silentBeing silent
 DominatingDominating
vocally/physicallyvocally/physically
 Assuming role ofAssuming role of
chairmanchairman
 Introducing topicIntroducing topic
 Taking extremeTaking extreme
stancestance

 Moving excessivelyMoving excessively
 Throwing all ideas atThrowing all ideas at
one shotone shot
 Speaking fastSpeaking fast
 DigressingDigressing
 Indulging in illIndulging in ill
conversationconversation
 Paying attention toPaying attention to
bull dozersbull dozers