Group discussions are used for recruitment, decision making, and problem solving. They involve an exchange of ideas among individuals in a group setting. Key aspects of effective group discussions include setting guidelines, allowing all members to participate, maintaining focus on the topic, and reaching consensus or a decision. Leadership roles include facilitating participation, ensuring no one dominates, and summarizing discussions. Common techniques used in group discussions are brainstorming, where many ideas are generated, and the Delphi method, which uses anonymous questionnaires with experts.

1. Group Discussion
Shubhra Gautam

4. Definition
• A discussion group is a group of individuals,
typically who share a similar interest, who
gather either formally or informally
to discuss ideas, solve problems, or make
comments.

5. When are group discussions held?
Group discussions are held as part of:
• a recruitment process,
• eliciting opinions/ideas on any subject or plan
of action
• decision-making and problem solving,
• reaching a consensus, etc.

6. Features
• Group activity- Exchange of Ideas among
individuals of Group
• Testing Device- best in one go
• Leaderless discussion

7. Set the Stage
• Space
• Food and drink
• Provide material for discussion
• Provide information beforehand

8. • Group size
• Discussion time

9. Purpose
• Evaluate attributes of Candidate
• To set goal in efficient manner-in team
• Written test- individual skills & capabilities
GD-Litmus test for individuals behavior as
team player
• Apart from flow of thought- it is necessary the
way it is communicated and assert ideas in
acceptable manner

10. What is tested?
1. Ability to work in a team
2. Communication skills
3. Reasoning ability
4. Leadership skills
5. Initiative
6. Problem Solving
7. Decision Making
6. Assertiveness
7. Flexibility
8. Creativity
9. Ability to think on ones feet

11. What To Do?
1. Take leadership responsibilities
2. Keep an open mind
3. Maintain a moderate tone of voice
4. Don’t get emotional
5. Sit upright and concentrate on your body
language
6. Be a good listener

13. What Not To Do
1. Avoid constant objections to other people’s arguments
2. Say no to a pessimistic approach
3. Don’t insult other people, criticize in a decent manner
4. Dump your jealousy or animosity
5. No irrelevant stories/personal experiences
6. Don’t be an attention seeker

14. TOPIC GD

15. People and Roles in a GD
Mr. Aggressive
Mr. Silent
Mr. Friendly
Mr. Helping
Mr. Blank
Mr. Knowledgeable
Mr. Leader
Mr. Well-mannered
Mr. Loud
Mr. Low
Mr. Talkative
Mr. Dominating
Mr. Stable

16. Some tips to remember
• Prepare well about the current issues
• Enter the room with a pen and paper
• Organize your ideas before you speak
• Identify supporters and opponents
• Give chance to supporters to speak for your stand
• Keep track of time
• Don’t indulge in parallel conversations
• Don’t indulge in racial comments

18. Types of Discussion
• By Purpose-
 Decision making or enlightenment
• By audience
 Closed group Discussion
 Public discussion
 Round table discussion

19. • By Purpose
Groups classified by purpose annually
meet for one or two reasons-Decision
making or Enlightenment
Eg- board of directors

20. • By Audience
If group of members communicating with
each other-CLOSED GRP Discussion
If group communicating with listeners
outside the grp- PUBLIC discussion

21. • Round table discussion
Participants agree on specific topic to discuss
Academic discussion
Informal setting

22. • Closed group discussion:
Subgroup-Committee is used for decision
making

23. Factors affecting GD
• Size of the group
• Cliques within the group
• Personal goals of member
• Physical environment-temperature, noise,
visual distraction
• Seating arrangement
• Time for discussion-after lunch or EOD

24. Stages of Group Discussion
• Forming
• Storming
• Norming
• Performing

25. • Forming
Infancy stage
Anxious
Polite & no difference of opinion
Members looking for leadership & guidance
during 1st stage

26. • Storming
Adolescent stage
Most difficult stage in life of grp
Leadership is challenged
Express individuality

27. • Norming
Once the grp begins to resolve conflicts it
move to calmer stage
Members begin to trust eachother & function
effectively as grp.

28. • Performing
Final stage
Trust & affection among members
Members feel strong bond of unity
Able to work together effectively &
harmoniously

31. Different forms of Leadership
• Appointed leaders:
One may begin discussion
Another may keep participation balanced and
the discussion moving toward its goal.
Another one may tone down arguments,
other may watch time limit and conclude.

32. • Emergent leader:
Handles each function as the need arises
during the discussion.
Leadership duties aren’t necessarily
appointed.

33. Leadership roles
• A discussion has 3 basic parts:
Beginning
Middle
End

34. • Beginning:
Introduction of group members
Introducing the discussion topic

35. • Middle:
Keep participation balanced
Make sure no monopolizes of the
discussion
Keep discussion on track
Can be done by inserting brief
summaries in between

36. • Concluding the discussion:
1.Group has adequately covered the
discussion question or preset time reached
Leader Summarize major ideas & outcome
of discussion
2.Leaders save time for members to
disagree with summary or insert opinion

37. Outcome of Discussion
• Consensus:
Agree on solution
• Compromise:
Give up part of solution or decision they want.
In exchange of the part of solution they favor
• Majority Vote:
Decision favored by half of members become
decision for entire group

38. Technique of Group Discussion
1. Brainstorming
2. Nominal Technique
3. Delphi Technique

39. Technique of Group Discussion
1. Brainstorming
Technique used in business to produce a large
number of creative ideas in short period of
time
It involves 2-3 people to solve problem or
share information
Collection of ideas

40. 1. Brainstorming
 Lotus blossom technique
 Story Boarding

41. 1.1 Lotus blossom technique:

47. 1.2 Story Boarding

48. Story boarding
Avails past, present & future aspects of the
topic at hand
Group hits upon the prospective solution to
the problem/topic at discussion
Story boarding technique treat the problem
from root to its end

49. 2. Nominal Technique
Group is asked to write down a list of possible
solutions to the group’s problem
Each members is asked to state one idea from
the list
Ideas are discussed on the board
It reduces the amount of time needed to reach a
decision & may prevent from dominating whole
group

50. 3. Delphi Technique
Group communication among a panel of
geographically dispersed experts
Series of questionnaires send either by mail or
via computerized system, to a preselected grp
of experts
The grp interaction is anonymous and
identification is suppressed

51. Steps for Delphi method
• Formation of team to monitor on given
subject
• Selection of 1 or more panels –experts in area
• Development of 1st round Delphi
questionnaire
• Testing the questionnaire for proper wording
• Transmission of 1st questionnaire to panelist
• Analysis of first round responses

52. • Preparation of 2nd round questionnaire
• Transmission of 2nd round questionnaire to the
panelist
• Analysis of 2nd round responses
• Preparation of a report by the analysis team to
present the conclusion of the exercise