In our day-to-day life, we come across situations where we face more than one problem of different gravity simultaneously. How a person reacts under such a situation, giving necessary Importance to every problem makes his character. In the life of any Officer, such situations occur more often. They have to make many critical decisions simultaneously, and one wrong decision may not only affect its entire troop but can also affect the nation as a whole. Group Planning Exercise is a virtual or story-type adaptation of such a situation. This is also one of the important tasks of the SSB Interview, where almost every OLQs are tested. You can understand its gravity by the fact that the handwritten solution given by you in the Group Planning Exercise becomes of the earliest documents in your service file.
So, let us understand what is Group planning exercise in SSB Interview, and how you can do your best with some sample solutions for better understanding. Some practice problems are also given.
What is Group Planning Exercise in SSB Interview?
Group Planning Exercise or also called Military Planning exercise is the second test of the GTO series. It is generally conducted on the third day of the five-day SSB Interview schedule. It is the first task where you have to virtually think and act as an Officer.
The series of GTO Tasks of the SSB Interview consists of nine distinct tasks, each having its own importance.
The Group Planning Exercise is also conducted in a group of 6-12 members.
In this task, you will be narrated a situation in which you are part of a group who are heading to someplace or returning from some location. Meanwhile, you and your group come to know about various problems which have either happened and will affect others or are going to happen in the future. There will be approximately 3 to 5 problems of different magnitude. Some resources will be given, which either will be given directly in the problem or you have to consider them by your common sense.
You as a leader of the group have to act swiftly and have to address every problem giving workable solutions to every problem. You have to act as a group, taking actions simultaneously by optimal use of resources.
Time and distance covered will also be under watch, as you have to solve every problem within the time limit considering the practical time taken to cover the distance.
The 2D or 3D map of the area with every detail will also be kept in front of you for your better understanding.
So, let’s understand how the task is conducted.
How Group Planning Exercise is conducted?
Military Planning Exercise or Group Planning Exercise at SSB Interview is conducted in a group of 6 to 12 members. The Entire task is conducted by the GTO, where the members of the group are arranged to sit in a semicircle. A 2D or 3D model of the task is kept in front of them.
The group planning exercise can be broadly divided into two phases. One is the Individual planning phase and the second is the Group Planning Phase. In the Individual Planning phase, the candidate has to write their individual solutions on the sheet given by the GTO. In the Group Planning phase, the group has to discuss among themselves the most suitable solution and come to a common solution.
These two phases are conducted into 5 stages, as follows.
Stage 1
- The Group Testing Officer welcomes the candidates and makes them sit as per their chest numbers on the chairs already arranged in front of a Picture/Model. The GTO will give a briefing about the task and then will start explaining the model kept in front of them. The GTO will confirm whether they have understood the problem, if not then they are permitted to ask any question.
Stage 2
- The GTO will start narrating the situation, giving details of the task. He will read out the situation from a Card. He explains the color code, distance, and other rules and limitations of the situation.
Stage 3
- Then the GTO will hand over a Card to every candidate in which the entire narrative is written in detail. The candidates will get 5 minutes to read the same. The GTO will intimate to the candidate as to when they should start. The candidates have to relate the narrative with the model and make a mental note of every aspect as the card will be taken away from them after 5 minutes.
Stage 4
- Once you have read the narrative and made a mind map of every problem and resource, the GTO will ask you to write your course of action as to how you will act and solve the problems. A sheet of paper will be kept on your table. The time is given to write the solution is 10 minutes. Pay attention to the GTO and start and stop as per their directive. The GTO will collect your answer sheet after that.
Stage 5
- After collecting the answer sheets of every candidate, the GTO will ask the group to discuss the task among themselves and arrive at one common solution. The time given for this discussion is 15 minutes. Unlike Group Discussion, in Group Planning Exercise it is expected for the group to arrive at a common solution.
The GTO will indicate to stop the discussion. After the discussion, the group has to nominate one candidate among them, who will represent the group and narrate the common solution of the group. The nominated candidate can explain the solution to the model kept in front of the group.
Structure of Group Planning Exercise Problem
As said earlier, GPE is a story-type adaption of real-life problems. The task or problem given in the group planning exercise has a common structure. There are 4 to 5 problems of different gravity which the candidates have to address simultaneously.
In every problem, there will be a group of people who are traveling somewhere or at some location. The group gets some information about problems from someone, who approaches them for help. You as a group get to know about a bunch of problems that are happening or might happen in the near future.
Out of them, one problem might critical problem which involves the lives of common people and has to be addressed in a limited time. The Second problem might also involve lives for which you have some time to address that problem. The third problem will be a less serious one. There will also be one unimportant problem, just to divert your mind.
The candidates will have some resources using which they have to solve these problems. There might be some hidden or indirect resources, which they have to use using common sense.
Distance between major locations or points will be indicated precisely either on the map or in the narrative.
The majority of the problems will be time-bounded, which you have to complete within time, keeping in mind the distance and time taken to cover that distance.
The overall task completion might also have some time limit, as the group either has to reach someplace or perform some activity.
Thus, The Group Planning Exercise tests your planning skills, optimum use of resources, time management, and leadership skills.
How to write the best solution for the Group Planning Exercise?
- The written solution is one of the most important documents of the GTO task. So, the candidate has to write it carefully.
- The most important aspect of the task is time, as you have to write the entire solution in 10 minutes.
- The candidate should write the plan in neat and readable handwriting.
- Try to write the solution in point-wise form, which should not be lengthy. This will not only save your time but also improve readability.
- Prioritize the problems giving importance to human life, then material and solve each of them accordingly.
- Also indicate the time in your solution as to how much time it will take to travel that distance and in how much time it will be completed. The time limit is crucial while you are solving any task.
- Try to optimize and use every resource given in the problem as it shows your resourcefulness.
- The problems should be solved as a team with good coordination.
- Once every problem has been solved, then you have to carry on with the primary task you were doing.
Tips for Group Planning Exercise
- Be original in your idea and solution
- Be practical in your approach giving workable solutions only.
- Understand the problem with every minutest detail.
- Time is the main aspect of this task. Read the situation carefully, noting the correct timings in your mind. All the tasks must be done with respect to the time taken and time left.
- Make a list of different tasks and prioritize them and attend to them accordingly. Don’t just randomly do anything.
- The candidate must assume the hidden resource even if it is not stated.
- Split the group rationally for quicker and safer execution of tasks.
- Always use the safest method to complete the task. Never put yourself or any group member in a dangerous situation.
Tips for Discussion and Narration of Group Planning Exercise
- Starting the discussion always helps as it shows that you have the quality initiative.
- Give your ideas only. Do not try to sugarcoat someone else’s idea in your own words.
- Even if you don’t get a chance to initiate, try to get involved in the discussion as soon as possible.
- Never be a mute observer of the discussion, it shows that you don’t have points to add to the discussion.
- If the discussion becomes a fish market and you don’t get a chance to speak, do remember that there will be a pause in the discussion. You can utilize this pause to enter into the discussion.
- After giving your points, allow other group members to add to the discussion. Never dominate the discussion.
- If you don’t agree with someone else’s point, try to convince them by giving valid reasons.
- If you are nominated to give the common plan, do it confidently including all the points discussed. Never try to give your solution, instead give the group’s common solution.
Sample Problems
Problem Statement
Solution
Practice Problem
Hope this article would have helped you in understanding what Group Planning Exercise or Military Planning exercise is and how you can prepare yourself for the same. If you have any questions/doubts or if you need any further clarification/explanation, do mention it in the comment segment or you can directly mail to [email protected].
Jai Hind.