06-04-2011, 02:43 PM
presented by:
Prof.C.B.Kanawalli
[attachment=11791]
Group Discussion
“Synergy is the highest activity of life; it creates new untapped alternatives; it values and exploits the mental, emotional, and psychological differences between people.
--Stephen Covey
A GD is a methodology used by an organization to gauge whether the candidate has certain personality traits and/or skills that it desires in its members. In this methodology, the group of candidates is given a topic or a situation, given a few minutes to think about the same, and then asked to discuss the it among themselves for 15-20 minutes.
Meaning of Discussion:
The word “discuss has been derived from the Latin root ‘discutere’ that means ‘to shake’ or ‘strike’.
‘Discussion’ means an activity in which a subject or theme is thoroughly shaken, inquired into or examined in order to reach a satisfactory conclusion or decide upon a course of action.
Discussion
It is a informal exchange of views.
A debate can become heated or acrimonious expression of arguments.
It helps to increase the knowledge of a person
Group Discussion
It means two or more persons get together & select a particular topic & exchange the ideas on that topic and finally come to the conclusion.
Some of the personality traits the GD is trying to gauge may include :-
1. Ability to work in a team
2. Communication skill
3. Reasoning ability
4. Leadership skills
5. Initiative
6. Assertiveness
7. Flexibility
8. Creativity
9. Ability to think on one’s feet
Why GDs:-
The reason why institutes put you through a Group Discussion and an interview, after testing your technical and conceptual skills in an exam, is to get to know you as a person and gauge how well you will fit in their institute. The Group discussion tests how you function as a part of a team. As a manager, you will always be working in teams, as a member or as a leader. Therefore how you interact in a team becomes an important criterion for your selection. Managers have to work in a team and get best results out of teamwork. That is the reason why management institutes include GD as a component of the selection procedure.
Group Discussion is a method known & practised in two societies:
Traditional Society
Modern Society
Traditional Society:
In traditional rural societies in India, the elders of the village or community used it for taking certain discussions on behalf of the community. Though the hierarchical relationship of the village chief & the members of the group was strictly followed, the opportunity to express their views was generally given to all participants.
Modern Society:
Modern societies have developed group discussion as a tool to increase efficiency by giving people a sense of participation & on the basis of which all purposeful meetings or decision making processes are based.
Ingredients of Group Discussion
Purpose
Planning
Participation
Informality
Leadership
Purpose:
o There should be a clear purpose
o Avoid, just sitting together and indulging in a freewheeling, aimless talking.
o Unless there is a clearly stated purpose the participants are likely to skip from one topic to another.
Planning:
o Can’t rely on any random or on the spot expression of feelings or ideas.
o Initiate the process by the leader or group member.
o Prepare the agenda.
o Thought to what is to be discussed.
o Inform the members in advance.
o Fix the date, time & venue.
Participation:
It means that each individual member of a group is supposed to contribute to the deliberations of the group when it is meeting for a discussion. That is why a group discussion has been defined as “the cooperative pooling of all available information.” it is quite possible that not many members contribute to the discussion. Often a discussion is dominated by a handful of members. But, then, other members can at least actively listen. In this way they also participate in the discussion. Active listening is also participation.
Informality:
Informality or cordiality is essential to encourage the fullest possible participation. It does not mean that the whole exercise should become informal. On the other hand, decision making in an organization is a matter of formality. The leader-member relationship is basically formal. But an effective leader is one who encourages informality. It makes the members comfortable and they feel at ease to speak out what they feel.
Leadership
Every group discussion has to be piloted by a leader. Groups need effective leadership to achieve their goals. They help establish a cooperative climate that encourages group interaction, helps the discussion to follow smoothly and keep the planned agenda on track. In the absence of a leader the whole activity may run haywire. If the group is large it may also become chaotic. It is the role of the leader to steer the discussion like a ship through troubled waters. Hence a leader is indispensable for a group discussion. It is, however, to be pointed out that a leader has to be assisted by a secretary.
Prof.C.B.Kanawalli
[attachment=11791]
Group Discussion
“Synergy is the highest activity of life; it creates new untapped alternatives; it values and exploits the mental, emotional, and psychological differences between people.
--Stephen Covey
A GD is a methodology used by an organization to gauge whether the candidate has certain personality traits and/or skills that it desires in its members. In this methodology, the group of candidates is given a topic or a situation, given a few minutes to think about the same, and then asked to discuss the it among themselves for 15-20 minutes.
Meaning of Discussion:
The word “discuss has been derived from the Latin root ‘discutere’ that means ‘to shake’ or ‘strike’.
‘Discussion’ means an activity in which a subject or theme is thoroughly shaken, inquired into or examined in order to reach a satisfactory conclusion or decide upon a course of action.
Discussion
It is a informal exchange of views.
A debate can become heated or acrimonious expression of arguments.
It helps to increase the knowledge of a person
Group Discussion
It means two or more persons get together & select a particular topic & exchange the ideas on that topic and finally come to the conclusion.
Some of the personality traits the GD is trying to gauge may include :-
1. Ability to work in a team
2. Communication skill
3. Reasoning ability
4. Leadership skills
5. Initiative
6. Assertiveness
7. Flexibility
8. Creativity
9. Ability to think on one’s feet
Why GDs:-
The reason why institutes put you through a Group Discussion and an interview, after testing your technical and conceptual skills in an exam, is to get to know you as a person and gauge how well you will fit in their institute. The Group discussion tests how you function as a part of a team. As a manager, you will always be working in teams, as a member or as a leader. Therefore how you interact in a team becomes an important criterion for your selection. Managers have to work in a team and get best results out of teamwork. That is the reason why management institutes include GD as a component of the selection procedure.
Group Discussion is a method known & practised in two societies:
Traditional Society
Modern Society
Traditional Society:
In traditional rural societies in India, the elders of the village or community used it for taking certain discussions on behalf of the community. Though the hierarchical relationship of the village chief & the members of the group was strictly followed, the opportunity to express their views was generally given to all participants.
Modern Society:
Modern societies have developed group discussion as a tool to increase efficiency by giving people a sense of participation & on the basis of which all purposeful meetings or decision making processes are based.
Ingredients of Group Discussion
Purpose
Planning
Participation
Informality
Leadership
Purpose:
o There should be a clear purpose
o Avoid, just sitting together and indulging in a freewheeling, aimless talking.
o Unless there is a clearly stated purpose the participants are likely to skip from one topic to another.
Planning:
o Can’t rely on any random or on the spot expression of feelings or ideas.
o Initiate the process by the leader or group member.
o Prepare the agenda.
o Thought to what is to be discussed.
o Inform the members in advance.
o Fix the date, time & venue.
Participation:
It means that each individual member of a group is supposed to contribute to the deliberations of the group when it is meeting for a discussion. That is why a group discussion has been defined as “the cooperative pooling of all available information.” it is quite possible that not many members contribute to the discussion. Often a discussion is dominated by a handful of members. But, then, other members can at least actively listen. In this way they also participate in the discussion. Active listening is also participation.
Informality:
Informality or cordiality is essential to encourage the fullest possible participation. It does not mean that the whole exercise should become informal. On the other hand, decision making in an organization is a matter of formality. The leader-member relationship is basically formal. But an effective leader is one who encourages informality. It makes the members comfortable and they feel at ease to speak out what they feel.
Leadership
Every group discussion has to be piloted by a leader. Groups need effective leadership to achieve their goals. They help establish a cooperative climate that encourages group interaction, helps the discussion to follow smoothly and keep the planned agenda on track. In the absence of a leader the whole activity may run haywire. If the group is large it may also become chaotic. It is the role of the leader to steer the discussion like a ship through troubled waters. Hence a leader is indispensable for a group discussion. It is, however, to be pointed out that a leader has to be assisted by a secretary.
