MBA Admission: How to Crack Case-based Group Discussions?

Caselets are considered to be an effective way of judging a candidate’s managerial qualities necessary for an MBA. Read the article below to know how to crack case-based group discussions.

So what happens in a caselet? “We are given 10 minutes to read a case summary followed by 10 minutes to write whatever we understand. Next comes a discussion on the GD topics for 20 minutes in a group of seven students,” Neha Misra, PGP student at IIM Shillong, told Shiksha. Case studies or caselets are now integral to group discussions for MBA admissions.

Often candidates are given small case files to analyse during group discussion (GD), instead of general topics. The idea is to scrutinise the candidate’s perspective, logical approach, quick thinking and problem-solving attitude before finalising his/her candidature for the MBA programme.

Caselets require no prior knowledge of the subject. It is considered an effective way of judging a candidate’s managerial qualities necessary for B-School admissions.

According to IIM Kozhikode director Debashish Chatterjee, “We still believe that impromptu speaking and communication skills are necessary aspects of a B-School candidate that cannot be ignored.” Though the top Institutes of Management (IIMs) have done away with group discussion rounds, various top business schools (B-Schools) such as XLRI-Jameshedpur, SPJIMR, Mumbai and NMIMS, Mumbai, etc. still continue to conduct case-based GDs.

Let us understand more about case studies based group discussions in MBA admission:

• A case study in a GD is all about analysis since everybody is given the same information and thus starts from the same base
• Topics for the case study in group discussions are mostly current affairs-related. Current socio-economic environment, government policies, innovations, global economic atmosphere or socio-political debates prevailing in popular media. Read up about as many case study topics as you can.
• The purpose of these case-based GDs is to judge the candidate's knowledge, communication skills, leadership qualities and ability to make logical arguments and convince the opposite party, qualities necessary for being a good manager

Tips to crack case-based Group Discussions

• Refer to past topics discussed in GD rounds of your target institute. You can gather this information online or from coaching institutes. Take note of the topics given over the years, it is very likely that the topics will be on the same lines this year too.
• Read newspapers, and journals and watch current affairs programmes to know what’s happening around you. Case-based GDs are generally on topics from the world of business and economy, which affect social and political climate. Read editorials and data-based articles on hot topics, so that you can use them while making a point during GD.
• Meet up with your MBA aspirant friends, form a group and hold a case-based group discussion. Exchange ideas, observation and develop confidence.
• In case-based GDs, about five minutes is given to prepare, so use that time wisely. If the case is about a topic where a decision is to be made, quickly think of points to back your ‘to’ or ‘for’ stand and choose one.
• In a group discussion, if the topic is such that a decision is already made and the group has to discuss whether it is right or wrong, again choose a side after quickly weighing your points viz both.

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