www.mbatutes.

com
www.mbatutes.com
GD checks certain personality traits in you:
–   Team Skills -  Communication
skills
–   Convincing Skills - Leadership skills
–   Initiative -  Assertiveness
–   Flexibility -  Creativity
– Listening Skills - Awareness
www.mbatutes.com
Panelists assess you on:
 Leadership Skills
 Communication Skills
 Interpersonal Skills
 Persuasive Skills
 And the most important TEAM SKILLS

GD is a test of your ability to think, your analytical

capabilities and your ability to make your point in a
team-based environment.

www.mbatutes.com
- Wait for ‘LULL’ periods.
- Be ready with your point.
- Be firm and crisp.
- Make a short but strong point.

Remember: Its not about the AIRTIME you get.

Its about the VALUE ADDITION you do to
the discussion.

www.mbatutes.com
 Initiator - Information seeker
 Information giver - Procedure facilitator
 Opinion seeker - Opinion giver
 Clarifier - Social Supporter
 Harmonizer - Tension Reliever
 Energizer - Compromiser
 Gatekeeper - Summarizer

www.mbatutes.com
 Disgruntled non-participant
 Attacker
 Dominator
 Patronizer
 Clown

www.mbatutes.com
 Initiation Techniques
- KWA Approach
 Body of the group discussion
- Build Structure of GD before starting.
 Summarization/ Conclusion

www.mbatutes.com
 GD’s can be topic-based or case-based.
1. Factual Topics
E.g. The education policy of any country, Tourism, State of the aged in the nation.

2. Controversial Topics
E.g. Reservations should be removed, Women make better managers  
3. Abstract Topics
E.g. Red is Red, Green is Green.

 Case-based GD
The case study tries to simulate a real-life situation.

www.mbatutes.com
 Observe
› How do other students make critical comments?
› How do they ask questions?
› How do they disagree with or support arguments?
› What special phrases do they use to show politeness even when they are
voicing disagreement?
› How do they signal to interrupt, ask a question or make a point?
 Practice
› Start practicing your discussion skills in an informal setting or with a
small group.
 Participate
› Take every opportunity to take part in social/informal discussions

www.mbatutes.com
 Speak pleasantly and politely .
 Respect the contribution of others.
 Learn to disagree politely.
 Think about your contribution before you speak.
 Be aware of your body language when you are
speaking.
 Agree with and acknowledge what you find
interesting.

www.mbatutes.com
 Lose your temper.
 Shout. Use a moderate tone and medium pitch.
 Use too many gestures when you speak. Gestures
like finger pointing and table thumping can appear
aggressive.
 Dominate the discussion.
 Draw too much on personal experience or anecdote.
 Interrupt. Wait for a speaker to finish what they are
saying before you speak. 

www.mbatutes.com
www.mbatutes.com