CAT
Group Discussion commonly referred to as GD has become an inseparable part of
admission to IIMs and various MBA institutes. Group Discussions in CAT and IIMs
play a main role in selecting the best among the best.
Having scored high marks in CAT and other competitive MBA entrance exams, students who get selected for Group Discussions are placed on a par - on equal footing - based on their percentile. It becomes necessary to conduct further screening for choosing a few among many.
It is here, the CAT Group Discussion plays an important part. It helps in choosing the candidate among all the academically superior achievers. Group Discussions for CAT is one of the best tools to study the behavioral and attitudinal responses of the participants.
As the term itself suggests, a GD is a discussion, but most students misconstrue it to be a debate. Consequently, you find a 'fish market' situation in most Group Discussion. What is actually expected in a Group Discussion is participation in a systematic way on a particular topic.
A Group Discussion (GD) is a simulated exercise, where you cannot suddenly put up a show, since the evaluators will see through you easily.
Having scored high marks in CAT and other competitive MBA entrance exams, students who get selected for Group Discussions are placed on a par - on equal footing - based on their percentile. It becomes necessary to conduct further screening for choosing a few among many.
It is here, the CAT Group Discussion plays an important part. It helps in choosing the candidate among all the academically superior achievers. Group Discussions for CAT is one of the best tools to study the behavioral and attitudinal responses of the participants.
As the term itself suggests, a GD is a discussion, but most students misconstrue it to be a debate. Consequently, you find a 'fish market' situation in most Group Discussion. What is actually expected in a Group Discussion is participation in a systematic way on a particular topic.
A Group Discussion (GD) is a simulated exercise, where you cannot suddenly put up a show, since the evaluators will see through you easily.
CAT Group Discussion
Features
Group
Discussion or GD as the name itself indicates is a group activity carried out
by participating individuals. It is an exchange of ideas among the individuals
of a group on a specific topic.
In
a Group Discussion, the group may be given a case study and asked to come out
with a solution for a problem.
Group
Discussion is used as reliable, testing device - mainly as a tool to assess all
the candidates in a group at one go -in order to select the best in comparative
perspective.
Group
Discussion is also known as leaderless discussion. It means its aim is to find
out the natural leadership level of the candidates.
CAT Group Discussion
Tips
While
Group Discussion reflects the inherent qualities of an individual, appearing
for it unprepared may not augur well for you. These CAT Group Discussion Tips
would help you prepare for a CAT Group Discussion:
This
is the first and the most crucial step in preparation for a CAT Group
Discussion. This is a never ending process and the more you read, the better
you are in your thoughts. While you may read anything to everything, you must
ensure that you are in good touch with current affairs, the debates and hot
topics of discussion and also with the latest in the IT and ITES industry.
Chances
are the topics of CAT Group Discussion would be around these. Read both for the
thoughts as well as for data. Also read multiple view points on the same topic
and then create your point of view with rationale. Also create answers for
counter arguments for your point of view. The electronic media also will be of
good use here.
Mocks
Create
an informal Group Discussion group and meet regularly to discuss and exchange
feedback. This is the best way to prepare. This would give you a good idea
about your thoughts and how well can you convince. Remember, it is important
that you are able to express your thoughts well. The better you perform in
these mocks the better would be your chances to perform on the final day. Also
try to interact and participate in other Group Discussion groups. This will
develop in you a skill to discuss with unknown people as well.
CAT Group Discussion
Presentation
Voice
Level and Clarity of Communication: Loud and clear voice is an asset in a
CAT Group Discussion. It gets you the attention of the other participants
present in the CAT Group Discussion.
Language: One has to try
and improve his language as a part of preparing for the CAT Group Discussion.
Good language skills can help you clearly express your ideas in a CAT Group
Discussion.
Body Language: Your body language
should show confidence and basic communication etiquette is to be followed. Do
not present your self as too casual or over-aggressive in a CAT Group
Discussion.
Eye Contact : Eye contact is
essential to garner the interest of other people in the CAT Group Discussion. A
good eye contact will help you present yourself as a confident person.
New Ideas and
Initiative : Ideas and initiative helps taking the CAT Group Discussion
forward. Hence a person with ideas different from the group and also showing a
lot of initiative can be a valuable player in a discussion.
Relevance of the
Discussion : Rather
than speaking more, it is important that what you speak is relevant to the
topic of the CAT Group Discussion.
Team Player : Show that you are
a team player, you can be a part of the team and hence contribute to the CAT
Group Discussion.
Also
remember the six C’s of effective communication that is required in a Group
Discussion - Clarity, Completeness, Conciseness, Confidence, Correctness and
Courtesy.
Dos of Participating in
a CAT Group Discussion
·
Listen
to the subject carefully
·
Put
down your thoughts on a paper
·
Initiate
the discussion if you know the subject well
·
Listen
to others if you don’t know the subject
·
Support
you point with some facts and figures
·
Make
short contribution of 25-30 seconds 3-4 times
·
Give
others a chance to speak
·
Speak
politely and pleasantly. Respect contribution from other members.
·
Disagree
politely and agree with what is right.
·
Summarize
the discussion if the group has not reached a conclusion.
·
Don’ts
of Participating in a CAT Group Discussion
·
Don’t
initiate the discussion if you do not have sufficient knowledge about the given
topic.
·
Don’t
over speak, intervene and snatch other’s chance to speak.
·
Don’t
Argue and shout during the GD
·
Don’t
stare at the evaluators or a particular group member
·
Don’t
talk irrelevant things and distract the discussion
·
Don’t
pose negative body gestures like touching the nose, leaning back on the chair,
knocking the table with a pen etc.
·
Don’t
mention erratic statistics.
·
Don’t
display low self confidence with shaky voice and trembling hands.
·
Don’t
try to dominate the discussion.
·
Don’t
put others in an embarrassing situation by asking them to speak if they don’t
want.
CAT Group Discussion
Topics
The
list of some of the Group Discussion Topics in CAT and IIMs are discussed
below. The CAT/IIM topics have been categorized under several heads like
Contemporary topics for MBA/CAT Group Discussion, Group Discussion Topics on
Management and Politics related topics for IIM/MBA Group Discussion.
Contemporary Topics for
CAT Group Discussion
·
Satyam
Scandal would Impact Foreign Investments in India
·
Globalization,
in Long Term, will Cause More Harm than Good in View of Job Losses
·
Global
Impact of a Local Problem like Sub-prime Crisis
·
Privatization
is Boon or Bane
·
Is
there a Need to Protect Indian Culture?
·
Terrorism
and India
·
Should
Education be privatized?
·
Reservation
a Tool for Creating Social Divide or Rectifying for Past Problems
·
Existing
Model of Growth will lead to Greater Digital Divide
·
It's
not Politicians but Bureaucrats who are Responsible for Decay in Public
Services
·
Corruption
is an Inherent Part of Democratic Set-up
·
India shall Adopt China 's Model of Growth
·
Effect
of Television on Youth
·
Morals
& Values among Indians is Degenerating
·
Should
Dance Bars be banned?
·
Censorship
in Movies & Our Culture
·
Worsening
of Female to Male Ratio in India
·
Should
FTV be banned?
·
Foreign
Television Channels are Destroying Our Culture
·
Rapists
should be given Death Sentence
·
With
Media Publishing and Telecasting Trivia, Censorship is the Need of the Hour
·
Euthanasia:
Is Mercy Killing Justified?
·
Beauty
Contests Degrade Womanhood
·
Should
there be Limits on Artistic Freedom (the Controversies on Movies like Water,
Fire, etc.)?
·
Do
Banning Girls' Entry into Pubs, Celebrating Valentine's Day, Holding Fashion
Shows and -New Year Parties Save Our Culture?
·
The
Impact of MTV on Our Psyche
·
Women
are not fit for Defense Services
·
Women
Empowerment - A Cause for Increasing Divorce Rate in India
·
Excessive
Depiction of Sex and Violence in Films
·
Classical
Music Heritage and the Growing Pop-Culture
·
Individual
Freedom and Civil Society
·
Conventionalism
and Modernity: The Ever-going Debate
·
Should
there be a Restriction on Permissiveness Being propagated by the MTV Culture
and -
·
Foreign
Media
·
Arranged
Marriages are better than Love Marriages
·
Should
Prostitution be made Legal?
·
Do
Celebrities have a Right to Privacy?
·
Influence
of Online Social Networks on our Youth
·
The
De Vinci Code: Truth or Lies about Christ
·
Is
Remixing Good Trend in Music?
·
CAT Group Discussion
Topics Related To Management
·
Management
Education in India
·
Is
Management an Art or a Science?
·
Should
GD be Part of Campus Placements?
·
Role
of Ethics in Business
·
Is
Management Education Required for Business?
·
Whether
Hard-Working or Smart-Working is Desirable?
·
Women
are better at Multi-Tasking
·
Does
Morality have an Essence in Corporate Life?
·
Retention
of Employees
·
Do
Women make Good Managers?
·
Celebrity
Brand Endorsement: Effective Advertising?
·
The
Salaries that MBAs Get is more than they deserve
·
Engineering
Students are wasting their Time in Management Studies; they have Another Way to
go.
·
MBA
in India is highly Over-rated
·
We
Need More Entrepreneurs than Managers
·
Rise
in MBA Salaries is Not Sustainable in the Long Run
·
Can
One Contribute to the Social Sector while Being Employed in the Corporate
World?
·
The
Rush for MBA is really a Rush for Big Money
·
Will
Mumbai's Film Industry ever evolve into a Truly Modern Corporative One?
·
Are
Leaders Born or are they made in Business Schools?
·
Indians
Perform Better as Individuals than in Groups/Teams
·
Positive
Attitude and not Knowledge is required for Business Success
·
Are
Ethics just Business Pretence?
·
CAT Group Discussion
Topics Related To Education
·
Do
we really Need Education to be Successful?
·
Government
Control in Higher Education is Interfering and Not Required
·
Should
Sex Education be really made Compulsory?
·
Privatization
of Higher Education
·
Should
the Government Set-up More IITs and IIMs, OR should it be use the Money for
Primary & Secondary Education?
·
Foreign
Universities in India
·
E-Learning:
A Substitute for Classroom Learning?
·
Is
Reservation in Higher Education Only Alternative for Social Equality?
·
Private
Educational Institutions: Good or Bad
·
Should
Management Education be subsidized?
·
How
effective are Indian B-schools?
·
CAT Group Discussion
Topics Related To General Interest
·
Should
Animals be used for Testing New Drugs & Medical Procedures?Rivers are our
natural resource. All states have equal rights on them.
·
Do
NGOs in India Really Work for Others
OR Work for their Own Vested Interests?
·
Security
Cameras & Privacy
·
Advertisements
Cheat People, Hence Should Be Banned
·
Borderless
World: A Threat?
·
Borderless
World: A Myth or Reality?
·
Secularism
has become a Tool to Justify the Wrongs done by the Minorities
·
What
is the Difference between People who do Things Rightly and People who do Right
Things?
·
Corruption
is a Necessary Evil for Success in Any Sphere,
·
Beauty
Pageants are a Must,
·
How
to Deal with International Terrorism?
·
Are
Peace and Non-Violence Outdated Concepts?
·
Indian
Army as a Career Option
·
Capital
Punishment should be Banned or Allowed?
·
Is
Dependence on Computers a Good Thing?
·
Is
India a Soft Nation?
·
Should
Research on Human Cloning be banned?
·
Should
Sting Operations be Carried Out?
·
How
safe is Unmarried Fairer Sex?
·
Conditional
Access System for Cable TV Watchers: Boon or Bane?
·
Nuclear
War cannot be won and should not be fought
·
Is
Swapping Terrorists for Hostages an Encouragement to Plane-Hijackers?
·
Brain-Drain
has to be stopped
·
Doctors'
Accountability to Improve Health-Care
·
Universal
Disarmament is a Must
·
Is
India Aping the Western
Obsession with Celebrities?
·
Exit
Options for the US from Iraq
·
Illegal
Bangladeshi Immigrants in India
·
Are
Live-in Relationships better than Marriage?
·
Should
Guys Expect their Educated Wives to be Virgins?
·
India at 60: A Senior
Citizen?
·
Unrest
in Countries around India
·
Flexi
Timings or Fixed Timings - Which is better at Work?
·
Individual
Brilliance Certainly makes a Difference
·
Is
Paperless Office a Reality or Not?
·
Rules
& Regulation Breed Corruption
·
CAT Group Discussion
Topics Related To Politics
·
Is
our Political System Reason for our Backwardness?
·
Necessity
of Women Quota Bill for Women Empowerment
·
Reserving
Seats for Women in Panchayat not only a Farce but Distracts from Developing a
more Genuine Voice of Women
·
Voters,
not Political Parties, are Responsible for the Criminalization of Politics
·
Should
We Pursue our Policy of Dialogue with Pakistan ?
·
The
Way Forward for India is to Join Hands with Pakistan on Nuclear Matters
·
Need
for Good Leaders in India
·
Politics
is Run by the Barrel of Gun
·
Retirement
Age for Politicians
·
Corruption
is the Price we pay for Democracy
·
Should
Women have Reservation for their Upliftment?
·
What
India needs is a
Dictatorship?
·
Value-based
Politics is the Need of the Hour
·
Religion
should not be mixed with Politics
·
Indo-US
Nuclear Deal - Congress v/s Left
·
Democracy
is Hampering India's Progress
·
Doctrine
of "Limited Nuclear War" is an Ill-Convinced, Illogical, Irrational
& Extremely -Dangerous Concept
·
Should
Tainted Ministers Allowed to Contest Elections?
·
Presidential
v/s Parliamentary Form of Government in India
·
Reservations
in the Private Sector
·
Is
it Necessary to Rename India's Well-Known Cities in the name of Indianization?
·
CAT Group Discussion
Topics Related to Sports World
·
If
Winning isn't everything, why do they Keep the Score?
·
Cricket
in India has lost its Sheen
·
Is
T20 Cricket killing Real Cricketing Skills?
·
Six
Billion and One Bronze!
·
Are
Cricketers to be blamed for Match Fixing?
·
Modern
Day Sport in Industrialized Society is an Industry
·
Cricket
as a National Obsession is a Detriment to Other Sports
·
Creative
Topics For CAT Group Discussion
·
A
Ship Docked in Harbor cannot face the Storms
·
Do
Beauty and Brains Go Together?
·
Every
Cloud has a Silver Lining
·
Rules
are Meant to be Broken
·
Food
Comes First, Ethics Later
·
Let
Sleeping Dogs Lie
·
There
is No Right Way of Doing the Wrong
Thing
·
Is
Love Precious or Poisonous?
·
Is
God Male?
·
Good
Things Always Come from Good Thinking
·
In
Today's World, Everything is Uncertain except Death & Taxes
·
Men
are from Mars; Women are from Venus
·
Cleanliness
is a Fundamental Responsibility of an Indian Citizen
·
A
Person should not be too honest; Straight Trees are cut first
·
Nice
Guys Finish Last
·
All
Work and No Play Makes Jack a Dull Boy
·
CAT Group Discussion
Topics Related To Economics / Business
·
Are
Co-operatives Relevant in Today's Global Environment?
·
Foreign
Aid is a Dangerous Drug: Stimulates in Small Doses but becomes Fatally
Addictive in Larger Ones
·
Space
Missions are a Wastage of Resources for a Resource-Starved Nation like India
·
Retailing
is killing the Neighborhood Kirana Shops
·
SEZs:
Boon or Bane?
·
Private
Participation in Infrastructure is Highly Desirable
·
Developing
Countries need Trade, not Aid
·
Poverty
in Third World Countries is due to Prosperity in First World Countries
·
Indian
Economy: Old Wine in New Bottle!
·
A
Unipolar World Spells Disaster for Underdeveloped Countries like India
·
Is
Globalization Really Necessary?
·
What
shall we do about our Ever-Increasing Population?
·
Banning
of Trade Unions will be Beneficial in Growth of the Economy
·
Why
can't India be a World-Class
Player in Manufacturing Industry as it is in IT & BPO Sectors?
·
We
Need Drinking Water and Not Coke & Pepsi in Rural India
·
Rise
of Regional Blocs Threatens Independent Nations like India
·
Should
the Public Sector be Privatized?
·
How
to Deal with High Oil Prices?
·
Multinational
Corporations: Are they Devils in Disguise?
·
Are
Indians Less Quality Conscious?
·
Ethics
in Business are just a Passing Fad
·
Is
the Consumer really the King in India ?
·
Commercialization
of Health Care: Good or Bad?
·
Is
there any Point in having a Business Strategy when the World changes from Month
to Month?
·
Is
the Patents Bill Good for India ?
·
Is
the Business of Business only Business?
·
Public
Sector being a Guarantor of Job Security is a Myth
·
Capitalism
is a very Flawed System but the others are so much worse
·
How
can a Business get rid of the Bad Name that it has earned?
·
Government
Pumping Money into the Economy is not the Solution for our Economic Problems
·
Is
the Budgeting Exercise of any Use?
·
Should
Agricultural Subsidies be stopped?
·
Will
Market Reforms Enrich RichStates Further, while Poorer Ones Lag Further?
·
Are
MNCs Superior to Indian Companies?
·
Steal
a Few Lakh and you're a Criminal; Steal a Few Hundred Crore and you become an
industrialist
·
Should
PSUs be divested through Strategic Sale or Public Offer?
·
Public
Sector is more a Hindrance than Help to Promote Socialism
·
India will be a Superpower
in 21'st Century with 40 Crore Hungry People
·
Consumer
is God in Today's Market
·
Stock
Market Crash - Sub Prime Crisis in US
·
Change
from Public Sector to Privatization (as in the U.K. ) is the Right Answer
for India 's -Instant Economic
Breakthrough
·
Advertising
is a Waste of Resources
·
Privatization
will lead to Less Corruption
·
Is
Swadeshi Relevant for India Today?
·
Should
India break Diplomatic Ties
with Pakistan ?
·
Use
of Force by Banks to Recover Loans
·
Skilled
Manpower Shortage in India
·
Technology
Creates Income Disparities
·
Case
Studies For IIMs
·
Decision-making
is what managers do. The decisions of managers directly influence revenues,
costs, and profits of a business firm.
If you are to be successful manager, you must learn to be a good decision maker. You must develop the ability to apply classroom training in business and economics to so that you can learn how to
(1) make decision making easier,
(2) improve the analytical quality of decisions,
(3) reduce the time required to make decisions, and
(4) increase the frequency of correct decisions.
If you are to be successful manager, you must learn to be a good decision maker. You must develop the ability to apply classroom training in business and economics to so that you can learn how to
(1) make decision making easier,
(2) improve the analytical quality of decisions,
(3) reduce the time required to make decisions, and
(4) increase the frequency of correct decisions.
What is a Case Study?
This
is a specialized type of technique used mainly by IIMA and IIMI.
A
short situation (usually a problem faced by an organization or a manager) is
given in less than a page. Participants have to discuss the situation and
recommend the appropriate course of action.
Here all the participants possess an equal level of information about the situation since the same case is given to everybody.
Remember the evaluators are testing the information processing and analytical skills of the participants as well as the group skills.
Here all the participants possess an equal level of information about the situation since the same case is given to everybody.
Remember the evaluators are testing the information processing and analytical skills of the participants as well as the group skills.
How to approach Case
Study
1. Read the case thoroughly.
2. Define the central issue.
3. Define the firm's goals.
4. Identify the constraints to the problem.
5. Identify all the relevant alternatives.
6. Select the best alternative.
7. Develop an implementation plan.
2. Define the central issue.
3. Define the firm's goals.
4. Identify the constraints to the problem.
5. Identify all the relevant alternatives.
6. Select the best alternative.
7. Develop an implementation plan.
Examples of Case
Studies at IIMs
1.
In a company X, a woman is facing some problem as she is the only working
member in her home. She takes frequent leaves and is quite insincere in her
work. She is not able to deliver quality in her work.Her husband is idle and
does not support her and asks her to continue her job.She does kitchen work,
takes care of her kids and also work in the office.You are the manager of this
company , so how will you solve her problem.(IIM Indore)
2.
Ramu has been working with XYZ Co. Ltd. for the last six years and has been
rated as one of the efficient in the job. One day he is caught with a stolen
bulb leaving the duty. The management is in a predicament. What should it
do?(IIM Indore)
3. A handloom company is running in heavy losses and its sales have gone down.You as a head of the team have to discuss various reasons for the same.The group also supposed to suggest possible solution to the identified problems.(IIM Ahmedabad)
4. The case was on a textile manufacturing co. established in 1984 having a global presence in the industry with its clientage consisting of big companies like Walmart etc.The comapny is presently managed by the son(MBA from Stanford) of the owner.The father doesn't believe in recruiting MBAs while the son is of the converse opinion.Suggest arguments that the son can use to convince his father.(IIM Bangalore).
3. A handloom company is running in heavy losses and its sales have gone down.You as a head of the team have to discuss various reasons for the same.The group also supposed to suggest possible solution to the identified problems.(IIM Ahmedabad)
4. The case was on a textile manufacturing co. established in 1984 having a global presence in the industry with its clientage consisting of big companies like Walmart etc.The comapny is presently managed by the son(MBA from Stanford) of the owner.The father doesn't believe in recruiting MBAs while the son is of the converse opinion.Suggest arguments that the son can use to convince his father.(IIM Bangalore).
IIM-A
Case Study and Interview Questions asked on 2nd
March, 2001
IIM-A
Case Study (Duration 5 + 15 minutes)
Panel size : 3 members
Number of Participants = 9 - 10
Mr. Ashok is the Technical Manager of a firm. He has given an order for a forging press to a contractor. The Contractor calls up Mr. Ashok and tells him that Forging Press is ready and can bring the cheque and collect the Forging Press.
Mr. Ashok's boss, the Senior Manager directs Mr. Ashok to cancel the order immediately. What is Mr. Ashok to do?
Panel size : 3 members
Number of Participants = 9 - 10
Mr. Ashok is the Technical Manager of a firm. He has given an order for a forging press to a contractor. The Contractor calls up Mr. Ashok and tells him that Forging Press is ready and can bring the cheque and collect the Forging Press.
Mr. Ashok's boss, the Senior Manager directs Mr. Ashok to cancel the order immediately. What is Mr. Ashok to do?
Interview
Questions
Duration
20 - 25 minutes
Panel size : 3
1) Subject Knowledge
2) How could you describe your stream to a layman?
3) Questions based on that day's Newspaper
4) Why some students did not ask for financial assistance
5) Budget
Panel size : 3
1) Subject Knowledge
2) How could you describe your stream to a layman?
3) Questions based on that day's Newspaper
4) Why some students did not ask for financial assistance
5) Budget
IIM-A
Case Study and Interview Questions asked on 2nd
March, 2001
IIM-A
Case Study (Duration 5 + 15 minutes)
Panel size : 3 members
Number of Participants = 9 - 10
Mr. Ashok is the Technical Manager of a firm. He has given an order for a forging press to a contractor. The Contractor calls up Mr. Ashok and tells him that Forging Press is ready and can bring the cheque and collect the Forging Press.
Mr. Ashok's boss, the Senior Manager directs Mr. Ashok to cancel the order immediately. What is Mr. Ashok to do?
Interview Questions
Duration 20 - 25 minutes
Panel size : 3
1) Subject Knowledge
2) How could you describe your stream to a layman?
3) Questions based on that day's Newspaper
4) Why some students did not ask for financial assistance
5) Budget
Panel size : 3 members
Number of Participants = 9 - 10
Mr. Ashok is the Technical Manager of a firm. He has given an order for a forging press to a contractor. The Contractor calls up Mr. Ashok and tells him that Forging Press is ready and can bring the cheque and collect the Forging Press.
Mr. Ashok's boss, the Senior Manager directs Mr. Ashok to cancel the order immediately. What is Mr. Ashok to do?
Interview Questions
Duration 20 - 25 minutes
Panel size : 3
1) Subject Knowledge
2) How could you describe your stream to a layman?
3) Questions based on that day's Newspaper
4) Why some students did not ask for financial assistance
5) Budget
IIM-A
Case Study & Interviews on 4th March, 2001
Case:
Case study was similar to the "My Encounters" case study No 7. But only difference is it is a software company and not a engineering company(CHEMCO).
Interview:
Interviewers did not start with "Tell me about yourself" . They straight away asked questions based on what each candidate has written in his/her biodata form.
Every candidate was asked some questions on mathematics like statistics or derivations of well known mathematical formula.
Some candidates were asked on areas totally different from their areas of specialisation. This is to check whether the candidate is able to handle stress.
Case study was similar to the "My Encounters" case study No 7. But only difference is it is a software company and not a engineering company(CHEMCO).
Interview:
Interviewers did not start with "Tell me about yourself" . They straight away asked questions based on what each candidate has written in his/her biodata form.
Every candidate was asked some questions on mathematics like statistics or derivations of well known mathematical formula.
Some candidates were asked on areas totally different from their areas of specialisation. This is to check whether the candidate is able to handle stress.
IIM
- A Case Study and Interview on 5th March, 2001 and 6th
March, 2001
Case:
The case study was similar to the case study No: 17 and 18 of "My encounters".
Interview:
Mechanical Engineers were asked on Milling, Lathe, CNC machines
Some candidates were asked about GDP, GNP and GDP of various countries. The currencies of various countries
The per capita income of various countries were asked
Members of ASEAN
Overall impression is the panel is trying to see if the candidate can keep his/her cool when questioned in areas totally different from their field of specialization
The case study was similar to the case study No: 17 and 18 of "My encounters".
Interview:
Mechanical Engineers were asked on Milling, Lathe, CNC machines
Some candidates were asked about GDP, GNP and GDP of various countries. The currencies of various countries
The per capita income of various countries were asked
Members of ASEAN
Overall impression is the panel is trying to see if the candidate can keep his/her cool when questioned in areas totally different from their field of specialization
IIM-A
Case Study & Interviews on 3rd March, 2001
Venue
: IIFT, Delhi
Case Study : Duration : 20 min.
Group Size : 8
Panel Size : 3
The case study involved discussion on the relief work carried out after the earthquake atGujarat . A person in-charge of
carrying life-saving drugs is stopped by another who claims to be related to
the local MP and he takes the drugs away.
What is the person in-charge supposed to do now ?
Note: The time given for reading & thinking was 5 mins.
Interview Questions.
Duration : 25 - 35 mins.
Panel Size : 3
Case Study : Duration : 20 min.
Group Size : 8
Panel Size : 3
The case study involved discussion on the relief work carried out after the earthquake at
What is the person in-charge supposed to do now ?
Note: The time given for reading & thinking was 5 mins.
Interview Questions.
Duration : 25 - 35 mins.
Panel Size : 3
Case
Study : IIM Ahmedabad Case Studies 2003
Case
I
There is a bank robbery. A cashier violates the code of conduct but saves the bank’s money. What should the chief manager do with the cashier?
Case II
Kaveri Amma is a 40 yr old woman who has 2 daughters - 1 is married and the other is doing her 10th standard. She works in a cooperative where 35 other women support her. She makes ropes in the cooperative and earns Rs.600/ month. She was looking for alternative ways of making a little more money. She knew how to make a special kind of pickle. She bought the required stuff - tomatoes 8kg at a total cost of Rs.30, 1.5 l of oil at Rs.90, 40, 200 gm bottles at Rs.20, miscellaneous ingredients (ginger, garlic etc.) at Rs.57.
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?
Case III
There was this man X who was a sweets vendor inIndia some 50 years ago
during partition. He had two vendors - one who supplied milk-based raw
materials and one who supplied non-milk based raw materials. He was very
focused on quality and he would absorb the rising costs but be focussed on his
quality image. Therefore his profits began decreasing His son Amit was a
Commerce graduate and was taking interest in his business He handed his
business to his son completely just two months ago. Amit had a 7-year-old
daughter, Nisha. When the son started taking charge he hired only one
contractor who supplied him the raw materials. During Christmas his daughter
asked him to supply sweets for her class. So on Christmas Eve there was a party
whereby by 8 pm , 30 girls from her class including she
was sick with diarrhoea and vomiting. At 9pm the teacher called up
Amit and threatened him with legal action and adverse publicity. The parents of
the students also demanded an explanation. Students of the other class who had
not eaten the sweets and had cakes were not sick. Also two of Nisha’s
classmates who had diabetes and had not eaten the sweets were not sick. What
should Amit do?
Case IV
In a psychology department of a college, the principal of the college announces in a function that Mrs Nair would be the next head of the department. Now this comes as a shock to Mrs Nair, because she was not taken into confidence and she just liked teaching. The retiring head Mrs Johnson was a capable head and although Mrs Nair did help her in her duties, yet she did not want to be tied to that position. The reason why Mrs Nair was made head was because there was a policy of the department that the senior most teachers are made the next head, which obviously Mrs Nair satisfied. Now Mrs Nair leaves the function and goes back to her house thinking about the whole thing. The question is what should Mrs Nair do?
Case V
Sahay is a management trainee at an organisation that deals in supplying hardware to customers. Now his boss Mr Subhdeep has been thinking of a plan. A consignment, which was due to a superintendent police who has huge political clout, has not been delivered to him. It had been promised that it would be delivered in 30 days, but so far 45 days have lapsed. Mr Subhdeep is thinking that he would deliver an empty consignment to this client and since it is a company policy that he cannot open the box till somebody from this organisation assists, he would take advantage of this policy. In the meanwhile he would substitute the box with the actual deliverable. Now Mr Sahay finds this unethical, and he asks Subhdeep but he says that everything is fair in war and business. So now what should he do:
a) Leave the company
b) Try to bring about a change
There is a bank robbery. A cashier violates the code of conduct but saves the bank’s money. What should the chief manager do with the cashier?
Case II
Kaveri Amma is a 40 yr old woman who has 2 daughters - 1 is married and the other is doing her 10th standard. She works in a cooperative where 35 other women support her. She makes ropes in the cooperative and earns Rs.600/ month. She was looking for alternative ways of making a little more money. She knew how to make a special kind of pickle. She bought the required stuff - tomatoes 8kg at a total cost of Rs.30, 1.5 l of oil at Rs.90, 40, 200 gm bottles at Rs.20, miscellaneous ingredients (ginger, garlic etc.) at Rs.57.
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?
Case III
There was this man X who was a sweets vendor in
Case IV
In a psychology department of a college, the principal of the college announces in a function that Mrs Nair would be the next head of the department. Now this comes as a shock to Mrs Nair, because she was not taken into confidence and she just liked teaching. The retiring head Mrs Johnson was a capable head and although Mrs Nair did help her in her duties, yet she did not want to be tied to that position. The reason why Mrs Nair was made head was because there was a policy of the department that the senior most teachers are made the next head, which obviously Mrs Nair satisfied. Now Mrs Nair leaves the function and goes back to her house thinking about the whole thing. The question is what should Mrs Nair do?
Case V
Sahay is a management trainee at an organisation that deals in supplying hardware to customers. Now his boss Mr Subhdeep has been thinking of a plan. A consignment, which was due to a superintendent police who has huge political clout, has not been delivered to him. It had been promised that it would be delivered in 30 days, but so far 45 days have lapsed. Mr Subhdeep is thinking that he would deliver an empty consignment to this client and since it is a company policy that he cannot open the box till somebody from this organisation assists, he would take advantage of this policy. In the meanwhile he would substitute the box with the actual deliverable. Now Mr Sahay finds this unethical, and he asks Subhdeep but he says that everything is fair in war and business. So now what should he do:
a) Leave the company
b) Try to bring about a change