Why is Group Discussion conducted for admission into the MBA program?

Group Discussion is generally conducted after a candidate gets a shortlist for a B school. It is a setting where multiple students are invited to discuss and debate on a topic. This is conducted for the following reasons :

• It tests a candidate’s level of confidence when speaking in front of a group of people and ability to engage in a healthy conversation with peers
• It checks your body language and Behavior when others are speaking. How well a candidate responds to disagreement, non-acceptance of ideas, etc.
• MBA students are going to become managers in the future so it checks on a candidate’s ability to convince others but in a polite manner without disregarding their ideas.
• GD topics are generally around current affairs or debates or social stigmas, so a candidate’s awareness, opinions and point of views are known.
• It serves as a good judge of character for a person and makes a foundation for selection or rejection.

This also plays a crucial role in checking how you play into group dynamics and these parameters are also tested whilst you are a part of a GD amongst others that are already mentioned above or which might already be known to people.

The GD environment is also pretty unfamiliar as you are probably meeting the other panelists for the first time and your ability to strike a chord with them becomes imperative how quickly you are able to connect with them and get your points heard becomes crucial and is also tested.

Finally, interviewers are also tired of candidates going through the motions and parroting out rehearsed lines and thus a GD serves as one of the ways in which they can sift out candidates and latch onto candidates who are street smart and those who have the ability to think on their feet and react to unfamiliar or uncomfortable situations.