Entries Tagged 'GD / PI / CV' ↓

Never do this in your GD !!

• Do not use slang like Yaar, Univ, Princi, etc.

• Do not pepper your language with an accent.

• Do not use verbal tics such as Hmm, like, But, etc.

• Do not use verbal stresses unless a method actor like Al Pacino or Naseeruddin Shah trains you for it.

• Never bluff as the panel will easily figure out that you are an accomplished liar.

• Never show up late.

• Never get defensive or try to rationalize.

• No negative words about anyone.

• Never give an answer that does not answer the question asked.

• Never allow yourself to lose focus after a string of unanswered questions.

Wise men learn from others mistakes, while the less fortunate, from their own.

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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

Remember the DOs & DONT’s before attending any GD. They can really save you at times!!

Be as natural as possible. Do not try and be someone you are not. Be yourself.
A group discussion is your chance to be more vocal. The evaluator wants to hear you speak. Take time to organize your thoughts. Think of what you are going to say. Seek clarification if you have any doubts regarding the subject. Don’t start speaking until you have clearly understood and analyzed the subject.

Work out various strategies to help you make an entry: initiate the discussion or agree with someone else’s point and then move onto express your views. Opening the discussion is not the only way of gaining attention and recognition. If you do not give valuable insights during the discussion, all your efforts of initiating the discussion will be in vain.

Your body language says a lot about you - your gestures and mannerisms are more likely to reflect your attitude than what you say.

Language skills are important only to the effect as to how you get your points across clearly and fluently.

Be assertive not dominating; try to maintain a balanced tone in your discussion and analysis. Don’t lose your cool if anyone says anything you object to. The key is to stay objective: Don’t take the discussion personally. Always be polite: Try to avoid using extreme phrases like: `I strongly object’ or `I disagree’. Instead try phrases like: `I would like to share my views on…’ or `One difference between your point and mine…’ or “I beg to differ with you” Brush up on your leadership skills; motivate the other members of the team to speak (this surely does not mean that the only thing that you do in the GD is to say “let us hear what the young lady with the blue scarf has to say,” or “Raghu, let us hear your views” - Essentially be subtle), and listen to their views. Be receptive to others’ opinions and do not be abrasive or aggressive. If you have a group of like-minded friends, you can have a mock group discussion where you can learn from each other through giving and receiving feedback.

Apart from the above points, the panel will also judge team members for their alertness and presence of mind, problem-solving abilities, ability to work as a team without alienating certain members, and creativity.

- Computers result in unemployment.
- The parliamentary form of democracy has failed in India.
- Consumer satisfaction should be achieved at any cost.
- Managers do not add value to the society.
- Democracy is the only way to a sustained economic growth.
- Should youth indulge in politics?
- Liberalisation in 1991 was a forced one.
- Democracy is a luxury in India.
- Business Ethics.
- Infrastructure and India.
- Effectiveness of economic embargo on Iraq.
- The parliamentary form of democracy has failed in India.
- Consumer satisfaction should be achieved at any cost.
- Managers do not add value to the society.

Topics of various GDs performed in IIM B

- MBAs should be taxed at higher rates in the country.
- Are we raising a generation of burnt out children?
- The government should stop funding the IITs and the IIMs and, instead, divert the funds to primary education.
- Profit is the only business of business.
- Democracy has hampered India’s progress.
- India should be reorganized into smaller states.
- Growth and integrity are poles apart.
- Managerial skills learnt from classroom can never match those learnt from experience.
- Government should reduce defence expenditure and spend more on social sector.
- The UN has not served any purpose in the last decade.
- Religion is a private matter and should be no concern of the state.
- Is corrupt but efficient politicians better than honest and in-efficient politicians.
- Beauty contests do little to improve the stature of women.
- To sustain India’s integrity it is necessary to devolve more power to states.
- Women reservation in parliament is against the tenets of democracy.

Topics of Group Discussions performed at IIM C

- Is bureaucracy a hindrance to economic reforms in India?
- Under Indian parliamentary democracy it is impossible to ensure balanced regional development.
- For the poorer sections of society, a state controlled economy is better than a liberalized economy.
- Industrial growth in the next millennium will depend a lot on how we tackle the environmental issues.
- Food comes first, ethics later.
- In India democracy is nothing but politicised monarchy.
- New Delhi should not be the capital of India.
- Industrial growth and environmental care do not go hand in hand.
- TV commercials should be banned.
- To survive in the civilized world one needs to be hypocrite.
- Money is the sixth sense without which one cannot enjoy the other five.
- Advanced mathematics has no value in life.
- Efficiency and corruption go hand in hand.
- Welcome back socialism.
- Information Technology.
- TV Commercials should be banned.
- Politics and economics go together.
- Winning is not the important thing, it is the only thing.
- It is all the fault of the politicians.
- We need more management schools than primary schools.
- The medium of teaching in schools should be English.
- Efficiency and corruption go hand in hand.
- Advanced mathematics is of no use in every day life.
- Welcome back socialism.
- To survive in a civilized world one needs to be a hypocrite.

Topics of GDs performed at IIM L

- Film-makers are indulging in cinematic Fortitution in the name of folk culture.
- Corruption is the main outcome of democracy in India.
- The formation of European Union has a drastic effect on India’s trade.
- Knowledge is the awareness of one’s ignorance.
- Virtue has its own reward.
- Is the job of a manager to do the right things or to do things rightly?
- Coke and Pepsi should be driven out of India.
- Can religion be kept out of politics?
- Religious fundamentalism is more dangerous than regionalism.
- International embargo: the US is going too far.
- India-Pakistan relation: has it reached a point of no return?
- ‘Tryst with destiny’ — has India redeemed its pledge?
- Is India ready for e-commerce?
- Has the time come to eradicate the nuclear weapons?
- All education should be exclusively provided by the government.
- Tryst with destiny - Has India redeemed its pledge.
- Indo-Pak relations – more rhetoric, less substance.
- Money is the sixth sense.
- All Education should be exclusively provided by the government.
- Indo-Pak relations – point of no return.

Topics of Group Discussions performed at IIM Kozikhode.

Women’s empowerment will lead to social development.
Is corrupt but efficient politicians better than honest and in-efficient politicians.

In one GD a paper clipping from one of leading newspapers was given and candidates were asked to read for 5 minutes and after that 15 minutes was given for discussion.

Paper clippings were :
Chinese goods - dumping or marketing.
‘A means of political awakening’.
The interviewer is checking whether the candidate can grasp the idea fast and discuss in detail on the topic.

IIM Kozhikode Other GD Topics

Science and not rhetoric underpins the National Policy.
Human rights impedes economic programme.
Women empowerment is the basis for social development.
Subsidies for higher studies should be done away with.

Topics of GDs performed at SCMHRD !!

The money being put into cricket is harming the development of other sports.
IT boom in India.
Large Dams are a must for India’s development.
Leaders should be followers first.
Should the Government ban India from playing cricket match in sharjah? Justify.
Why more girls choose Human Relations Management.
Advertising and ethics.
IT: What does the future hold? Recommendation?
Conscription should be made compulsory.
Why is patriotism lacking in India?
What Ails India more – corruption or Overpopulation.
What should India do to preserve its IT command over the World.
India should not aspire to be a nuclear super power.
Bureaucracy is root cause of India’s social and economic problems.
Do B-Schools make business leaders or mere managers.

WTO – Effects on consumer – 40 mins
Kumbh Management / IT hype / Budget proposal – 40 mins
Honesty as a value is lost – how can it be regained? – 40 mins
Suggestions to reduce oil pool deficit – 40 mins
India – a nuclear state – pros and cons – 40 mins

Ethics in advertising .
Suggestions to Informatrion and Broadcasting Ministry to improve it’s services.
Divorce is a necessary evil.
Beauty contents: Is it justifiable?
How to make people listen.
Hype regarding boom in IT industry.
Corruption is a neccesary evil for success in any sphere of life.
Unethical advertising: where should the line should be drawn?
Tenets of effective communication.

Ceasefire in Kashmir will bring peace - 15 minutes
How can India achieve true democracy - 20 minutes
How to change people’s behaviour from being lazy, casual, pretentious.

In some GDs - a subjective topic is preferred over others. This list contains some of these topics categorized under different heads.

POLITICAL:

Should Indian Railways be privatized
Impact of Globalization on India
India’s Security Concern
Liberalization of Insurance Sector: Pros and Cons
Appropriateness of reservation policy in India
Public Sector Disinvestment
Privatization is the need of the hour in Indian Industry
The USA is the biggest threat to World Peace
Reservation for Women in Education & Service
Indian corporate are puppets in the hands of Indian Politicians
Is India’s increasing expenditure on defense justified
Should India make peace with Pakistan
Will more autonomy to states jeopardize the unity of the nation
If we were Planning Commission Members
How can the Indian Political system be improved
Rural Development is a political issue, rather than something of substance
Parliamentary democracy is an obstacle to economic growth in India
Can politicians survive without corruption
Criminalization of politics in India – Causes and Remedies
There should be reservation for the silent middle income population of India
A politician’s private life should not be the public’s conscience
Politicians & Industrialists nexus

ECONOMIC:

Infrastructure alone cannot improve India’s standing in the International arena
Globalization is bad for Indian companies
Infrastructure development is of prime importance for India in the next millennium
All nationalized banks in India should be privatized
Total Liberalization is the only way for economic development in India
In a country like India, Public sector is vital for national development
How much should India depend on IMF for loan
Is India’s expenditure on hi-tech areas justified from the social and economic point of view
India as you visualize in the year 2020
The finance minister has not done anything for the common man
India’s should emphasize more on SSI & MSI for employment
The fruits of economic policy can be reaped only if there is a strong political system
In the long run, the current economic policies will lead to MNCs dominating the Indian economy and society
Growing consumerism is an indicator of the nation’s economic prosperity
Invasion of MNCs is a drain on the resources of India
Family run businesses are the backbone of Indian Economy

EDUCATION:

Brain Drain is good for the country
All higher education in India should be privatized
Standardization of Textbooks is the best tool for national integration
The govt should stop funding IITs and IIMs and instead provide the funds to primary education
The present education system perpetuates inequality

ENVIRONMENT:

Pollution is a price you pay for economic development
Developed Countries are damaging the eco-system of the earth
Urban pollution has been blown out of proportion
Economic development at the cost of Ecological Degradation

ETHICS AND LAW:

Is cloning of humans ethical
What should be the objective of a company – profits or customer
Are ethics and business compatible
Entry of MNCs & their business ethics
Principles of Mahatma Gandhi; are they valid today?
Social justice and equity is more important than economic equity and justice
The constitution of Indian needs to be re-looked at

TECHNOLOGY:

Computerization in India may lead to labor unrest
Technological growth is more important than social cohesion for the advancement of a nation
Excessive computerization is stealing jobs from the people

MBA:

Our country needs more MBAs than technocrats
Professional management is a must to attain targeted growth
Indian Management should find its own ethos, American & Japanese paradigms wont work
Public sector should be handed over to independent professional managers
Will the mushrooming of MBA institutes in India produce professional managers
Management graduates are more interested in salaries & jobs rather than management as a course

SOCIAL:

Can India still boast about being a secular country
The demand for foreign brands has overtaken that for our home grown brands
Vada-pav vs. Mc Donald Burger
Communism has lost its relevance
Cinema is at most entertainment with a degenerating effect
Journalism should be out of the premises of censorship
In our society, leadership should be entrusted to the youth ad not to the old
Educated Indian lacks national commitment
Beauty contests don’t fit into the Indian culture
Terrorism is like a virus – very easy to spread, very difficult to contain
Television! An idiot box or knowledge provider
Are we producing a generation of burnt out children
We have exchanged our golden heritage for a pair of blue jeans
TV and Cinema have more evil effects than beneficial

SPORTS:

Is cricket hampering the growth of other sports in India
The making of great sportsmen requires a good infrastructure
The future of Indian Sport