Develop your views on the frequently discussed topics………

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a) Leave the company
b) Try to bring about a change

She had an earning of Rs.203 from this venture. She used to sell these bottles at Rs. 10/bottle when market price for such pickle was Rs.16. Since she was handpicking her tomatoes her quality was also maintained. A friend told her that if she did this exercise just 4 times a month then she would be able to earn more than what she is presently earning with her rope trade. A young graduate Sheela heard about Kaveri Amma’s business and offered her a loan of Rs.15000 to set up pickle making unit plus a Rs. 5000 grant. Should Kaveri accept this offer??

~ Key Word Approach

In any GD topic, there will be keywords that are loaded with meaning and open to interpretation. You should use these words to derive points to discuss.

~ Viewpoints of Affected Parties

The group should look at the pros and cons of the topic, and try to bring forth their views on the parties which would probably be affected by any decision (adverse or otherwise) taken.

~ Socio-cultural, Political, Economic, Legal, and Technological angles to the given topic

Students should analyze a given topic using multiple angles.

Students should bear in mind that it may not be possible to use each of the above mentioned approaches in isolation for every topic. They should try using a combination of approaches in order to generate the maximum number of points that they can use effectively in a Group Discussion.

“How to prepare”

‘Taking it as it comes’ is certainly not the right approach towards something as critical as a GD. If you wait till you get a call, you will not be left with any time to prepare at all. You need to understand that most students would have started their GD preparation already. By clearing the written test, you have cleared just one hurdle. From now on, the competition becomes stiffer, as each student who receives a call is as motivated as you to get into a top B-School.

To improve your knowledge, read a general newspaper and a business newspaper everyday to keep abreast of current events and business- related news. You should also make it a point to read one general magazine and one business magazine to supplement newspaper reading. In the different articles that you read, concentrate on the core part of the issue rather than dwelling on its superficial aspects. Make regular notes on each article you read and try to convert them into points. This will help you remember them better. Always make it a point to read articles that cover a range of issues to increase your knowledge on a wide variety of topics. Avoid sticking to articles whose core issues you are already comfortable with.

If you are not doing this already, get cracking immediately!

The Group Discussion is essentially used as pointer to assess a student in the following areas:
- Communication skills
- Clarity of thought
- Inter-personal behavior
- Ability to work in a team
- Reasoning ability
- Leadership skills
- Initiative
- Assertiveness
- Flexibility
- Creativity
- Ability to think on ones feet

Reasons for having a GD
- It helps you to understand a subject more deeply.
- It improves your ability to think critically.
- It helps in solving a particular problem.
- It helps the group to make a particular decision.
- It gives you the chance to hear other students’ ideas.
- It improves your listening skills.
- It increases your confidence in speaking.
- It can change your attitudes.

Topic based GDs can be classified into three types :-

1. Factual Topics
2. Controversial Topics
3. Abstract Topics

Factual Topics:-
Factual topics are about practical things, which an ordinary person is aware of in his day-to-day life. Typically these are about socio-economic topics. These can be current, i.e. they may have been in the news lately, or could be unbound by time. A factual topic for discussion gives a candidate a chance to prove that he is aware of and sensitive to his environment.
E.g. Democracy is a luxury in India, Indian Railways, State of the aged in the nation.

Controversial Topics:-
Controversial topics are the ones that are argumentative in nature. They are meant to generate controversy. In GDs where these topics are given for discussion, the noise level is usually high, there may be tempers flying. The idea behind giving a topic like this is to see how much maturity the candidate is displaying by keeping his temper in check, by rationally and logically arguing his point of view without getting personal and emotional.
E.g. Reservations should be removed, GDs as a means of selection by the IIMs are a farce, Women make better managers, Relegion & Politics.

Abstract Topics:-
Abstract topics are about intangible things. These topics are not given often for discussion, but their possibility cannot be ruled out. These topics test your lateral thinking and creativity.
E.g. When red meets red, Twinkle twinkle little star, Virtue has its own reward, The number 1.

Case-based GD:-
Another variation is the use of a case instead of a topic.
The case study tries to simulate a real-life situation. Information about the situation will be given to you and you would be asked as a group to resolve the situation. In the case study there are no incorrect answers or perfect solutions. The objective in the case study is to get you to think about the situation from various angles.
IIM A, IIM Indore and IIT SOM Mumbai have a case-based discussion rather than topic-based discussion in their selection procedures.

Observe
Attend as many seminars and tutorials as possible and notice what other students do. Ask yourself:
• 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. Start with asking questions of fellow students. Ask them about the course material. Ask for their opinions. Ask for information or ask for help.

Participate
Take every opportunity to take part in social/informal discussions as well as more structured/formal discussion. Start by making small contributions to tutorial discussions; prepare a question to ask, or agree with another speaker’s remarks.

• 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.

There are 3.22 Million Indians in America
38% of Doctors in America are Indians.
12% of Scientists in America are Indians.
36% of NASA employees are Indians.
34% of MICROSOFT employees are Indians
28% of IBM employees are Indians
17% of INTEL employees are Indians
13% of XEROX employees are Indians
23% of Indian Community in America is having Green-Card
India never invaded any country in her last 10000 years of history.
India invented the Number System. Aryabhatta invented zero.
The World’s first university was established in Takshila in 700BC.
More than 10,500 students from all over the world studies more than 60 subjects. The University of Nalanda built in the 4th century BC was one of the greatest achievements of ancient India in the field of education.
Sanskrit is the mother of all the European languages. Sanskrit is the most suitable language for computer software - a report in Forbes magazine, July 19877.
Ayurveda is the earliest school of medicine known to humans.
Charaka, the father of medicine consolidated Ayurveda 2500 years ago.
Today Ayurveda is fast regaining its rightful place in our civilization.
Although modern images of India often show poverty and lack of development, India was the richest country on earth until the time of British invasion in the early 17th Century.
The art of Navigation was born in the river Sindh 6000 years ago.
The very word Navigation is derived from the Sanskrit word NAVGATIH.
The word navy is also derived from Sanskrit ‘Nou’.
Bhaskaracharya calculated the time taken by the earth to orbit the sun hundreds of years before the astronomer Smart. Time taken by earth to orbit the sun: (5th century)365.258756484 days.

The value of “pi” was first calculated by Budhayana, and he explained the concept of what is known as the Pythagorean Theorem. He discovered this in the 6th century long before the European mathematicians.
Algebra, trigonometry and calculus came from India.
Quadratic equations were by Sridharacharya in the 11th century.
The largest numbers the Greeks and the Romans used were 106 whereas Hindus used numbers as big as 1053(10 to the power of (53) with specific names as early as 5000 BCE during the Vedic period. Even today, the largest used number is Tera 1012(10 to the power of 12).
According to the Gemological Institute of America, up until 1896,
India was the only source for diamonds to the world.
USA based IEEE has proved what has been a century old suspicion in the world scientific community that the pioneer of wireless communication was Prof. Jagdeesh Bose and not Marconi.

The earliest reservoir and dam for irrigation was built in Saurashtra.
According to Saka King Rudradaman I of 150 CE a beautiful lake called ‘Sudarshana’ was constructed on the hills of Raivataka during Chandragupta Maurya’s time.
Chess (Shataranja or AshtaPada) was invented in India.
Sushruta is the father of surgery. 2600 years ago he and health scientists of his time conducted complicated surgeries like cesareans, cataract, artificial limbs, fractures, urinary stones and even plastic surgery and brain surgery. Usage of anesthesia was well known in ancient India. Over 125 surgical equipment were used. Deep knowledge of anatomy, physiology, etiology, embryology, digestion, metabolism, genetics and immunity is also found in many texts.

When many cultures were only nomadic forest dwellers over 5000 years ago, Indians established Harappan culture in Sindhu valley(Indus Valley Civilization)
The place value system, the decimal system was developed in India in 100 BC.
Kharagpur railway station has the world’s longest railway platform.
India ranks first in mango production.
The Manali-Leh Road has the world’s highest bridge.
India ranks 1st in milk production.
The Banyan tree at the botanical Gardens, Calcutta, provides the largest canopy - 1.2 hectares.

India ranks 1st in raw sugar production.
India ranks 1st in tea production.
India is the World’s largest producer of mica blocks and splits.
India has the world’s largest postal network.
Indian Railways is the world’s single largest employer.
Every 3rd technical person in the world is an Indian
The highest motor able road in the world is the Khardung-La Nightingale
Lata Mangeshkar has recorded the maximum number of songs - 30,000 songs in 20 different languages.
India ranks 1st in jute production
India produces the maximum number of movies in the world.
India has the world’s largest rail network.