GD Peer Evaluation Sheet _ Guidelines

Date: ______________________Time Slot: ______________Group: _____________________

Topic: ________________________________________________________________________

Evaluator: ____________________________________________________________________

PARAMETER	Weightage	Cand 1	Cand 2	Cand 3	Cand 4	Cand 5	Cand 6	Cand 7	Cand 8	Cand 9	Cand  10
Content Subject knowledge	3
Creativity and originality	1
Voice Tone and pitch	2
Body language Posture Eye Contact	1
Analytical Ability	1
Fluency	2
Initiative	1
Leadership	1
Group Behaviour	1
Enthusiasm	1
Listening	1
TOTAL marks

ii. Rating

1	3	5	8	10	12	15m
WORST	VERY BAD	BAD	NEUTRAL	GOOD	VERY GOOD	EXCELLENT

Note: Candidate who does not speak anything in the GD will not be rated on any of the above-mentioned parameters. A candidate should be rated 1 or 15 only when s/he is exceptionally bad or good. Different parameters on which a candidate will be evaluated are mentioned in the sheet above.

Instruction for panelists/ peer evaluators

Content

Subject knowledge

The candidate should express his opinions based on facts, figures and statistics. Based on his knowledge related to the topic, a corresponding rating on the scale should be chosen. Please note that content should include only facts and opinions. No other parameter has to be taken into account while rating a candidate on Content.

If it is a case study, kindly judge a candidate on his ability to read between the lines and his ability to draw analogies to real life situations based on the case study.

Creativity and originality

Creativity and originality will be gauged based on innovative or thought provoking idea by a candidate. If a candidate is supporting another candidate’s viewpoint his score on this parameter will be less howsoever good his content is. This parameter has a huge significance in Abstract GDs and Case studies.

Voice

There are two sub parameters ie Tone and Modulation. If a person is audible in a GD he scores high on tone and pitch.

Voice modulation is based on the ability of a candidate to emphasise on key words/phrases while making his point.

Body language

Posture

A candidate should sit attentively in a GD. He should bend a bit forward. This shows his attentiveness and interest in the GD.

A nodding head means a candidate is a good listener and this is a positive body language.

Candidates who cross their legs or fold their arms should be rated negatively.

This shows lack of inclination towards communication and a casual attitude. Pointing fingers, fists etc are negative gestures and candidates should be penalized for the same.

Candidates should put their pen down once the GD has started and should refrain from writing anything when the GD is in progress. At the most they can write few important points in the GD, which will help them in summarizing the GD later.

Eye Contact

Proper eye contact with the group is an essential requisite. A candidate should talk to his team members, not to the examiner.

Talking to examiner should be rated negatively. A candidate should have a proper eye contact with all the members of the group and not only a chosen few.

Analytical ability
 

This includes both logical and critical reasoning. This checks how well a candidate is able to analyse somebody’s viewpoint and also how well is he able to reason his own viewpoint.

Fluency

Fluency should be checked on the following two parameters:

i.             Smoothness in flow of Language

ii.           Pronunciation

Initiative

This parameter takes into consideration only the student who has initiated the GD. If he initiates well and is able to put the GD into the right perspective rate him/her high but if he stutters, falters, starts with a stand, quotes wrong facts and figure he should be rated negatively.

Leadership

A leader is a person who creates an environment of mutual understanding and cooperation in a GD. A leader is one who:

• Contributes to the GD through his content and ideas.
• Tries to put the GD into proper perspective so as to have a focused discussion on the issue at hand.
• Encourages other candidates to speak
• Coordinates the effort of the GD.
  
  

A person who forces somebody else to participate in a GD should be rated negatively Also a candidate who is only coordinating the effort of different team members without any contribution towards topic, should be rated negatively.

Group behaviour

Group behaviour is the ability to work well with the team members. Aggression, shouting in a GD, staring somebody, cutting somebody in between, trying to enforce views on others, questioning etc are some of the activities which are against team work and a candidate should be rated negatively on this parameter if he demonstrates any one of them

Enthusiasm

A candidate’s tone, body language especially his facial expressions will be effective while rating him on this parameter.

Listening

A candidate who listens to his other team members’ views and does not intercept any other group members should be rated high on this parameter. An effective body language includes attentive posture combined with nodding of the head.

Evaluation Criteria in Group Discussion-- List of Skills Assessed during GD

Group Discussion still plays an important role in the admission process for many MBA colleges. Apart from being able to communicate fluently what matters the most is the thoughts which you put in your speech. One would be surprised to know that there are multiple skills which are assessed during a GD by the judges. 

Below are skills assessed during a group discussion:

Leadership skills:

Leadership is one of the key skill on which candidates are assessed during a Group Discussion. Inherent ability to lead a team is desired out of a Manager.

Example: 

Initiate the group discussion and give proper directions to the discussion.

Intervene and guide the group when the discussion goes off track.

Encouraging all members to participate in the discussion & share their opinion.

Moderate group if discussion gets chaotic.

Communication skills: 

The participating candidates are also assessed in terms of clarity of thought, expression through word and aptness of their language. One should be able to speak without any hesitation and at the same time should not sound harsh.

Example: 

Hold attention of the group by using simple language.

Explain ideas in precise way with clarity.

Speak fluently and put forward your ideas without hesitation.

Interpersonal skills:

Candidates are also evaluated on their Interpersonal skill such as adaptibility, maturity, co-ordination, interaction with peers. While participating in GD one should give due consideration to other members view point and should not be pushing too hard to make his own point alone be heard. At the same time if a candidate raises an absurd or irrelevant point one should politely reject the point by giving proper reasoning. One should try to coordinate as much as possible with all group members. One should not sound rude or inflexible in accepting good points raised by others.

Example: 

Keep your cool throughout the Group Discussion.

Do not take things personally even if someone provokes you.

Should understand the goal of discussion and should try to keep the focus on Topic of discussion.

Persuasive skills:

This is very important attribute expected in a Manager doesn't come easily in a candidate. In our daily life also we have seen many people who are not heard much even though have a very good points or idea. Due to their inhibitions they don't speak much once someone tries to counter their point.

Example:

To persuade the group to accept the points made by them (only if it is valid and genuine one. Remember you should not be over persuasive as well)

To make people accept your view point without hurting or making fun of any other members.

Persuade the group to analyze the problems from different perspectives and help other member’s ideas to be heard and understood.

Analyze and persuade others to see the problem from multiple perspectives without hurting the group members.

Problem solving skills:

One important aspect of Group Discussion is it is very spontaneous and dynamic in nature. You need to recollect all your thoughts on the fly and present them to the group. Also while other members are speaking you need to be listening carefully because that could trigger an altogether new point in your mind and may give you a chance to speak again. You need to be really involved in the discussion to handle the counter arguments and answer them well while speaking.

Example: 

Analyze the problem from different angles.

Answer the counter arguments without hurting any group member.

Should be able to think and speak spontaneously.

Resolve difficult situations by proper moderation and reasoning.

Listening & Conceptualizing Ability:

After making one's point heard to the group, one should be attentive and listen carefully when other are speaking. Should try to gather as much ideas and facts being put forward. Assimilate the points raised by others and try to add something new to the discussion. 

Example

At the end a good listener who has good conceptualizing ability could very well summarize the outcomes of discussion in few sentences.

Attitude:

Attitude is another important parameter of most othe Group Discussion. Candidates are expected to:

-have positive attitude, 

-encourage others for participation, 

-not to put someone down during the discussion

-be good listeners when others are speaking

-accepting other view points (if it’s a valid one)

-not showing stubbornness and harshness

-should speak maturely

-should not raise voice unnecessarily

Example: 

One should handle Group Discussion very maturely and should not raise his voice too much that he sounds harsh. 

Should be supporting for other members and should be easy going. 

Should show keen interest in discussion and be an avid listener.

Reasoning Ability:

Candidates are expected to substantiate the points raised by them through proper reasoning. Just raising a point without able to justify the same during a GD would not help and may result in negative marks as well. Also another member could use the same point and well justify it with reasoning. One should logically be able to think of pros and cons of points made by him and put forward the same to the group.

Example: 

While bringing up any point be prepared with answers such as:

-What is the point you are raising?  How is it going to help with the problem under discussion? Why you feel so? Give Any Examples?

Say Scams in India, Just saying scams are not good without backing the sentence with any justification is as good as not raising the point. One should say scams are not good because it’s hurting the Indian economy badly and hindering the growth of our Nations. Examples: Foreign institutions are not willing to invest due to scams in country and poor Governance. Also these scams adversely impact the business by attracting organizations with lesser capability to execute projects.

Team Player:

Corporate world is all about working as a team, if the team succeeds everyone in the team succeeds; similarly a failure of team is failure of each members of the team. Candidates participating in GD are also evaluated for their ability to work in a team. 

Example:

Be polite and cordial in your communication.

Accept others viewpoint and encourage each member to put forward their points.

Don't lose your cool if someone counter argues the points which you had raised and accept ideas politely.

Avoid any arguments.

Help the group to achieve its goal on time at the same time fostering participation from each member

General Awareness:

The topics given in Group Discussion are mostly of current affairs; at times any abstract topic is given. If the topic is from current affairs it is expected of the candidate to be aware of the happenings around the world. The idea a candidate put forwards clearly demonstrated his maturity and interests in the current affairs impacting the society, nation or the world.

Example:

While speaking on any topic the points which you raise or put forward to group clearly demonstrates your knowledge about the topic, thus defining you as an intellectual who has avid interest in happenings around him.

Phrases to describe oneself in an Interview

“I would say I’m…”

1. “Someone who has high expectations for my results. I am confident in my ability to produce, and while I prepare for the worst, I do the work necessary to tilt the odds so that the best will happen.”

2. “Someone who wants to be judged by individual performance and rewarded for my efforts based on my ability to execute.”

3. “Someone who wants to work for a successful company with strong leadership and vision, one that recognizes and rewards performers.”

4. “Someone who is consistently growing and takes the time to continue learning even though it’s not a direct requirement of the job. I find that many times, my professional growth is based on what I study, both directly and indirectly related to work.”

5. “Someone who is modest, hard-working and consistently sets firm goals for myself. Then, once I’ve defined my benchmarks, I take the necessary steps to achieve those milestones.”

6. “Someone who aims to keep lines of communication open and is concerned with clients’ needs—consistently asking questions to uncover the what the client truly wants and then making sure I’m able to meet those requirements.”

7. “Someone who thinks positively and can execute difficult tasks. I’m not an individual who needs to be micromanaged. Rather, when given a specific task, I can figure out the best ways to solve the problem in an autonomous manner.”

8. “Someone who is able to control a situation rather than allow a situation to control me.”

9. “Someone who has an unwavering resolve. I am determined to do well in my job and have a successful career, as well as to make the company I work for more competitive.”

10. “Someone with a need to produce results. I am the type of person who meets challenges head-on rather than sweeping them under the rug and hoping they go away. While I’m an optimistic person, I am also realistic about the current situation and how satisfactory or unsatisfactory it is.”

11. “Someone who has been able to not only meet my employers’ expectations, but has consistently exceeded those markers.”

12. “Someone who takes responsibility for their actions when things go wrong. I don’t look for outside forces to blame; rather, I’m someone who looks at what I can improve upon the next time around. Pointing fingers solves nothing.”

13. “Someone who demonstrates an unwavering resolve to do whatever must be done to produce the best long-term results, no matter how difficult.”

14. “Someone who is committed to building something larger and puts aside personal gain for the well-being of the group.”

15. “Someone who is mature, candid and believes in integrity. Every day I work to improve myself and my skills—that’s part of becoming better at what I do.”

“I am someone who…”:

1.      “can adapt to any situation. I thrive in a fluctuating environment and I transform unexpected obstacles into stepping stones for achievements.”

2.    “consistently innovates to create value. I find opportunities where other people see none: I turn ideas into projects, and projects into serial success.”

3.    “has a very creative mind. I always have a unique perspective when approaching an issue due to my broad range of interests and hobbies. Creativity is the source of differentiation and therefore, at the root of competitive advantage.”

4.    “always has an eye on my target. I endeavour to deliver high-quality work on time, every time. Hiring me is the only real guarantee for results.”

5.     “knows this job inside and out. With many years of relevant experience, there is no question whether I will be efficient on the job. I can bring the best practices to the company.”

6.    “has a high level of motivation to work here. I have studied the entire company history and observed its business strategies. Since I am also a long-time customer, I took the opportunity to write this report with some suggestions for how to improve your services.”

7.     “has a pragmatic approach to things. I don’t waste time talking about theory or the latest buzz words of the bullshit bingo. Only one question matters to me: ‘Does it work or not?'”

8.    “takes work ethics very seriously. I do what I am paid for, and I do it well.”

9.    “can make decisions rapidly if needed. Everybody can make good decisions with sufficient time and information. The reality of our domain is different. Even with time pressure and high stakes, we need to move forward by taking charge and being decisive. I can do that.”

10.           “is considered to be ‘fun.’ I believe that we are way more productive when we are working with people with which we enjoy spending time. When the situation gets tough with a customer, a touch of humour can save the day.”

11.  “works as a real team-player. I bring the best out of the people I work with and I always do what I think is best for the company.”

12.“is completely autonomous. I won’t need to be micromanaged. I won’t need to be trained. I understand high-level targets and I know how to achieve them.”

13.“leads people. I can unite people around a vision and motivate a team to excellence. I expect no more from the others than what I expect from myself.”

14.“understands the complexity of advanced project management. It’s not just pushing triangles on a GANTT chart; it’s about getting everyone to sit down together and to agree on the way forward. And that’s a lot more complicated than it sounds.”

15. “is the absolute expert in the field. Ask anybody in the industry. My name is on their lips because I wrote THE book on the subject.”

16.“communicates extensively. Good, bad or ugly, I believe that open communication is the most important factor to reach an efficient organization.”

17. “works enthusiastically. I have enough motivation for myself and my department. I love what I do, and it’s contagious.”

18.“has an eye for details because details matter the most. How many companies have failed because of just one tiny detail? Hire me and you’ll be sure I’ll find that detail.”

19.“can see the big picture. Beginners waste time solving minor issues. I understand the purpose of our company, tackle the real subjects and the top management will eventually notice it.”

20.          “is not like anyone you know. I am the candidate you would not expect. You can hire a corporate clone, or you can hire someone who will bring something different to the company. That’s me. “