30 Group Discussion

Dr. Mani Shreshtha

epgp books

 

 

1.      Module 30: Group Discussion

 

2.      Learning Outcomes:

 

By the end of this module, students will be able to

·         know the relevance of discussing in groups

·         know ways to conduct a group discussion

·         know strategies to perform better in a group discussion

 

 

3.      Introduction:

 

A discussion represents an activity in which the subject matter is systematically examined in order to reach at a decision. Such a discussion when carried out by a more than two participants is generally called as a group discussion. For discussion it is important that participants must have an agenda to discuss, a systematic way to proceed, and an active involvement. An aimless talking is never considered as discussion. A group discussion is a systematic oral communication activity wherein all the participants interact with each other for exchange of ideas and thoughts to fulfil a purpose. Purpose can be to arrive at a solution, exchange information, provide views, or create an accord. The participants can be a part of formally created group or an informal meeting. For an effective group discussion, number of participant can be in the range of eight to fifteen. When the numbers of participant are less, getting diverse viewpoints on an issue becomes difficult. Similarly, when the group size is large, participation of every member in the discussion gets compromised.

 

4.        Advantages of Groups:

 

It is a common belief that two or more people can think better than one. On this belief it can be stated that more number of people can provide a better solution to a problem as compared to an individual. While discussing in group, a problem can be analysed from different angles. It happens because every member of a group has its own way of looking at the issue. Discussing in groups also encourages presentation of creative ideas and solutions to a problem. All the decisions made under group discussion have lesser resistance in adoption and wider acceptability. A member representation from various bodies of the organization improves the employer – employee relations. A proper representation of all sects of the organization also ensures protection of their interests while making decisions. Despite many advantages of discussing in groups, it suffers from some drawbacks. It is often difficult to come to a concrete solution after a group discussion as different viewpoint of members of a group makes it difficult to generate consensus. Generally, group discussion is dominated by few members while others take a back seat. It hampers the representation of views of all the members. Many times, during a group discussion, discussion goes haywire and members start discussing irrelevant issues and making the whole exercise futile. In absence of a designated leader, controlling and channelizing the discussion is a daunting task. A group discussion, if not executed properly results into wastage of time, money, and energy.

 

5.      Group Discussion: A component of Selection Process

 

Nowadays, corporate are using group discussion as an eminent tool to judge the suitability of a prospective candidate towards a job. The purpose of using group discussion in selection process gained popularity because within a short span of time an employer can assess various personality traits of the prospective candidates. Often group discussion is conducted along with a written test and a personal interview. It helps an organization to assess the personality of an individual and determine the fit between a candidate and the organization or job. Some of the important traits that can be judged during a group discussion are:

 

5.1. Leadership skills: Through a group discussion it can be checked that whether a prospective candidate has the ability to lead a group or to influence the thoughts of other members of the group. These clues can be obtained from who is initiating the discussion or who is steering the discussion towards a right track or who is inviting submissive members of the group to participate.

 

5.2. Communication skills: Under communication skills it can be assessed that whether the candidate is having clarity of thought, speaks clearly and in correct language, uses appropriate gestures to communicate. If all other participants of the group easily understand the viewpoints it indicates effective communication skill. If a candidate has to clarify the intentions after every viewpoint, it indicates ineffective communication skills.

 

5.3. Interpersonal skills: If a member of group is listening patiently to the viewpoints of other members, giving respect to their viewpoints, not responding to provocation then he or she is displaying good interpersonal skills. Under a short span of time it can be judged whether an individual can work in a group or not.

 

5.4. Knowledge base: Through group discussion topical as well as general knowledge of a person can be checked. It can also be assessed that how much an individual is aware about his immediate or general environment.

 

5.5. Analytical and problem solving skills: A group discussion also depicts a candidate’s analytical and problem solving skills. By observing the viewpoints it can be explained whether the candidate is able to understand the issue clearly and presents the viewpoints supported by logics. Also, by observing the suggestions during the discussion it can be determined that a candidate is providing solutions to the issue with strong justification.

 

As group discussion offers to assess many personal qualities within a short span of time it is being used as a prominent selection instrument to check the suitability of an individual for a job.

 

6.      Types of Group Discussions:

 

There are different ways of organizing a group discussion. The type of group discussion is dependent upon the requirement or policy of the organization, level of participating candidates, availability of time etc. Following are the broad categories of group discussion:

 

6.1. Single topic: In this kind of group discussion a topic is announced and the participants have to discuss over it.

6.2. Multiple topics: In this category, more than one and generally three to four topics are given to a group. All the members of a group have to create consensus among them about one topic the wish to discuss in detail.

 

6.3. Pre-announced topic: The topic is announced to all the participating members prior to the date of discussion. This format gives ample to the participants to come prepared for the discussion.

 

6.4. On-Spot announced topic: Opposite to pre-announced type of group discussion, a topic is announced only after all the members of the group arrive and assemble at the designated place. They are provided five to ten minutes to jot down and organize their thoughts.

 

6.5. Case based: Instead of giving topic, sometimes a case or case study is provided to the members of the group. Such cases are followed by critical questions that need deliberation. Each member of the group is expected to go through the case and present their views and solutions to the issues mentioned at the end of the case.

 

A topic for group discussion is also carefully chosen. Topics can be popular, factual, and controversial and in many cases highly abstract.

  1. Process of Group Discussion:

If you are having responsibility to conduct a group discussion or you are participating in such discussion, it is very important to be well versed with the process. A person who conducts a group discussion is known as moderator. Although many times group discussions are conducted with lot of informality still it is good to follow a basic procedure. Following procedure can be adopted to conduct a group discussion:

 

7.1. Decide the purpose: It is very important to have a clarity regarding purpose of the group discussion. A purpose decides the expected outcome of the whole exercise. Purpose can be to solve a problem, select a candidate for a job, and select a candidate for an academic program. Purpose acts as a guiding force for conducting further steps of a group discussion. It tells about what has to be assessed.

 

7.2. Decide number of candidates: Total number of participating members are identified and divided into groups. For an effective group discussion it is advisable to keep the members of a group in a range of eight to fifteen.

 

7.3. Seating Arrangements: In a group discussion, a proper seating arrangement can improve its effectiveness. The basic guideline for a proper seating arrangement is that all the members of the group must see and communicate with each other comfortably. Considering the criteria, a semi-circular or circular seating arrangement is most preferred for a group discussion.

 

7.4. Provide Directions: The moderator also announces the rules for the discussion that include time limit. Generally, time limit for a discussion ranges between fifteen to thirty minutes. The limit depends upon the availability of time and number of group discussions to be conducted. General rule of conduct are also explained to the group.

7.5. Announcement of topic: Once the members of the group are seated as per the arrangement, a moderator announces the topic for the group. All the members are given five to ten minutes to organize their thoughts before starting a discussion.

 

7.6. Starting and conclusion: After getting a go ahead from the moderator, the group starts discussing. As there is no designated leader in such a discussion, any member of the group can initiate the discussion. There is no particular sequence that who will speak when. All members of the group try to present their viewpoint with supportive viewpoints. In the end, one of the members takes initiative to sum up the discussion and provides a conclusion.

 

7.7. Evaluation: Once the discussion is over the judges evaluate the performance of each member on a pre- decided criteria. Such evaluation criteria might include group behaviour, communication skills, leadership qualities, analytical skills, subject knowledge etc.

 

  1. Roles in Group Discussion:

In a group discussion, members play different roles at different point of time. These roles also depicts about their personalities. An individual can play more than one role during the discussion. A brief mention of different roles played during a group discussion is as follows:

8.1. Connector: This member tries to connect the ideas of all the members of the group.

 

8.2. Detailer: A detailer extends the viewpoints presented by previous speaker by adding more information.

8.3. Booster: This member boosts all other members to discuss actively.

8.4. Critic: A critic always provides significant analysis of the presented idea.

8.5. Initiator: Starts the discussion by floating an idea. Also take initiative to sum up the discussion.

8.6. Pacifier: This member tries to reduce the tension in case of heated exchange of viewpoints.

8.7. Tracker: A tracker keeps the discussion on track and prevents it from going haywire.

 

9.      Do’s and Don’ts of Group Discussion:

 

Whether you are trying for job or working in an organization, everyone has to face a group discussion situation. Your effectiveness during a group discussion majorly depends upon personality traits and the skills you are possessing. Many of the traits are inherent to a person while some can be acquired through practice. Following are the guidelines regarding various do’s and don’ts while participating in a group discussion. These guidelines can help an individual to do lesser mistakes and perform better during a group discussion.

 

·         Be confident and relaxed.

·         Must have a reading habit. Try to read on different issues and fields. Having a good general awareness is an asset at the time of group discussion

·         Always carry a pen and a paper to note down important instructions. A paper is also comes handy at the time of organizing your thoughts related to given topic.

  • Read the given topic atleast three times and try to understand its meaning and context.
  • Taking initiative is a good thing but it should not be hasty. For an initiation you must have clarity of topic and strong viewpoints to put forward.
  • Speak clearly and confidently. Clarity of speech improves the understanding of other members of the group. The speaker must focus on pronunciation, speed, variation, expressions while presenting his viewpoint.
  • Listening skills are very important. You must develop a patience to listen to the viewpoints of other members. Do not jump into the mid of discussion.
  • Try to encourage those members who are submissive or not taking active part in the discussion.
  • If possible try to remember names of all members of the group.
  • Try to steer the discussion of the group towards a conclusive stage.
  • Do not try to dominate the group. Remember it’s a group activity and collectively you are supposed to come to a conclusion. Always keep your views to the point.
  • Cite examples and reasons for your viewpoints. By this way you can put forward your point better than others.
  • Before putting forward your views, try to summarize the views of previous speakers.
  • Organize your viewpoints from strongest to weakest and try to present them as soon as possible. If you wait too long to present your views, chances are there someone else will present them.
  • While addressing to other members of the group always make an eye contact. It displays your confidence and improves your connectivity with the listener.
  • Be open to criticism during a discussion. Do not think that all your viewpoints would be accepted by others. Others are all participating and critically appraising your views. Even if criticism happens, keep your calm and politely reply with your counter argument.
  • Keep a track of time and guide the group to conclude the discussion within the stipulated time.
  • Take an opportunity to summarize the major points emerged during discussion.
  • Clearly mention the conclusion of the discussion.
  • Take very good care of your gestures especially hand movements. Ignorance on this part could offend others and put you in bad light. Never point your fingers towards other members while presenting a viewpoint.
  • Try to gain consensus among the members of the group.
  • Never shout while presenting your views.
  • Avoid showing aggression while presenting your views.
  •  It is bad to make personal remarks just to prove your point. Keep your discussion in line with the topic.
  • Be polite while interrupting an ongoing discussion.
  • Address all the members while presenting your views and avoid indulging in one to one discussions.
  • If moderator or judges are sitting in the same room, never present your viewpoints while looking into their eyes. Remember, for a group discussion they are not the part of the group.
  • Try to avoid speaking in a flat tone. Give appropriate stress while putting forward your views. This stress on words helps to emphasize the key element of your viewpoint.
  1. Expressions and their Purpose:

   While participating in group discussion we are bound give certain expressions. Following is a list of few expressions and purpose for which these could be used:

  1. Evaluation of a Group Discussion:

   Apart from organization, group discussion plays an important role in selection and admission process. In order to assess the quality of candidates extensive evaluation criteria is generally followed. At this point we are clearly aware that through a group discussion more than one aspect of an individual can be assessed at the same time. For evaluation, an evaluation sheet is prepared and provided to the panel of judges. This evaluation sheet mentions the different criteria on which a candidate has to be judged. Sometimes, weightage of a parameter in total evaluation is also mentioned. Following table specifies various actions that a participant has to show in order to perform well on a given criteria.

12.  Summary:

A group discussion is a systematic oral communication activity wherein all the participants interact with each other for exchange of ideas and thoughts to fulfil a purpose. Purpose can be to arrive at a solution, exchange information, provide views, or create an accord. For an effective group discussion, number of participant can be in the range of eight to fifteen. Discussing in groups also encourages presentation of creative ideas and solutions to a problem. All the decisions made under group discussion have lesser resistance in adoption and wider acceptability. Group discussion is a popular tool amongst corporate for selecting a suitable candidate. It helps an organization to assess the personality of an individual and determine the fit between a candidate and the organization or job. In group discussion different roles such as initiator, connector, booster, critic and tracker could be played by participants. A participant has to take care about various do’s and don’ts of group discussion in order to perform better than others. Through a group discussion more than one aspect of an individual can be assessed at the same time. These aspects are communication skills, leadership qualities, interpersonal skills, group behaviour and analytical skills. Evaluation of group discussion is done on pre-determined criteria.

you can view video on Group Discussion

Few important links to learn more about Group Discussion:

 

  • http://www.placementor.com/resources/group_discussion_skills.htm
  • http://www.htcampus.com/article/skills-required-group-discussion-1213/
  • http://placement.freshersworld.com/power-preparation/gd-preparation/basic-skills-required-gd-39693
  • http://www.idemployee.id.tue.nl/g.w.m.rauterberg/lecturenotes/UFTgroupdiscussion.pdf
  • http://www.indiabix.com/group-discussion/topics-with-answers/

 

Did you know?

 

Techniques to Initiate a Group Discussion

  • Quotes
  • Definition
  • Question
  • Shock statement
  • Facts, figures and statistics
  • Short story
  • General statement

For details access the source:

 

Source: http://www.rediff.com/getahead/2005/feb/16gd.htm

 

Few Group Discussion topics:

  • Self-respect marriages should be made legal everywhere in India
  • Does India lack a nuclear vision?
  • Advantages and Disadvantages of Adventure Sports
  • Lok Adalats – Advantages and Disadvantages?
  • Younger generation is more practical than older
  • Water resources should be nationalized
  • Journalism should be out of the premises of censorship

 

For details access the source:

Source: http://www.careerride.com/Group-Discussion.aspx

 

 

Points to Ponder:

 

  • A Group Discussion (GD) is a systematic oral communication activity.
  • Purpose of GD could be to arrive at a solution, exchange information, provide views, or create an accord.
  • Number of participant can be in the range of eight to fifteen.
  • Decisions made under group discussion have lesser resistance in adoption.
  • It is a popular tool amongst corporate for selecting a suitable candidate.
  • It assesses the fit between a candidate and the organization or job.
  • In GD different roles such as initiator, connector, booster, critic and tracker could be played by participants.
  • A participant has to take care about various do’s and don’ts of group discussion in order to perform better than others.
  • A GD can assess communication skills, leadership qualities, interpersonal skills, group behaviour and analytical skills.
  • Evaluation of group discussion is done on pre-determined criteria.