The ability to make accurate decisions with carefully thought out solutions is an invaluable tool for any person to possess. Making important decisions does not stop at 5pm when you leave the workplace, there are many decisions that we make in our personal lives that require well thought out answers. Our lives are filled with important decisions on a daily basis. Some need to be made immediately, some don't. Some decisions may affect different groups of people possibly in different way depending upon the solutions possible. A decision might also affect just the individual responsible for actually making the decision. There are a variety of tools and techniques available to aid in the decision making process. This paper will explain the nominal group technique (NGT), how it works, and when it is appropriate.
Nominal Group Technique
Regardless of the technique, the decision making process follows at least four universal steps outlined below:
1. Define the problem and collect data.
2. Analyze data.
3. Evaluate and select potential solutions.
4. Develop an action plan for implementation.
The text Interpersonal Skills in Organizations covers these steps in a little more detail. Basically what it comes down to is that the most important aspect of the decision making process regardless of the technique chosen is to accurately define the problem during the planning process (Janasz, 2002). Without a clear idea of what the problem is, determining a solution will be very hard if not impossible.
The nominal group technique is a form of brainstorming that includes a larger group of people. The NGT techn ...