Whether to discuss or to not…

From a mere methodology of eliminating candidates in the selection process of a B-school, to a strategic tool of team work, my perceptions of the need of a group discussion have undergone immense metamorphosis. Whether my opinion of group discussions has alofted or abased, I perhaps would never be able to figure out; for the moot remains as open ended as group discussions themselves .
Five months into a B-school, I see myself use this tool as often as my lungs (if I had the permission to exaggerate a “little”!). The indispensability and ubiquity of its existence in a B-school environment forces me to delve into its usage and role in my pre- MBA life.
So a Back gear applied to time tells me that a very raw form of such group discussion did exist in the face of an overnight “bulla session”* at a pal’s room. So the value addition to my previous skills since I joined MBA, is that I have learnt to structure my “bulla sessions”, jargonize them as group discussions, and tomorrow in the corporate I would further jargonize them as the strategic meetings!
Well, that was my take on group discussions, analyzing what my peers have to say about it, I would like to quote my recent visit to IIM-Lucknow and my introduction to their local terminology called “globe”. The aborigines of the campus explained that this term describes the speech of a person who knows nothing about the issue and goes on and on with his gibberish. I could immediately relate the above-told definition to certain people whom I had worked with in groups. It’s not uncommon to find people coming to group discussions without having done their homework and then they “globe” away to glory!
From the reaction of those who introduced me to the term and my own personal experience, those with this appellation are neither appreciated nor respected. That further brings me to analyze the motivation behind “globing”. And I once again apologize for introducing yet another jargon – “Intellectual Masturbation”. This jargon explains the act of satisfying one’s ego by making statements intended to show off one’s intelligence. Issues having the remotest correlation with the agenda at hand are ranted to win the attention and appreciation of group members. Acting like a know-it-all jerk is indeed a unique characteristic of an intellectual masturbator, although everyone wishes these souls would just shut up!
Now the big question is, in such a structured bulla session where intellectual masturbators globe around, what happens to the decision to be taken??
Well, the answer is plain and simple nothing!
While one member tries to shut up the intellectual masturbator, the other makes a point which is opposed by another member and yet again intruded by some globing, finally taking the discussion from nowhere to NOWHERE!
But observation and experience tells that the outcome of group activities is more often than not “not NOWHERE”. So how does this outcome miraculously appear from nowhere??
The answer to that as most managers would put “depends…” It depends whether there exists some hierarchy of authority within the group or is it just a group of peers. In the former case, let us say is a senate meeting, then in the end the word of the convener shall be the word of the senate. In the latter, the most powerful and verbatim voice emerges as the ultimate voice of the group. So conclusions come either by the authority or the heavy-voiced or in absence of both from the most patient person of the group, when all others have drained in energy and patience to argue out further.
The above didactics give a picture of hopelessness and forces one to think, if this is all about group dynamics and there is very little that can be done, then why live this entire exercise repeatedly, day after day?? Why not allow dictatorship of authority and heavy voices do the needful??
Well it’s all done to make the junta “feel good” that at least they are heard. The entire exercise is an attempt to give the “opinion of one” the legitimacy of being the “decision of the group”. To introduce group members with the hard facts that suggestions are suggestions and may never get the status of being more than suggestions – but well-tried lad! And that’s what keeps the vicious circle of making and pursuing suggestions by means of globing or other legitimate techniques.
To elaborate on the irony of the vicious circle I quote Eisenhower, “Though nothing comes out of planning, but nothing would go on without planning!”

* In IITK lingo chit chatting is referred to as “bulla”!