nominal group technique · 2019. 2. 5. · generating solutions using the nominal group technique...

Generating solutions using the Nominal Group Technique

Purpose:TheNominalGroupTechniqueenablespeopletomeetpracticallearningchallengesintheworkplacebyidentifyingsolutionsandprioritisingactions.Itpromotestheparticipationofallindividualsinagroupaspartofthedecision-makingprocess.Youwillneed:

• AnominatedFacilitator• Agroupofparticipants–between6and12• Atopicfordiscussion.(Thiscouldbeastatementoraquestion)• Time:Approximately1:30hour.

TopicforDiscussion

E.g.Whatactionsshouldourteamtaketosupportourresearchengagement?

SessionPlan

1. GroupFormation(5mins)

• Facilitatorwelcomesparticipantsandexplainsthethreephasesofthenominalgrouptechnique:thesilentphase,thegroupitemgenerationphaseandthediscussionandclarificationphase.

• Groundrulesareexplained(thinkcreatively,taketurns,opportunityforalltospeak,focusonsolutionsetc.)

• Facilitatorconfirmsthetopicfordiscussionandclarifiesanythingifneeded.

2. Silentphase(5mins)

• Facilitatorasksparticipantstosilentlyandindependentlywritealistofpotentialideasandsuggestsolutionstothe

topic.

3. Itemgenerationphase(15-20mins)

• Facilitatoraskseachindividualtoreadouttheirlist,andwritesideasonaboardorflipchartforeveryonetosee.

• Intheeventthatasuggestionisrepeated,itonlyneedstoberecordedonce.

Remember:Thisisafocusedphaseto

generateideas.Youwillhavethe

opportunitytoexplainyoursuggestionsinthe

nextphase.

Share!Thesilliestsuggestionistheoneyouhaven’tmade.Becreativeandallowyourselftothinkbroadly,everyideamatters!

Facilitator:Groupthesimilarorrepeatedsuggestionstooptimisethediscussionandclarificationphase!

4. Discussionandclarificationphase(25mins)

• Facilitatortakeseachideainturn,discussingandclarifyingitwiththegroup.• Ifadditionalitemsemergeatthisstage,theycanbeaddedtothelist.

5. Votingphase(10-20mins)

• Facilitatorasksparticipantstoindividuallyscoreeachiteminordertogainanunderstandingoftheactionsthe

groupfeeltheycanprioritise.

• Facilitator records the individual scores and then adds them to form a group score for each item. This

showsthemostpopularandleastfavouredsuggestions,asdisplayedintheexamplebelow.

6. Finalplenaryphase(15-20mins)

• Discusswhatthegroupwouldliketodonext:thismayincludedevelopingthetopsuggestionsfurther,andexcludingtheleastfavouredideas

• Groupagreesanactionplan,identifieswhowillcarryouttheagreedactions,andselectsareviewdate• Facilitatorcollatessuggestionsandscoresactionplan• Thankallparticipantsandclose.

• Facilitatorcirculatestheoutcomestoparticipants.

WeencourageparticipantstoupdateeachotherofprogresseitherbyemailoratasubsequentNominalGroupTechniqueifoneisagreed.

Suggestions

Participant1

score

Participant2score

Participant3score

Participant4score

Participant5score

Totalgroupscore

ItemA 2 2 2 2 1 9

ItemB 1 1 0 1 2 5

ItemC 2 1 2 1 2 8

ItemD 0 0 1 1 1 3

… … … … … … …

Score2:yes,definitely,candoitandwanttodoit. Score1:maybe,wouldliketoandthinkwecould. Score0:no,don’twanttoandcan’tdo.