Posted by TCYonline.com on June 9, 2010
Contributed by the students of IIM Lucknow
Group discussions are an important part of the selection process for any B-school and for an IIM it is all the more important as it’s the first time that the panel gets to see you and listen to you. To ensure that one does well in a group discussion, one has to prepare and practice.
Through this article, we will try and give some tips and techniques which can go a long way in helping the candidate come out with flying colors in the group discussion.
What should I always remember?
First things first, most candidates must remember that it’s a discussion and hence it involves both speaking and listening. Doing only one of the two will not be called a discussion and hence a candidate should ensure that he listens as much as he speaks.
Besides this, the purpose of a group discussion must be clear to a candidate. The purpose of a group discussion is to understand the given problem or topic in its entirety and to try and reach a logical conclusion or opinion. Enough time should be given to understand the problem and jumping to a conclusion is the biggest mistake one can make. Mere consensus building is not the real purpose.
The other most important aspect about a discussion is to approach the topic or the problem in a structured manner. One should not analyse a problem and suggest a solution without looking at the objectives, without weighing alternative solutions and without predicting the kind of challenges that may arise while implementing the proposed solution.
Besides, this one must try and come up with relevant examples to corroborate one’s argument since they add a lot of weight to the argument and clarifies what one intends to say. A candidate should also try and be creative and come up with ideas from what he has read.
Communication is an area that plays a very important role. A candidate must speak clearly, slowly and briefly. One must present his argument by giving relevant reasons and examples as it builds a stronger argument.
How do I prepare?
As far as the preparation for a GD is concerned, the candidate should read extensively. The reading should be done with the goal of building perspective and developing an understanding and not just merely remembering facts and figures.
We recommend that one should read articles from newspapers, business magazines, online and then pause for a while to think about what one has read. A candidate should question himself on his understanding of the article. For instance, if the article is on an important business acquisition, then he should ask questions such as “what does it mean for the company”, “how will the industry change as a result of this”, “what should a competitor do”, “what can be some of the problems that may arise”. This will help a candidate not only build perspective, but will also help him develop the ability to think.
Once a topic is given to a candidate, the candidate must try and look at some of the keywords from the topic to generate ideas. The candidate can also approach it from the point of view of affected parties. Practicing generating ideas and speaking can help. One can even stand in front of the mirror and practice.
In the end, a candidate should stay calm and confident to be able to think clearly and give good arguments. Remember that it’s a discussion and forget for some time that you have to perform. If one makes 3-4 good arguments during different times in the discussion, the one can sail through.
Source: http://getahead.rediff.com
Posted by TCYonline.com on June 5, 2010
Contributed By: Sidharth Balakrishna
The Group Discussion (GD) round is an important part of the selection process for MBA institutes. Different institutes assign varying weightage for GDs and interviews, but almost all institutes use this process to assess the suitability of the candidate for the course they offer.
Unfortunately, many students leave their preparation for GDs and interviews till too late. This is due to over-confidence at times, or lack of awareness on how to prepare for these rounds. In this article, we shed some light on the latter aspect so that prospective candidates can start working towards the fulfillment of their dreams.
Preparation strategy
Content
If you wish to speak well and make a good impression in a GD, you need to have a fair degree of comfort with the topic that is given to you. Without this, you will struggle to say much; or even if you do have a few points, others may state them before you get a chance.
Keep in mind that for GDs, you could be given any topic: it may pertain to politics, economics and business, sports, social issues. Also, topics are not limited to national or local issues, but could cover broader global themes.
So how can you prepare? You would need to read widely and extensively over a period of time. This will help you in bringing a unique perspective to the discussion which others may not have thought of. A sustained effort at reading about important issues, across a variety of topics, is crucial.
Having done your reading, try and predict topics that may be given to you — what are the important issues that are playing themselves out currently? For example, for this year, topics pertaining to climate change, the environment and global warming, the Commenwealth Games, the issues in Indian hockey, the re-organisation of states in the light of the Telengana agitation, the Womens’ Bill, etc are relevant.
Try and make notes on these topics. Add to your notes the moment you come across a relevant point.
Analysis
Candidates should try and demonstrate sound ability in analysing issues. The top management schools certainly look for this feature in your discussion. You should try and go beyond mere opinions and use robust logic, data and examples to justify your point of view.
For example, if you state that China is doing better than India in terms of the strength of its economy, how would you justify this? You could quote figures pertaining to the relative GDP of the two countries, their GDP growth, per capita incomes etc. You could speak about the relative availability and quality of infrastructure present in the two countries. Then you could speak about trade and the presence of a trade deficit or surplus in the two countries, etc.
Such points help you justify the opinion you may have expressed — that China is doing economically better than India.
How can you develop your ability on this parameter? Whenever you read something, ask yourself certain questions: why did a certain development take place? Whom does it impact and how? What are the likely future repercussions of that particular development?
Once again, make notes of important statistics, data etc which you feel could be useful for GDs.
Communication skills and teamwork
These skills are important and refer to the ability to effectively put across what you know. It is important to create an impact-besides content, the way you express your point is also evaluated.
I advise that you put your point across firmly and confidently, but not aggressively. Do not speak just for the sake of saying something and registering your participation — it can be negative if overdone. At the same time, it is absolutely vital to speak during a GD, and the earlier you do so, the better.
Remember also that speaking just once will not be enough. Try and make at least three interventions during the GD — be a regular participant.
In addition, teamwork is also evaluated — listen to your fellow participants. You can build on the points put forward by others. If challenging someone or opposing his point, try and do so in a polite, non-confrontational manner.
Need for practice
Finally, practicing in at least a few mock GDs may be very useful — you can practice keeping the above points in mind. Also, practice will increase your confidence levels of interacting in groups and you can develop your abilities in communicating effectively in a group. Remember, people will try to interrupt you — you need to learn how to handle it, and handle it well!
Source: http://getahead.rediff.com
Posted by TCYonline.com on June 3, 2010
Written By Mansi Praveen
MBA – Masters in Business Administration – these are the few words which have haunted me since the past three years of my life.
The series of mock tests, mock interviews, their results, mugging vocab, solving timed test papers..blah blah blah….i am sure all the MBA aspirants would be able to understand these feelings. These sentences would follow me like the puppy in the Hutch ( now Vodafone ) advertisement…wherever i go, my saga of MBA preparation follows 
A typical cribbing conversation in one complete cycle of form filling -> preparing -> final exams -> results -> interview >- final results would be :
Me: Yaar, this is the last time i am writing the CAT exam. if this time nothing happens, i will continue in my field ( whereas i knew that CAT form filling is going to be an endless festival for me which i would be celebrating each year, hehe)
Me again: You know, XYZ has got admission into ABC (choice of words is not coincidental!), i have been preparing for so long but nothing happens. It all about Luck and no hard work!
Me again: I hate this job, this year i am gonna prepare for GMAT, enough of CAT now. CAT doesn’t deserve me ( innocent me )
Me again:I will apply for executive MBA now..what is the eligibility criteria for that?
There are umpteen sentences i remember which I used to share with my noble friends ( Thanks guys for that).
But now, the story has ended. Finally i got admission into one of the reputed colleges in India and i am joining on 13th June.
As they say, it is not the destination which matters, rather the journey. My tryst with this journey has ended….have learnt a lot from it and value what i have got more so because of this journey…
Have loads of stuff to write about it, but finally ending it with the crux of what i have learnt from this – “Yes, luck does matter…but it is nothing in comparison to the hard work and conviction you put in to reach where you want to be!”
Posted by TCYonline.com on June 2, 2010
Contributed By CB
Reached B’lore in the morning of March 6. The push for a better infrastructure in the city seems to have made a leeeetle impact. Roads seemed to have become a bit better than the last time I was in B’lore.
Anyways, let me come to the point.
My interview was at 2.30. GD started with a case study. I was 5th in the group of 8 (1 guy did not turn up).
GD was a very simple topic. I started to speak and on the whole I think I did quite well. Easily among the top three performers and arguably the top performer. But I guess GD does not matter much.
Then the PI starts
2 profs took the interview. One person a very cordial smiling face. Let me call him P1. Second prof a bit of a serious type and “Cut the bullshit” look. Let me call him P2.
I go inside
P2: Let me see your certificates
P1: So Bala. Tell me about yourself. Not the usual stuff. We have read your SOP and all…but tell me something more about you as a person
Me : Usual start….then blah blah about my strengths. Told him about my nature and stuff. And then went on to hobbies….blah blah more…
P1: So you are a creative person. What have you done that makes you think you are creative…
Me: Sir, I blog. I write short stories, they have come in oracle magazine, and famous websites…blah blah…..
Also I make advertisement and posters for the Ora Vol Club and Emp. Club at oracle (wanted to take and show him the posters I had done from my file, but he said “thats ok…we believe you”)
Also in my own team I have done this and I have done that blah blah blah…
P1: Hmm…so are you a deviant?
Me: <>Hmm, sir, are you asking in a positive sense or a negative sense?
P1: I dont know. You tell me.
Me: If I take it in the postive sense then yes. I am not someone normal. I have certain abilities that make me special. I am creative. blah blah..more nonsense…
P1: So , you dont follow rules and ethics?
Me: No sir, if I take “deviant” to mean someone who does not follow ethics then I am not a deviant. I follow ethics.
P1 : So , tell me 2 people from India who are creative.
Me : Thyagaraja swamigal in carnatic music is a creative genius…he has done this he has done that blah blah
P1: Is he one of the trinity?
Me: Yes sir.
P2: Ok enough. Tell me someone who is alive.
Me: Infy Narayanamoorthy
P2: Ok tell me what he did that makes you think he is creative.
Me: Outsourcing. Pre 1991 Economic reform era. He was a person who spotted opportunity where there was none…blah blah
P2: Was it just him or his team?
Me: It was also Nandan Nilekani and others in his team
P2: Who else were there?
Me : I am not sure of the names of the others. But there was a team.
P2: So is Narayanamoorthy creative or his team?
Me: The team.
P2: Ok, so tell me, is being creative being innovative?
Me: …sir could you repeat that?
P2: If I say that I am creative, am I also innovative.
Me: Yes.
P2: So if I just sit and think about atoms and me flying amidst them , and doing arbit things, am I innovative?
Me: Sir, no. Just thinking about it is not enough. One should put his ideas into action, only then he becomes innovative.
P2: Ok, now to the GD. You were suggesting that the person use a AC Taxi, and reimburse the fair for non AC right?
Me: Yes sir.
P2: Now you are oracle sales head. Larry asks you to go to Argentina………..
lots of stories. And then he gives me an ethical vs. unethical drama…
Me: I chose to stick on to ethics at the cost of losing my money.
P2: So you will lose so much money from your pocket?
Me: Given all the conditions I would.
P2: Ok, then next larry asks you to repeat that excercise…..
Me: Oops. That puts me in a tricky situation indeed.
…..they decided to move on…
P1: Who are Oracle’s competitors and what is oracles most serious threat today….
Me: I wanted to take the ERP story….started off with acquisitions, SAP …..
P2 cut me
P2: Is ERP oracle’s primary business?
Me: No sir it is Databases.
P2: Then tell me about the competitors of Oracle DB
Me: Sir they are, IBM DB2, Microsoft SQL Server, Sybase, Teradata, MySQL
P2: Tell me about MySQL
Me: Sir it is a freeware
P2: Freeware?
Me: It is an open source Software
P2: Is open source same as freeware.
Me: No sir. Open source is not same as freeware. But My SQL is a open source available for free download on the internet (I think I went wrong here…not sure if it is a free download)
P2: Compare My SQL and Oracle
Me: Gen fundas….basically more robust…blah blah
P2: Yahoo.com uses MySQL. Why?
Me: some more fundas….Gave some large customers who use oracle
P2 was not satisfied and he said…
P2: Dont tell me why Oracle is good. Tell me how yahoo manages with MySQL
Me: Some fundas…such as Yahoo may have a lot of servers to handle the number of requests…
P2 went on to the next qn.
P2: So why MBA
Me: The usual fundas.
P2: Hey come on, why not a neurosurgeon. You can be a neuro surgeon and have all the things you just said.
Me: Sir, not in my interest….blah blah…
P2: Why here?
Me: Esteemed faculty, peer group…student exchange blah blah…
P2: Boss. You are not coming here to look at our old faces are you? There is something in you that motivates you to come here. What is that.
Me: Down the lane I want to be a business leader in the IT Space and I think IIM B is the right platform to get there.
P2: That is what I wanted to know. That will be all. Thanks for your time.
Me walked out…not knowing how it went…
Guess I will know soon….
Keeping fingers crossed for now…
Posted by NIRANJAN RAJPUROHIT on May 31, 2010
I had following calls – SIBM-Pune, SCMHRD, SPJAIN (Mumbai), XIMB, IIT Roorkee.
Since I attended so many GD, GT and PIs, it would not be possible for me to narrate all the experiences. However, I would like to share a few things which are very important for any college.
1) Be honest. Never bluff.
2) If you are a fresher, be prepared for technical questions like – ur final year project, ur seminar, ur training, ur favorite subject, etc
3) If you have work-ex, be prepared for questions related to business of ur company like – who were ur clients, what was the business of the clients, ur company’s hierarchy, sales and turnover of ur company, number of employees, etc.
4) Interview is a pre-planned game. Pls understand this. Go prepared with answers for all the question like – introduce urself, why MBA, why this particular college, ur hobbies, ur strengths, weakness, career goals, etc.
5) For every question, ur answer shud be logical and if the interviewer asks, u shud be able to give suitable examples to justify wat u have said.
6) Be prepared for cross-questions.
7) Smile wen u enter the room.
Come formally dressed. Proper haircut and clean shaven. It is very important. .
9) Remain updated about all GK and current affairs stuff. Read morning’s newspaper on the day of interview.
10) Always have a stand and have ur own opinion about whatever is asked to u, esp. in the case of debatable issues and current affairs.
11) Never talk about placements in the interview. Never compare any college.
12) Do a lot of research about the college before attending its interview. It helps u to speak confidently in the interview wen asked for questions related to why mba and why this college, etc.
13) Be thorough about ur hobbies. It is very much possible that ur entire interview can go discussing ur hobbies. If u don’t know all the details, say, about ur favourite game, u are out. It gives a very bad impression.
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