Group discussions are used in the selection process for MBA programs to evaluate candidates. They involve forming groups of 8-10 candidates and giving them a topic or case to analyze and discuss within a time limit. Employers evaluate candidates on their knowledge, communication skills, group behavior, and leadership potential. Good communication skills include active listening, clarity of expression, appropriate body language, and fluency. Effective group behavior demonstrates the ability to interact well with others, remain objective, and act as a good team player. Leadership skills involve both functional abilities like knowledge and coordination abilities. Proper body language and participation, as well as avoiding domination or silence, are important to succeed in a group discussion.

1. GROUP DISCUSSION-A KEY TO CORPORATE ADMISSION
Course
MBA
Unit-2
Prepared by:
Abhishek Apte(Dept of ECLS)

2. TOPICS COVERED
Group Discussion(GD)
Personal Interview(PI}
Mock GD
Mock PI

3. Group Discussion

4. Group Discussion
• It refers to the situation where a particular
number of people (three to eight) meet face to
face and through free oral interaction, originate,
share and discuss ideas to arrive at a decision or
solution to a problem.
• Group discussions are used for decision-making
and problem solving.
• They are also used widely as a personality test
for evaluating several candidates
simultaneously.

5. Categories of Group Discussion
Organizational group discussions
Group discussions as a part of a selection
process.

6. Structure and Objective
• A group of candidates is given a topic or case for
discussion.
• Normally groups of eight to ten candidates formed
into a leaderless group, and are given a specific
situation to analyze and discuss within a given time
limit

7. Structure and Objective
• The group sits in circle or U-shape
• They may either be given their choice of seat or seat
allotted.
• This panel observes and evaluates.
• The moderator may or may not be present but
everything you do is watched and marked.

8. Evaluation Components
During a GD employers evaluate potential for
leadership and ability to work in a team.
The four components generally evaluated in a
group discussion are:
 Knowledge
 Communication skills
 Group behaviour
 Leadership potential

9. Communication Skills
Candidate assessed in terms of:
• Active listening
• Clarity of thought and expression
• Apt language
• Appropriateness of body language
• Lucidity

10. • Tone: Quality or character of the voice expression
a particular feeling or mood
• Voice: Power of speech
• Articulation: Act of speaking or expressing an
idea in words
• Fluency: Speaking or writing in an easy, flowing
style
• Modulation: Variations in rate, tone, or volume of
voice
• Good delivery: The ideas expressed fluently in the
right voice, right tone, and right articulation.
• It isn’t sufficient to have ideas. They have to be expressed
effectively.

11. Phrases to be used in Group
Discussion
1. Asking about or for an opinion
• Could you tell me....?
• What do you think about/of....?
• What’s your opinion about...?
• Do you think/feel....?
• How do you feel about....?
• May I ask you....?
2. Giving and explanation
Look, it’s like this:
What I mean is....
The reason for this is....
The main problem is....
Just let me explain....
Well, the reason is....
Well, the thing is ....
Above all we must keep in
mind that...

12. • Well, I’d say....
• If you want my opinion....
• You can take it from me
that....
• First of all/
• To start with
• I’d like to point out ...
• What we have to decide is....
• There can be no doubt
that....
• It’s a fact that....
Nobody will deny
that....
The way/
As I see it Everyone
knows....
Let me put it
this/another way....
Let’s get this clear (first
)....
Sorry to interrupt you,
but
The point I’m trying to
make
is....
Personally (speaking) I
think...
GIVING YOUR OPINION…

13. EXPECTED Body Language during this activity
 Looking attentively at the speaker and nodding
 While speaking, ensuring no one is ignored. Looking at
everybody.
× Avoid over gestures
X Avoid pointing out fingers
X Avoiding monotonous posture by shifting slightly in the
chair or placing arm on the back of your chair
 Showing interest or dislike in the topic.
 Even if one does not like the topic he should try to
develop interest and reveal interest and enthusiasm
through appropriate facial expression.

14. Group Behaviour ( Team Spirit)
• Group behaviour is reflected in ability to interact with other
members of the group on brief acquaintance.
• Emotional maturity and balance promotes displays your
ability and willingness to build on good interpersonal
relationships. One is expected to be more people centric and
less ego centric.
• Remaining objective, empathetic, and non-threatening, and
behaving maturely as a good team player

15. Essence
Consistency participation
Keenness in listening and observing
Time sharing and orderly conduct
Ability to handle turbulent situations
Ability to cut excessively exuberant participants
down to size
Ability to dominate the proceedings without
bullying others
Avoiding personal comments

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

17. Dos
Sitting comfortably
Listening to topic
Organizing ideas
Speaking at the earliest
Identifying supporters/ opponents
Keeping track of time
Sharing time fairly
Maintaining eye
contact
Taking notes
Aiming for summary if
needed

18. Don’ts
Being in a hurry
Being silent
Dominating vocally/physically
Assuming role of chairman
Introducing topic
Taking extreme stance
Looking at faculty
Moving excessively
Throwing all ideas at one shot
Speaking fast
Digressing
Indulging in ill conversation
Paying attention to bull dozers
Using slang
Getting emotional

19. 1 2
3
QUIZ
4

20. Answers
1. A sign of a person not knowing something
2. Respectively child, teenager and grown up telling
a lie.
3. Collar Pull-A sign of frustration
Fingers in mouth—Sign of feeling
Tension/Pressure
4. Victory