Paper Sample on Nominal Group Technique: A Powerful Tool for Social Planning

Introduction

Van de Ven and Delbecg introduced a nominal Group Technique as a criterion for the social planning platform by involving all participants. It was used for primary data collection, exploratory research, evaluation, and program planning. The nominal group technique (NGP) mostly used in collecting ideas from individuals from a small group to prioritize and even producing ideologies concerning a specific topic. It usually allows planners and managers to engage selected decision-makers in dialogue and brainstorm different ideologies before making an important decision or better platforms are nature. This technique assures all participants that they can freely involve themselves in groups and discussions with the hope that their ideas will all be under consideration when making important decisions. Once the generation of ideas has taken place, they are evaluated, ranked, and decided upon collectively. The output incl best ideas are selected as the output. This technique largely emphasizes creativity and group decision making on key issues affecting an organization. This method enables the collection of data for analysis and assessments since it involves everybody in the work-group, thus allowing a general agreement between the team members. (Alby, 2020). NGP is more structured than other traditional approaches since it allows everyone in the team with the opportunity to influence the discussion while avoiding domination by one member in the group during the process of sharing views. It generates and sheds light on a large number of ideas quickly and democratically; this provides closure, encourages integration in the groups, and provides time to think about a raised question before responding in kind. (Keller, 2020) In this case, this process aimed at ensuring that all ideas are considered and are collected appropriately and utilized when making critical decisions for the community building sessions. This technique will ensure the goal is achieved according to everyone's requirements. (Keller, 2020)

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This process involves the formation of two main components, which include gaining an understanding of the problem or question or defining the needed decision and coming to a consensus as a group on the best ideas provided. This process includes having each member of the team come up with ideas and writing them down to avoid influence from others; then, these ideas are presented one at a time until all opinions are presented. Every member of the group is allowed to rank their prepositions by providing them with numerical values like using high numbers for excellent ideas. The ideas with higher rankings are considered and then debated and approved by the group. (Sample, 2020) The steps used to achieve this process are as follows:

Preparation stage

At this stage, preparation is done by allowing the facilitator of the meeting to complete set tasks that will, in turn, set a setting for successful meetings. The level helps to clarify the purpose and illustrates the suitable feedback about its scope and the level of preoccupation. Question is then printed on worksheets for every available participant and admired voting method such as ranking and rating, room for conducting this technique is prepared where seats are put in groups and supplies to be used in this process are availed to each participant. The facilitator is to assess the purpose of the community congregation and explain every individuals' role and how their output will be synthesized. (Keller, 2020).

Subsequent stage

Involves the silent generation of ideas where a well-thought question will be tabled in the group by the group leaders, which helps create ideas. The contributors are therefore advised to involve in an independent silent brainstorming of ideas, and the generated suggestion is to be written down. In this level, adequate time is set up for reasoning, and understanding is provided, and obstruction, competitions, and an undue focus on one idea are highly discouraged. This stage promotes a problem-centered focus and social facilitation. ("NIATx: How to Use the Nominal Group Technique," 2020).

Collection

Involves collection of views in all available groups in the meetings where the group leader records all opinions from members of the group, and questions are raised by the leader to allow for further understanding where it's necessary. The step is important since it allows everybody’s involvement in the demonstration of ideas. It differentiates the idea from the individual and allows for conflict of ideas. It provides team members with the option of hitchhiking on ideas since all will be recorded. (Sample, 2020).

Debating of ideas recorded

It requires taking every idea and examination of the idea before pre-voting. This stage helps to avoid focusing on one idea, providing an opportunity for clarification and eliminating any misunderstanding if any may arise. It encourages differences in opinions to be recorded without arguing. ("NIATx: How to Use the Nominal Group Technique," 2020).

Voting stage

Where members will narrow the list of generated opinions. Debating on these ideas is required with every member provided with the option of making personal judgment and ideas that are considered most likely, meaning it represents the issue to be interpreted or even the possible solution to address the issue at hand. The level considers two main voting methods, which include either rating of ideas or ranking of ideas. When rating the approved ideas, each idea represents several points across the whole ideas, especially in a range of zero to a hundred percent. Members also have the choice of assigning available points to one idea, if it is believed to be truly the best idea. When using the ranking method, every individual is required to designate half of the whole ideas and rank them from the most important to the least important. (Sample, 2020) This method is guilty of emphasizing a few ideas, which is not good when making an important decision for the community. In many instances, the NGT ends after the decision of the best ideas at this step. However, if greater accuracy is required, the team will be included in the following additional steps. ("NIATx: How to Use the Nominal Group Technique," 2020).

Preliminary voting is a step in the NGT where a further examination of opinions is required. This stage provides an increasingly more accurate and final vote since the individual judgments on the opinions are combined into a group decision. This stage will determine the outcome of the meetings since it provides a sense of entitlement and accomplishment of each member of the community. It, therefore, records the final judgment concerning the original question. (Sample, 2020).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the Nominal Group Approach is the best approach to deal with in the community while planning for the community building session since everyone views and ideas will be considered, measured against the session’s issues effectively. I will advise the community to use the NGP technique since the outcome will provide the team members with satisfaction. They will be able to address all concerns and address the issues about the decision of the community. The best voting method, I would recommend the facilitators to use is the rank method since all ideas good or bad checked and rechecked to maximize the outcomes.

References

Alby, T. (2020). Nominal Group Technique - Project Management Knowledge. Project-management-knowledge.com. Retrieved 29 June 2020, from https://project-management-knowledge.com/definitions/n/nominal-group-technique/.

Keller, S. (2020). Nominal Groups | SSWM - Find tools for sustainable sanitation and water management! Sswm.info. Retrieved 29 June 2020, from https://sswm.info/planning-and-programming/decision-making/deciding-community/nominal-groups.

NIATx: How to Use the Nominal Group Technique. Chess.wisc.edu. (2020). Retrieved 29 June 2020, from https://chess.wisc.edu/niatx/content/contentpage.aspx?NID=147.

Sample, J. (2020). Nominal Group Technique: An Alternative to Brainstorming. Joe.org. Retrieved 29 June 2020, from https://www.joe.org/joe/1984march/iw2.php