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Widening the thinking cap

EducationPlus Different persons have varied understanding of a concept and when a topic unfolds in a group study, the horizons widen thanks to different angles of thinking. That's what group discussions are all about

With Common Admission Test (CAT) behind them, students should now focus on getting set for other management entrance tests (XAT, FMS, JMET, IIFT, etc.) and preparing for group discussions (GDs).

If all goes well, GDs will be next hurdle they'll have to cross. GDs are not just a formality. At most reputable B-schools, they play a significant role in the admission process.

The number of students called for GDs by B-schools fluctuates widely. At IIMs, it's three or four times the number of seats while at others it's eight to 10 times. The good thing, however, is that your performance in a GD can be improved significantly by systemic preparation.

GDs start with eight to 15 participants who are assigned a topic, which they are asked to discuss among themselves. Sometimes, participants are given a case and asked to propose a solution to a problem that the case highlights. Certain topics call for a solid knowledge base (e.g. "Successive governments in India have not done enough for the development of the North-East") while others (e.g. "Love marriages are major failures in a country like India") can be handled even without a great deal of research work.

Major parameters

Major evaluation parameters are content, communication, group behaviour and leadership skills. There will be one or more moderators (who will typically be faculty members of the B-school) coordinating the GD and evaluating each student's performance.

Content forms the most important parameter. You should start your preparation immediately. Read general and business magazines of the last eight to 10 months. As you read, make notes covering key issues for easy recall.

Next, address the communication area. Communication does not mean high-sounding language or accented English. Do not worry if your English is not as good as that of a lot of others.

What the moderator will look for at a GD is how good your thought process is and how well you are able to express your ideas.

Group behaviour refers to the way you interact with the other members of the group. In a GD, you are expected to "discuss" the topic with others. So, do not try to impose your views on other members.

At the same time, do not get steamrolled by anyone. While GDs often represent scenes of noisy verbal duels, you must strive to maintain the minimum decorum and bring order to the group. This responsibility must be shared equally by all members.

Leadership skills refer to the ability of participants to guide the group through the discussion to ensure that members do not stray from the topic as well as to ensure that the group covers all relevant issues for the given topic.

At most GDs, moderators do not impose a time limit on anyone nor do they expect participants to take turns to speak. All they want to know is how well participants interact with each other.

So, if someone suggests that everybody should take turns, don't forget to point out the logic behind such a suggestion.

In some GDs, the moderator may ask you to write a summary of the discussion. Be prepared for this event.

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