Sample Mock GD - II

Aditi, Bijoy, Charu, Daisy and Ehsan are waiting for their group discussion to start. They do not have a topic yet and are waiting for the moderator to make everybody comfortable. There, the moderator looks at the clock and announces: “You have 5 minutes for this group discussion. And your topic is ‘How to Succeed in Group Discussions.’ Please start.”

Bijoy: This should be interesting. A GD on GD! I suggest we should discuss the importance of a GD first. I mean, why have a GD at all?

Charu: I find this very strange. How can you have a GD on GD? We should be discussing some current topic to test our knowledge.

Ehsan: I agree that this is rather unusual. At the same time, our job is to conduct a meaningful discussion regardless of the topic. Bijoy has suggested we start with the importance of GD. Today, GD is a very important part of various selection procedures.

Aditi: GD is all about teamwork. That’s all.

Bijoy: Management is all about working with people. I suppose GD is one way of establishing one’s ability to work with others. How we are able to lead and be led.

Charu: (Laughs) You are using some impressive management jargon, my friend! I don’t think GD has anything to do with leading or being led. At the most, a GD may give an idea about how a business meeting is held. Otherwise it is only about sharing your knowledge with others.

Bijoy: (Visibly irritated) Looks like you are very sure about your knowledge. Perhaps there is no need for a group or even a discussion?

Ehsan: We have some interesting points here. Leadership and sharing knowledge. Perhaps, a GD is a good tool to assess how well you are able to function within a group.

Daisy: I want to…

Aditi: I don’t think any discussion is meaningful unless everyone has the same level of knowledge.

Daisy: I want to say something. Pardon if I make any wrong. I am from vernacular medium…

Aditi: Don’t waste our time talking about your background. The topic is GD. Talk about that.

Bijoy: Every subject has various angles. So, many heads can raise many ideas.

Charu: Also, too many cooks spoil the broth (laughs).

Ehsan: Yes, a group makes it possible to brainstorm any issue. Perhaps Daisy has something to add to this thought ...

Daisy: Thanks for giving me chance. A GD is good for ‘consensus.’ It is always better everybody agree. Otherwise only one person is there.

Charu: (Leaning forward and pointing to Daisy) I think the correct word is consensus. Don’t use a word unless you know what you are talking about.

Bijoy: Consensus is fine. But is it necessary that everyone should have the same viewpoint?

Ehsan: That is an interesting thought. Yes, Daisy is right that a GD is about consensus but there can still be differences. A GD provides an opportunity to discuss various aspects of an issue and weigh merits and demerits of different approaches.

Charu: Agree to disagree.

Bijoy: But the question is how to succeed in GDs. I think the first prerequisite is patience. Some of us must learn to shut up and let others talk (looks directly at Charu).

Aditi: If everyone follows that we will only have silence and no discussion.

Ehsan: I suppose the point is to participate and give others also a chance to participate.

Daisy: Please can I speak?

Aditi: Come on! You don’t have to beg for permission to speak!

Daisy: I said that because I thought someone might have wanted to speak before me. Anyway, is it not possible to only listen?

Charu: (Smirks) I don’t know how the moderator will rate your profound silence!

Bijoy: But Daisy, no one can read your mind. Unless you speak, how do you contribute?

Ehsan: I think a GD is very much like a business meeting. Every participant may present an individual point of view but the thinking about that point of view is collective.

Aditi: I don’t think you can compare a GD to a business meeting. In a meeting, there is usually a chairman whose job is to control the meeting.

Bijoy: A GD may not have a chairman but I suppose one person usually emerges as the leader and guides the discussion.

Charu: I suppose someone fancies himself to be a leader. This is so boring!

Moderator: Your time is up. Thank you everyone.

Moderator’s notes: Ehsan shows leadership skills and the ability to hold a group together. He appears to have a good grasp of the subject though on the whole the GD failed to do justice to the core subject of how to succeed. Bijoy also has some interesting ideas but is prone to being provoked easily. Charu is too sure and too full of herself to be able to contribute to a group. Aditi is guilty of intolerance and rude interruptions. Daisy needs to work on her language and her confidence, though she may have the right concepts.

Sample Mock GD - I

Candidates are divided in groups of 8 to 10 and each group is tested by a panel of Judges. Usually topics of general interest are given by the panel to the group and the group is asked to proceed with discussion. Every candidate is supposed to express his opinion and views on the topic given. The time for discussion is approximately 20 minutes. During the discussion, the panel of Judges quietly observes the performance and behavior of the candidates and makes his own assessment.

Mock GroupDiscussion :

Most topics are taken from the current political or economic scene so if one has just kept abreast of current affairs, then he will be able to make a mark. We give below a group discussion on a common topic and give some typical responses of students. We then analyze the discussion so that readers can develop their own strategy for themselves.

JUDGE : Good morning. You can choose any topic you like or take a slip from that box. You are given one minute to think to start with the discussion. The observers will not interfere in your discussion. If no conclusion is reached, we may ask each of you to speak for a minute on the topic at the end of the discussion. The topic on the slip is "Multinationals: Bane or Boon". I suggest you should start the discussion.

Mr A : This is a good topic. I am against multinationals. We have Coke and Pepsi. Do we need them? We can manufacture our own soft drinks. Multinationals destroy the local industry and sell non-essential products.

Mr B : I agree with you. What is the fun of having Coke and Pepsi? We have our own Campa Cola.

Mr C : I think water is good enough.

Mr D : We are not here to discuss soft drinks. The topic given to us is a much larger one. First, let us define multinational companies. They are merely large companies which operate in a number of countries. There could be some Indian multinationals also. So there is nothing wrong with them. The point is whether they have a good or bad impact on the host countries. We have to discuss their business practices and find out whether they are desirable or not.

Mr E : That is a very good introduction to the topic. Multinational companies do serve an important function that they bring new products and technologies in countries which do not have them. And it is not just Coke and Pepsi. They set up power plants and build roads and bridges, which really help in the development of host countries.

Mr F : But are they all that good? We have seen that they destroy local industry. In India they just took over existing companies. They came in areas of low technology. Moreover, we have to see why they come at all. They come for earning profits and often remit more money abroad than they bring in.

Mr A : I agree with you. I am against multinationals. We can produce everything ourselves. We should be swadeshi in our approach. Why do we need multinational companies?

Mr E : We may not need multinational companies but then it also means that our companies should not do business abroad. Can we live in an isolated world? The fact is that we are moving towards becoming a global village. The world is interconnected. Then we have also seen that foreign companies bring in business practices that we are impressed with. Look at foreign banks. They are so efficient and friendly that the nationalized banks look pathetic in comparison. I think we can learn a lot from multinationals if we keep our eyes and mind open.

Mr B : Take a look at McDonald's. They are providing quality meals at affordable prices. One does not have to wait at their restaurants.

Mr C : How do you account for the fact that they take out more than they put in and thus lead to impoverishing the country?

Mr D : The fact is that every poor country needs foreign investment. Poor countries often lack resources of their own. That is why they have to invite foreign companies in. There is nothing wrong in this because then products like cars, air conditioners and so on can be made in poor countries. Often multinationals source products from different countries which helps boost their export earnings.

Mr E : We have been talking about Coke and Pepsi. It is well known that Pepsi is in the foods business also and has helped farmers in Punjab by setting up modern farms to grow potatoes and tomatoes. Modern practices have helped the people in that area.

Mr A : I still feel that multinationals are harmful for the country.

Mr D : Well, there could be negative things associated with such companies. They may not be very good in their practices. But can we do without them? I think the best way is to invite them but also impose some controls so that they follow the laws of the country and do not indulge in unfair practices.

Mr E : I think laws are applicable to everyone. Very often officials in poor countries take bribes. The fault lies not with the company which gives a bribe but the person who actually demands one. Why blame the companies for our own ills?

Mr A : What about the money they take out?

Mr D : We have had a good discussion and I think it is time to sum up. Multinationals may have good points and some bad ones too, but competition is never harmful for anyone. We cannot live in a protected economy any longer. We have been protected for many years and the results are there for everyone to see. Rather than be close about multinationals, let us invite them in selected areas so that we get foreign investment in areas which we are lacking. Laws can be strictly enforced that companies operate within limits and do not start meddling in political affairs.

Analysis : Though Mr A started the discussion, he could not make any good points. Later, he could not give any points about why multinationals are bad. It is also a bad strategy to say at the outset whether you are for or against the topic. Remember, it is not a debate but a discussion. The first step should always be to introduce the topic without taking sides. See the way in which the discussion is proceeding and give arguments for or against. The observer is not interested in your beliefs but in what you are saying. The participation of Mr B and C is below average. A candidate must make 3-4 interventions. Their arguments are also not well thought out and add nothing to the argument. It is important to say relevant things which make an impact rather than speak for the sake of speaking. The arguments of Mr D and E are better. They seem to be aware of the role of multinational companies. Mr E's approach is better as he intervenes a number of times. He has also taken initiative in the beginning and brought order to the group. If selection has to be made from the above six candidates, the obvious choice would be Mr E and thereafter, Mr D.

Current GD Topics

• A Unipolar World spells disaster for underdeveloped countries like India

• Is Globalisation Really Necessary?

• What shall we do about our ever-increasing Population?

• Corruption is the price we pay for Democracy

• Foreign Television Channels are destroying our culture

• What India needs is a Dictatorship.

• With media publishing and telecasting trivia, censorship is the need of the hour.

• Kaun Banega Krorepati is less about knowledge but more about money and personality.

• Beauty contests degrade womanhood

• The rise of regional blocs threatens independent nations like India

• Six billion and one bronze!

• Is dependence on computers a good thing?

• Should the public sector be privatised?

• China and India are similar nations with contrasting ways

• Is India a Soft Nation?

• Value based politics is the need of the hour

• Religion should not be mixed with politics

• How to deal with high oil prices

• Our cricketers are not to blame for match fixing

• Why cant we be world players in industry as we are in software?

• Multinational corporations: Are they devils in disguise?

• Should there be limits on artistic freedom (the controversy on Fire).

• Should there be private universities?

• Does banning fashion shows and New Year parties save our culture

General GD Topics

General GD Topics

• US war on Iraq-justified or not.

• Role of UN in peacekeeping.

• Position of Women in India compared to other nations.

• Environment Management.

• Is China better than India in software.

• Should SONIA Gandhi be made the PM

• BPOs in INDIA

• Govt contribution to IT

• will punch lines rule the Advt

• premarital sex

• is china a threat to Indian industry

• India or west , which is the land of opportunities

• water resources should be nationalized

• "BALANCE BETWEEN PROFESSIONALISM AND FAMILY"

• Effect of cinema on Youth

• Education in India compared to Foreign nations

• Is it necessary to ban COCO COLA in India.

• What is the effect of movies on youth. is it good or bad)

• Are studies more beneficial in India or in Abroad.

• "UN's peace activities" and "America's war on Iraq".

• "Environment-Whose Responsibility".

• Is China a threat to the Indian software industry.

• Role of UN in Peace keeping

• War on Iraq

• About Hockey being the primary game in India

• Can America occupy Iraq

• Cricket should be banned or not.

• IS CHINA A THREAT TO INDIA

• Present state of Indian Cricket team.

• Love marriage/Arranged marriage.

• Advantages of Co-education.

• How to deal with international terrorism.

• Should we pursue our policy of dialogue with Pakistan?

• Is peace and non-violence outdated concepts?

BPO GD Topics

• Is coalition politics here to stay?

• Does India need a dictator?

• What ails Indian sports?

• Success is all about human relations

• Borderless worlds - Dream or reality?

• Quality is a myth in India

• Will China overtake India in IT

• India - the back office to the world by 2020

• Does Indian IT industry need to focus on products rather than services

• The BPO age - heralding a new employment revolution

• The BPO revolution and its impact on the society

• Education and success - Is there a correlation?

• We don't learn from history, we repeat it

• Do we need a global policeman?

• Indian villages - our strength or our weakness?

• Management Education - Is it necessary to succeed in business

• Kids today are not what they used to be

• Repeated elections - Who should pay for them

• Indian bureaucracy - foundation strengths or colonial hangovers?

• In India, the whole is less than the parts - Do we lack in team spirit?

• "Dot.com" companies - Is there room for everyone?

• Artificial Intelligence - Will man be ever replaced by machines?

• Materialism - Have we sold our souls to the Devil?

• Role of ethics in tobacco industry, liquor industry etc.

• Are we unfit for Democracy?

• Survival tools for the new millennium

• Examinations - has it killed education

• Should doctors be tried in Consumer Courts

• Is E-Commerce the best thing for India

MBA GD Topics-2

Hot Topics:

1.How to deal with international terrorism.
2.Should we pursue our policy of dialogue with
Pakistan?
3.Is peace and non-violence outdated concepts?

Current Topics:

1.A Unipolar World spells disaster for underdeveloped
countries like
India.
2.Is Globalisation Really Necessary?
3.What shall we do about our ever-increasing
Population?
4.Corruption is the price we pay for Democracy.
5.Foreign Television Channels are destroying our
culture.
6.What India needs is a Dictatorship.
7.With media publishing and telecasting trivia,
censorship is the
need of the hour.
8.Kaun Banega Krorepati is less about knowledge but
more about money and personality.
9.Beauty contests degrade womanhood
10.The rise of regional blocs threatens independent
nations like India
11.Six billion and one bronze!
12.Is dependence on computers a good thing?
13.Should the public sector be privatised?
14.China and India are similar nations with
contrasting ways
15.Is India a Soft Nation?
16.Value based politics is the need of the hour
17.Religion should not be mixed with politics
18.How to deal with high oil prices
19.Our cricketers are not to blame for match fixing
20.Why cant we be world players in industry as we are
in software?
21.Multinational corporations: Are they devils in
disguise?
22.Should there be limits on artistic freedom (the
controversy on
Fire).
23.Should there be private universities?
24.Does banning fashion shows and New Year parties
save our culture?

Social Topics:

1.Are Big Dams Necessary?
2.Films are corrupting the Indian Youth
3.A Gandhian State selling liquor is an anomaly
4.Bride burning and dowry may look bad, but are an
integral part of
India.
5.Our Culture is Decaying
6.We are not serious about saving Wildlife/Environment
7.The education system needs serious reforms
8.The impact of MTV on our psyche
9.Showing Violence and Crimes should not be allowed in
films and on
television.
10.Let us legalise gambling

Management Topics:

1.Is management an art or a science?
2.The Rush for MBA is really a rush for big money
3.Ethics in Business are just a passing fashion
4.The objective of Management is to maximise profits
5.Do professional managers have a chance in our family
run businesses?
6.The Internet is an exercise in hype
7.Is an MBA necessary to succeed in life?
8.Family owned business vs professionally run
businesses
9.Smaller businesses and start-ups have more scope for
professional
growth.
10.Dot com or doubt com?

Creative Topics:

1.The Wheel is Turning Round and Round
2.If I was the Finance Minister/Prime Minister
3.There is no right way to do a wrong thing
4.Group Task: How can we have Mount Everest in India?
5.Do Beauty and Brains Go Together?
6.When I woke up in the morning I saw…
7.A ship docked in harbour cannot face the storms
8.Up the Down Staircase
9.Just as we have smoke free zones, we should have
child free zones
10.Marriage is a social trap

SOCIAL TOPICS:

1. The Internet chains have come on the wings of
science and
technology but are no less restrictive for all that.
2. Secularism has become a tool to justify the wrongs
done by the
minorities.
3. Media is a mixed blessing/How ethical is media?
4. To fight AIDs, stop being coy about sex education.
5. What should India strive for- Westernization or
modernization?

ECONOMIC TOPICS:

1. Developing countries need trade, not aid.
2. Why do we lag behind China?
3. Capitalism is a very flawed system but the others
are so much
worse.
4. Flexibility of labour laws is the key to attracting
more Foreign
Direct Investment.
5. Is the business of business only business?

POLITICAL TOPICS:

1. Reserving seats for women in Panchayat has not only
been a farce but
has distracted from developing a more genuine voice of
women.
2. Have the nuclear tests of 1998 benefited or harmed
India?
3. Voters, not, political parties are responsible for
the criminalisation of politics.
4. The voters are required to be well informed and
educated about
their candidates so that they can elect the right
aspirant by their own
assessment.
5. India should go for the presidential form of
democracy.

ECONOMIC TOPICS:

1. In our economic matters, there is an excessive
tendency towards the
thinking rather than doing.
2. Every cloud has a silver lining
3. Can the economy achieve an 8 percent growth rate?.
4. Is disinvestment really that good for India or is a
rethink in
order ?
5. Are co-operatives relevant in today's globalised
environment?.
6. Foreign aid is a dangerous drug that can stimulate
in small doses
but
become fatally addictive in larger doses.
7. Modern day sport in industrialised society is an
industry, as
anything else.
8. Government should clean its own hands before
pointing finger at the
private sector for corruption.
9. Is the NPA ordinance too harsh?
10. Reforms have to grow up.
11. The future lies with glocalisation .
12. Is the consumer really the king in India?.
13. Globalisation versus nationalism
14. Conditional access system for cable TV watchers:
boon or bane? 15.
If India is poorly governed, the reason is that we
have designed our
system of governance for protecting, if not
encouraging,
corruption?
16. Commercialisation of health care : Good or Bad ?
17. For globalisation to succeed in India people must
be able to see
what is in it for them
18. Is the US economy headed the Japanese economy way?
19. Economic freedom not old fashioned theories of
development will
lead
to growth and prosperity
20. Markets left to themselves encourage greed.
21. For globalisation to succeed in India people must
be able to see
what is in it for them
22. Should businessmen run the finance ministry
23. Should important services like transport be left
to market
forces?.
24. Is there any point in having a business strategy
when the world
changes from month to month?
25. Is the patents bill good for India? .
26. Is the business of business only business?.
27. Globalisation is good for developing countries
28. Public sector being a guarantor of job security is
a myth.
29. Is industryless growth here to stay ?
30. Capitalism is a very flawed system but the others
are so much
worse ?
31. How can business get rid of the bad name that it
has earned?
32. Government pumping money into the economy is not
the solution for
our economic problems
33. Business ethics are no longer a luxury for
corporates but a
necessity?
34. How should privatisation proceeds be utilised ?
35. Is the budgeting exercise of any use?
36. Should agricultural subsidies be stopped ?
37. Will Mumbai's film industry ever evolve into a
truly modern
corporatised one?
38. Will market reforms enrich rich states further,
while poorer ones
lag further?.
39. Why do we lag behind China ?
40. Who says MNCs are superior to Indian companies ?.
41. Why not use a brand index to measure national
prosperity?.
42. What we need to reduce scams is better regulatory
bodies.
43. War rhetoric is misplaced in a country like India
which is trying to globalise its economy.
44. Trade can help the poor ?
45. The power ministry should cut off supplies to all
the defaulting
SEBs.
46. Steal a few lakhs and you're a criminal. Steal a
few hundred
crores and you become an industrialist.
47. Should PSUs be divested through strategic sale or
public offer? 48.
The state is above the law?

Management Education Topics

1. Managerial skills learnt in the classroom can never
match those
learnt from experience
2. Democracy is hampering India progress
3. MBA in India is highly overrated.
4. Religion is a private affair and should be of no
concern for the
state
5. Decreasing defense expenditure and increasing
social expenditure is
the need of the hour

MBA GD Topics-1

• Is India moving away from a secularist state?

• Education in India - or the lack of it

• What ails Indian sports?

• The Age of Information

• Is Philosophy just an armchair theory?

• Success is all about human relations

• Borderless worlds - Dream or reality?

• Quality is a myth in India.

• Education and success - Is there a correlation?

• We don't learn from history, we repeat it

• Do we need a global policeman

• Indian villages - our strength or our weakness?

• Agrarian Economy in India - boon or bane

• if there were no armies in the world......

• Indian customs - are we in a time warp?

• "How green was my valley........". Is nature paying the price ?

• Management Education - Is it necessary to succeed in business

• The role of NGOs in economics and politics

• NGOs - Do they serve peoples interests or are they pressure groups?

• Death of Socialism

• Role of women in development

• Kids today are not what they used to be

• Casteless India - A pipe dream

• Should Trade Unionism be banned in India

• Repeated elections - Should taxpayers pay for it?

• Indian bureaucracy - foundation strengths or colonial hangovers?

• In India, the whole is less than the parts - Do we lack in team spirit?

• Generation X - Drivers of our future or are they our lost souls?

• Do we need a cut in the defence budget?

• "Dot.com" companies - Is there room for everyone?

• Artificial Intelligence - Will man be ever replaced by machines?

• if I were to choose my person of the millennium...

• All the world is a stage....

• when managers become Hamlets...

• If Patel were our first Prime Minister.......

• Materialism - Have we sold our souls to the Devil?

• You've come a long way, baby - The rise and rise of feminist power.

• Role of ethics in tobacco industry, liquor industry etc.

• Should gambling be legalised in India?

• Are we unfit for Democracy?

• Survival tools for the new millennium

• Examinations - has it killed education

• Cultural Invasion through the air waves

• Should doctors be tried in Consumer Courts

• Abortion and Euthanasia - Is it morally right for society

• Are beauty pageants necessary?

• The relevance of Gandhism today

• India and the WTO

• Did India handle the hijack issue properly?

• Is E-Commerce the best thing for India

• Managerial skills learnt in the classroom can never
  match those learnt from experience

• Democracy is hampering India progress

• MBA in India is highly overrated.

• Religion is a private affair and should be of no concern for the state

• Decreasing defense expenditure and increasing social expenditure is the need of the hour

Engineering GD Topics

• Is China a threat to the Indian software industry.

• Role of UN in peacekeeping.

• Position of Women in India compared to other nations.

• Environment Management.

• Is China better than India in software.

• Govt contribution to IT

• is china a threat to Indian industry

• India or west , which is the land of opportunities

• water resources should be nationalised

• "BALANCE BETWEEN PROFESSIONALISM AND FAMILY"

• Effect of cinema on Youth

• Education in India compared to Foreign nations

• What is the effect of movies on youth. is it good or bad)

• Are studies more beneficial in India or in Abroad.

• "UN's peace activities" and "America's war on Iraq".

• "Environment-Whose Responsibility".

• US war on iraq-justified or not.

• Role of UN in Peace keeping

• War on Iraq

• About Hockey being the primary game in India.

• Can America occupy Iraq

• IS CHINA A THREAT TO INDIA

• Present state of Indian Cricket team

• Advantages of Co-education.

• How to deal with international terrorism.

• Should we pursue our policy of dialogue with Pakistan?

• Is peace and non-violence outdated concepts?

• A Unipolar World spells disaster for underdeveloped countries like India.

• Is Globalization Really Necessary?

• What shall we do about our ever-increasing Population?

• Corruption is the price we pay for Democracy.

• Foreign Television Channels are destroying our culture.

• What India needs is a Dictatorship.

• With media publishing and telecasting trivia, censorship is the need of the hour.

• Kaun Banega Krorepati is less about knowledge but more about money and personality.

• Beauty contests degrade womanhood

• The rise of regional blocs threatens independent nations like India

• Six billion and one bronze!

• Is dependence on computers a good thing?

• Should the public sector be privatised?

• China and India are similar nations with contrasting ways

• Is India a Soft Nation?

• Value based politics is the need of the hour

• Religion should not be mixed with politics

• How to deal with high oil prices

• Our cricketers are not to blame for match fixing

• Why cant we be world players in industry as we are in software?

• Multinational corporations: Are they devils in disguise?

• Should there be limits on artistic freedom (the controversy on Fire).

• Should there be private universities?

• Does banning fashion shows and New Year parties save our culture?

• Public sector is more a hindrance than help to promote socialism.

• Economic betterment of the poorer nations is as important as disarmament to ensure lasting world peace.

• From public sector to privatization as in the U.K., is the right answer for India's instant economic breakthrough.

• The doctrine of "limited nuclear war" is an ill-convinced, ill- logical, irrational and extremely dangerous concept.

• Some simple but effective electoral reforms will enable us to retain the present parliamentary system and ensure the preservation of democracy in India.

• Nuclear war cannot be won and should not be fought.

• Private enterprise and not public sector will contribute to faster and higher economic growth in India

• Inflation is inevitable in our developing country.

• The policy of reservation is a legacy of the British and it has done more harm than good.

• For a marketing post graduate, without prior work experience working in a big marketing firm is a disadvantage when compared with working in a small firm. Discuss.

• Consumerism is destroying the social fabric of Indian culture

• Free market is a prerequisite for growth.

• Cricket as a national obsession is a detriment to other sports.

• To develop India has to empower women.

• .Formulate the government's health policy to control the spread of AIDS.

• Advertising is a waste of resources.

• Privatization will lead to less corruption.

• State is the biggest violator of human rights.

• There can never be a classless society.

• Beauty pageants are a marketing gimmick.

• Voting rights to illiterates in India is illogical because it is widely misused.

• Joint family is a blessing in disguise

• Higher education should be made possible only for those who can pay for it.

• Women cannot successfully combine both career and home

• Women are good managers.

• Executive should be allowed to form unions.

• Effect of liberalization on poverty.

• Indians perform better as individuals rather than in groups.

• Business and ethics go hand in hand, or do they?

• Developing countries should spend more on development than on defense.

• Political parties have outlived their utility.

• Is Swadeshi relevant for India today?

• Money is required to earn more money.

• Foreign trade is necessary for any country to survive

• Presidential Vs Parliamentary form of government of India.

• Technology: The Ism' Of The New Millennium?

• Religion And Politics Should Not Mix

• TRIPS Controversy And The Patent Act Amendment

• Should India Sign The CTBT

• State Interventions In Market Kind Or Mixed Economy

• Science Is A Boon Or Bane

• Is Swapping Terrorists For Hostages An Encouragement For Plane- Hijackers?

• Nice Guys Finish Last

• All Work And No Play Makes Jack A Dull Boy

• Individual Freedom And Civil Society

• Conventionalism And Modernity: The Ever going Debate

• Should There Be A Restriction On Permissiveness Being propagated by The MTV Culture And Foreign Media?

• Marxism And Its Future All Over The World

• The Growing Menace Of Casteism And Regionalism

• Presidential Form Of Government Is Needed In India

• Bullet For Bullet: Is It The Right Policy?

• Capitation Fees Should Be Abolished

• Brain-Drain Has To Be Stopped

• Business And Ethics Can't / Don't Go Together

• Are women As good as Men Or Inferior?

• Nothing Succeeds Like Success

• The Malthusian Economic Prophecy Is No Longer Relevant

• Secessionism In The North-East: Who's To Blame?

• Should India Break Diplomatic Ties With Pakistan?

• Age and Youth: Experience And Young Talent

• East Is East & West Is Where All The Action Is': Mark Twain

• Freedom Of _Expression And The State Authority.

GD Mistakes

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 focussing 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 behaviour would have been perceived as immature and demotivating 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.

Egotism 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.

Knowledge is strength. A candidate with good reading habits has more chances of success. In other words, sound knowledge on different topics like politics, finance, economy, science and technology is helpful.

Power to convince effectively is another quality that makes you stand out among others.

Clarity in speech and expression is yet another essential quality.

If you are not sure about the topic of discussion, it is better not to initiate. Lack of knowledge or wrong approach creates a bad impression. Instead, you might adopt the wait and watch attitude. Listen attentively to others, may be you would be able to come up with a point or two later.

A GD is a formal occasion where slang is to avoided.

A GD is not a debating stage. Participants should confine themselves to expressing their viewpoints. In the second part of the discussion candidates can exercise their choice in agreeing, disagreeing or remaining neutral.

Language use should be simple, direct and straight forward.

Don't interrupt a speaker when the session is on. Try to score by increasing your size, not by cutting others short.

Maintain rapport with fellow participants. Eye contact plays a major role. Non-verbal gestures, such as listening intently or nodding while appreciating someone's viewpoint speak of you positively.

Communicate with each and every candidate present. While speaking don't keep looking at a single member. Address the entire group in such a way that everyone feels you are speaking to him or her.

GD Preparation-2

How do I take my chance to speak: Trying to interrupt others while speaking would only harm your chances. Instead, you may try to maintain an eye-contact with the speaker. This would show your listening skills also and would help you gauge from his eye-movement and pitch of voice that he is about to close his inputs. You can quickly take it from there. Also, try and link your inputs with what he has spoken whether you are adding to or opposing his arguments. This would reflect that you are actually being participative rather than just doing a collective monologue.

• How to I communicate in a GD: Be crisp and to the point. Be fact based and avoid making individual opinions that do not have a factual base. Make eye contact with all the members in the group and avoid looking at the panelists while speaking. The average duration of the group discussion provides an average of about 2-3 minutes per participant to speak and you should try to speak about 3-4 times. Hence, you need to be really crisp to reflect the most in those 30-40 sec. slots.

• How do I convince others and make them agree to my view point: A lot of candidates make it their mission to make the group reach to a conclusion on the topic. Do not forget that some of the topics have been eternal debates and there is no way you can get an agreement in 15 mins. on them. The objective is not to make others toe your line but to provide fact based, convincing arguments which create an impact. Stick to this approach.

• Do leadership skills include moderating the group discussion: This is a myth and many people do try to impose their order on the GD, ordering people when to speak and when not to. This only reflects poor leadership. Leadership in a GD would be reflected by your clarity of thought, ability to expand the topic in its different dimensions, providing an opportunity to a silent participant to speak, listening to others and probing them to provide more information. Hence, work on these areas rather than be a self-appointed moderator of the group.

• Listening: This is a key quality assessed during the GD about which many participants forget. Active listening can fetch you credit points and would also provide you with data to discuss. Also, if you have an average of 2-3 minutes to speak, the rest of the 20-25 minutes is required to spent in active listening. For this, maintain eye contact with the speakers, attend to them (like nodding, using acknowledging words like -I see ok, fine, great etc.). This would also make you be the centre of attraction as you would appear non-threatening to the speakers.

• Behaviour during the GD: Be patient; don't get upset if anyone says anything you object to. Stay objective and don't take the discussion personally. Also, remember the six C's of communication - Clarity, Completeness, Conciseness, Confidence, Correctness and Courtesy. Be appreciative & receptive to ideas from other people and open-minded but do not let others to change your own viewpoint. Be active and interested throughout. It is better to participate less if you have no clue of the topic. You may listen to others and take clues from there and speak. You would be assessed on a range of different skills and you may think that leadership is key, you need to be careful that you don't dominate the discussion.

• Quality Vs Quantity: Often, participants think that success in group discussions depends on how much and how loudly they speak. Interestingly, it's the opposite. Also, making your point on the topic, your views are important and the group needs to know. This will tell you are knowledgeable and that you participate in groups

• Summarizing: If you have not been able to initiate the discussion, try to summaries and close it. Good summarizing would get you good reward points. A conclusion is where the whole group decides in favour or against the topic and most GDs do not have a closure. But every GD can be summarized by putting forth what the group has discussed 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 include all the important points that came out during the GD

  • If you are asked to summarise a GD, it means the GD has come to an end.

  • Do not add anything once the GD has been summarised.

Some Positive Task Roles in a Group Discussion:You may want to play one or more of them:

• Initiator

• Information seeker

• Information giver

• Procedure facilitator

• Opinion seeker

• Opinion giver

• Clarifier

• Social Supporter

• Harmonizer

• Tension Reliever

• Energizer

• Compromiser

• Gatekeeper

• Summarizer

Negative Roles to be Avoided

• Disgruntled non-participant

• Attacker

• Dominator

• Patronizer

• Clown

Feedback template: While doing mocks for GD preparation, you would get benefited by the feedback of others. For the purpose, we are providing a template for feedback - both quantitative and qualitative. The items described over there are a suggested list and not a complete one. You may make changes in it depending upon your need.

GD Preparation-1

While selection tools and techniques like tests, interviews etc. provide good data about an individual, they fall short in providing real life data of how an individual would be performing in a real life situation especially a group situation. Team work being an integral part of the BPO work profile, it is important to ascertain group and inter-personal qualities of an individual. Group discussion is a useful tool to ascertain these qualities and many organizations use GDs as a selection tool along with Personal Interviews, aptitude tests etc. A GD is an activity where

• Groups of 8-10 candidates are formed into a leaderless group, and are given a specific situation to analyse and discuss within a given time limit, which may vary between twenty minutes and forty-five minutes, or

• They may be given a case study and asked to come out with a solution for a problem

• They may be given a topic and are asked to discuss the same

1. Preparing for a Group Discussion: While GD reflects the inherent qualities of an individual, appearing for it unprepared may not augur well for you. These tips would help you prepare for GDs:

Reading: This is the first and the most crucial step in preparation. This is a never ending process and the more you read, the better you are in your thoughts. While you may read anything to everything, you must ensure that you are in good touch with current affairs, the debates and hot topics of discussion and also with the latest in the IT and ITES industry. Chances are the topics would be around these. Read both for the thoughts as well as for data. Also read multiple view points on the same topic and then create your point of view with rationale. Also create answers for counter arguments for your point of view. The electronic media also will be of good use here.

Mocks: Create an informal GD group and meet regularly to discuss and exchange feedback. This is the best way to prepare. This would give you a good idea about your thoughts and how well can you convince. Remember, it is important that you are able to express your thoughts well. The better you perform in these mocks the better would be you chances to perform on the final day. Also try to interact and participate in other GD groups. This will develop in you a skill to discuss with unknown people as well.

2. During the Group Discussion:

What do the panelists assess:Some of the qualities assessed in a GD are:

Leadership Skills - Ability to take leadership roles and be able to lead, inspire and carry the team along to help them achieve the group's objectives.

Communication Skills - 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.

Interpersonal Skills - People skills are an important aspect of any job. They are reflected in the ability 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.

Persuasive Skills - The ability to analyze and persuade others to see the problem from multiple perspectives.

GD is a test of your ability to think, your analytical capabilities and your ability to make your point in a team-based environment.

These are some of the sub-skills that also get assessed with the skills mentioned above:

• Clarity of thought

• Group working skills (especially during a group task of case study discussion)

• Conflict handling

• Listening and probing skills

• Knowledge about the subject and individual point of view

• Ability to create a consensus

• Openess and flexibility towards new ideas

• Data based approach to decision making

While, it is not possible to reflect all these qualities in a short time, you would do well if you are able to show a couple or more qualities and avoid giving negative evidence on others.