Delphi technique

 

Delphi technique

The Delphi technique is a systematic, multi-round process that relies on a panel of experts who complete questionnaires independently and anonymously. After each round, a facilitator aggregates the responses and the rationales, then provides a summary back to the panel. Participants are invited to revise their judgments based on the collective feedback in subsequent rounds (Hasson, 2025; Monday.com, 2024). Over time, this process often produces a more stable pattern of ratings or forecasts.

This method offers several advantages. First, anonymity and the lack of direct confrontation help reduce conformity pressure and the influence of dominant personalities (The Decision Lab, n.d.). Second, Delphi is especially useful for complex issues where empirical data are limited and expert judgment is essential, such as forecasting technological change or shaping long-term policy (Hasson, 2025).

At the same time, the Delphi technique has important limitations. Multiple rounds can take considerable time and administrative effort, which may not be practical when decisions are urgent (Monday.com, 2024). The quality of the results is also highly dependent on how questions are designed and how feedback is summarized by the facilitator, which introduces potential bias. In addition, because Delphi panels are typically composed of experts, the method may underrepresent frontline or stakeholder perspectives (Hasson, 2025).

Nominal Group Technique

Nominal Group Technique is a structured, usually face-to-face method that follows a specific sequence: individual idea generation in silence, round-robin sharing of ideas, clarification and discussion of the list, and then a voting or ranking step to prioritize options (ASQ, n.d.; KnowledgeHut, 2025). Unlike informal brainstorming, NGT forces broad participation because each person must contribute during the round-robin phase.

NGT’s strengths include its ability to balance participation and quickly move a group from divergent thinking to a prioritized set of alternatives. The structure prevents a few vocal individuals from dominating and gives quieter members space to contribute (Dovetail, 2024; KnowledgeHut, 2025). In practice, this makes NGT particularly well-suited to operational decisions, process improvements, or design choices where leaders need a short list of options in a single session.

However, NGT also has constraints. Because it is typically conducted in one meeting, there is less opportunity for reflection, iteration, or revisiting assumptions, which may be necessary for highly ambiguous or strategic problems (KnowledgeHut, 2025). Additionally, the voting step can create an appearance of consensus even when substantive disagreement remains under the surface, especially if the facilitator does not probe minority viewpoints (ASQ, n.d.).

Comparison and appropriate use

Both Delphi and NGT are deliberate attempts to avoid the pitfalls of informal group discussion and to structure how group input is generated, shared, and aggregated (Hasson, 2025; KnowledgeHut, 2025). Each method seeks to tap multiple perspectives while limiting dominance and bias.

The most important differences are in who participates, how interaction occurs, and when each method is appropriate. Delphi is best suited for geographically dispersed experts, involves anonymous and asynchronous participation over several rounds, and is ideal for long-range forecasting or policy questions with high uncertainty (Hasson, 2025; Monday.com, 2024). NGT is typically used with co-located teams or stakeholders, emphasizes real-time interaction, and is better for quickly generating and ranking options when the decision scope is moderately defined (ASQ, n.d.; KnowledgeHut, 2025).

In practice, I would employ Delphi for long-term strategic questions such as anticipating future industry trends and use NGT when a cross-functional team needs to produce and prioritize concrete solutions within a single working session.

References

ASQ. (n.d.). Nominal group technique (NGT). American Society for Quality.

Dovetail. (2024, July 27). What is the nominal group technique? Dovetail.

Hasson, F. (2025). Revisiting the Delphi technique: Research thinking and practice. International Journal of Nursing Studies, 152, 103123.

KnowledgeHut. (2025, July 30). Nominal group technique: Stages, benefits, examples. KnowledgeHut.

Monday.com. (2024, October 27). What is the Delphi method: Pros, cons, and examples. Monday.com.

The Decision Lab. (n.d.). The Delphi method. The Decision Lab.

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