GROUP PLANNING EXERCISE
INTRODUCTION
1. To become an officer in armed forces, one has to be recommended by Services Selection Board. For this a candidate has to go through the interview, psy tests and group tests.
2. The basis of Group Testing is six psycho-sociological principles namely, Gestalt, Group Development, Social Field ,Consistency, Free Association and Sociometry. Out of this, principle of Group Development is the basis of Basic Series. Group development is the process of development of an amorphous or unorganised group into a fully developed group. This process goes through the five overlapping stages of Formation, Exploration, Competition, Co – operation and Discipline. The Group Planning Exercise incorporates the Competition stage with elements of both Exploration and Cooperation.
3. The task consists of a situational problem given to candidates on a model. The problem affords a selection of possible solutions and different ways of approach. This tasks is carried out in two phases:-
(a) Individual Planning Phase.
(b) Group Planning Phase.
4. The discussion in the Group Planning Exercise is with specific purpose which are:-
(a) To create inter – dependent interaction promotively in a social situation.
(b) To make one competitively inter – related with others with others with a view to achieve recognition of ones ideas and plans in the group and to have the same accepted. The idea is to find a solution that is the best for every one in the group to which all or most are committed.
AIM
5. The aim of presentation is to highlight the basic considerations and values of the Group Planning Exercise and to present one such exercise.
2
PREVIEW
6. This presentation will be conducted in two parts as under:-
(a) PART – I : THEORETICAL ASPECTS
(i) Conduct of GPE.
(ii) Consideration of designing of GPE.
(iii) Requirements of a Model/Sketch.
(iv) Requirements of the Narrative.
(v) Values of the GPE.
(b) PART – II : PRESENTATION OF THE GPE
(I) Introduction to sketch.
(II) Narrative.
(III) Problems including Red – herring.
(IV) Resources.
(V) Solutions.
PART – I: THEORETICAL ASPECTS
Conduct of GPE
7. The stages through which a GPE is conducted are given in succeeding paras.
8. Stage I – Introduction to Model: Candidates are seated in the numerical sequence in “U’ Shape around the Model. The GTO explains various features on the model and clarifies doubts about the same.
9. Stage II – The Narrative: The GTO reads out the story for the candidates.
10. Stage III – Reading of Narrative by the Candidates: The candidates are given five minutes to read the narrative from a pad kept next to each one of them. This is done to facilitate the candidates getting the details of the story firmly in their minds. Doubts, if any are clarified by the GTO.
11. Stage IV – Individual Planning : Each candidate is required to record his independent plan on a paper in ten minutes. No mutual discussions are allowed. At the end of ten minutes written work is collected back.
12. Stage V – Group Planning : During this stage the candidates are required to discuss and to work out a group plan within 20 minutes. At the end of this any one of the candidates is required to present the group plan to the GTO.
Considerations for Designing of GPE
13. Following considerations are to be kept in view while designing the GPE:-
(a) It should be applicable to the group for which it is intended.
(b) The situation should be with in the knowledge and experience of all the candidates and provide equal opportunity to exercise their imagination.
(c) No specialised knowledge should be required to find a solution to the problem.
(d) There should be a minimum of three workable solutions to three problems.
(e) There should be one distraction i.e. a red herring. It should be strong enough to lead the less discriminatory away.
Requirements of a Model/Sketch
14. Requirements of the sketch are as following:-
(a) It should have wide border.
(b) Must have a scale.
(c) North should be marked.
(d) No unnecessary details should be included.
(e) Distance and direction of relevant places.
(f) No military symbols should be used.
(g) Names of prominent places in existence should be avoided.
(h) Use correct colour code.
(j) Narrative should not be marked on the sketch.
(k) Marking should be self explanatory.
Requirement of the Narrative
15. A narrative should meet following requirements:-
(a) It should be simple.
(b) Should contain realistic problem.
(c) Should not be too long.
(d) Opening sentence should be:- You are a group of students.
Coming from ………………………Going to ………………
By ……………………………..(transport). Required to reach
…………………………………(purpose).
(e) Last sentence should be:- Time now is ……………….. What will you do?
(f) Some resources should be obvious and some hidden.
(g) It should contain three problems and one red – herring.
Values
16. During this task the GTO observes:-
(a) Ability to think constructively and imaginatively.
(b) Ability to appreciate a situation both in detail and as a whole.
(c) Extent of objectivity.
(d) Open mindedness to the problem and others.
(e) Goodwill towards others.
(f) Contribution to wards collective solution.
(g) Planning and organising ability.
(h) Ability to convince others.
(j) Ability to cooperate/coordinate.
Interpretations
17. After having recorded the observations of GPE, the interpretations that these could lead to are as under:-
(a) Entry.
(b) Participation.
(c) Grasp
(d) Analytical or generalizes.
(e) Level of ideas.
(f) Realistic.
(g) Resourcefulness.
(h) Workability of indl soln.
(j) Justification of the soln.
(k) Contribution to group solution.
(l) Interest in task and group.
(m) Agreement to group solution.
(n) Expressions – verbal and written.
(o) Impact on group.
(p) Reaction to stress.
(q) Mannerisms.
OLQs
18. The interpretations read in conjunction with values of the task would lead to specific OLQs and the degree to which possessed. While, like any other task, the GPE should also provided input to all OLQ, certain qualities would be more evident than the others. These are as under:-
(a) Reasoning Ability. The interpretations relating to the group and analysis of the situation would indicate the reasoning ability of the indl.
(b) Effective Intelligence. The ability of an indl to arrive at a workable solution would reflect upon his El.
(c) Organising Ability. The ability of the indl to identify and allocate resources as also coord simultaneous activity would indicate his OA. In addn, his ability to coord different ideas emerging during the discussion and evolve a group plan would also reflect upon his org ability.
(d) Power of Expression. The way a candidate goes about expressing his ideas to the group will be an indicator of his Power of Expression. Here it is pertinent to mention that written solution submitted by the candidate is the only source of assessing written expression for the GTO.
(e) Social Adaptability. The ability of a candidate to adapt himself to the group and contribute effectively as a useful team member would be a fair indicator of his SA. In this his mannerisms as also reaction to others, forms the basis of his response to the group and task.
(f) Sense of Responsibility. The conscious effort in terms of participation as also contribution during the discussion stage, in addition to the responsiveness towards each problem during either stage would reflect upon the sense of responsibility, the indl possesses or lacks.
(g) Ability to Influence Group. The candidate through his participation and contribution would leave some impact on the group, which would be reflected in the willing acceptance or rebuttal of his views/ideas and result in a directed effort from the group.
(h) Courage. The situation is so designed so as to bring about a sense of daring in the candidates when dealing with the problems. The tendency of an individual to take purposive risks and actively participate in such actions while evolving a solution would broadly reflect upon his courage.
PART – II : PRESENTATION OF THE GPE
NARRATIVE
You are a group of students from Loni going to Rampur in a taxi to participate in Inter College Music Competition. The competition starts at 7 PM. On the way to Rampur, you decide to stay at the Rest House and spend the day sight seeing at Nili Lake. At the end of the day, when you were preparing to leave for Rampur, one of your friends complained of upset stomach and fever. Meanwhile, a foreigner lady tourist drove in. She told you that at the View Point, two miscreants had robbed her case and passport. She needed your help. She also mentioned that she had seen them going towards the temple in ruins. In the meantime, a young boy came running and brought the news that a bus had gone off the road near the bridge. A few passengers were also injured. You called your taxi and were about to move out when a Boat House guard stopped you and said he had seen two men taking a girl who lived in Staff Quarters forcibly towards Purana Kila. The guard had a gun and he wanted a few of you to come along with him to save the girl. The time now is 4 PM. As bold, energetic students, what will you do?
Problems
19. Problems/ Red herring as per priority are :-
(a) Evac injured passengers.
(b) Rescue the girl.
(c) Apprehend the robbers.
(d) Red – herring. The sick student.
Resources
20. Obvious Resources
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