Nominal Group Technique
The Nominal Group Technique (NGT) is a structured method for group brainstorming that encourages contributions from all participants and facilitates quick agreement on the relative importance of issues, problems, or solutions. It is particularly useful in eliciting information from a group of stakeholders or experts when there is a need to generate a large number of ideas, prioritize them, and reach a consensus. In the NGT process, participants begin by writing down their ideas independently and silently. This promotes equal participation and reduces the influence of dominant individuals. After the silent generation phase, participants share their ideas in a round-robin fashion, with each person contributing one idea at a time until all ideas are recorded. The ideas are typically displayed on a flip chart or a whiteboard so everyone can see them. Once all ideas are collected, the group discusses each one to clarify meanings and explore the reasoning behind them. This discussion phase helps ensure that all participants understand each idea fully before proceeding to the next step. After the discussion, participants individually prioritize the ideas by ranking or voting. The collective results are then tallied to identify the most important or valuable ideas. NGT is effective because it balances the benefits of group discussion with the advantages of individual idea generation. It minimizes the impact of groupthink, where individuals might conform to dominant opinions, and it encourages quieter group members to contribute equally. In the context of business analysis, NGT can be used to elicit requirements, identify risks, or prioritize features and functionalities of a system. By using NGT, business analysts can efficiently gather a wide range of ideas and build consensus among stakeholders, leading to more comprehensive and agreed-upon requirements. It is a valuable facilitation technique because it provides a clear structure for elicitation sessions, ensures balanced participation, and produces quantifiable results that can guide decision-making in projects.
Comprehensive Guide to Nominal Group Technique (NGT)
Why Nominal Group Technique Is Important
The Nominal Group Technique (NGT) is a critical facilitation method in business analysis for several reasons:
• It ensures equal participation from all stakeholders
• It prevents dominant personalities from controlling discussions
• It reduces groupthink and social pressure
• It generates more ideas than conventional meetings
• It creates prioritized requirements with built-in consensus
• It provides quantitative data about stakeholder preferences
What Is Nominal Group Technique?
Nominal Group Technique is a structured decision-making and brainstorming method that balances individual thinking with group discussion. The term "nominal" refers to the limited interaction during the initial ideation phase where participants work independently before sharing ideas.
NGT was developed in the 1960s by Andre Delbecq and Andrew Van de Ven as a more structured alternative to traditional brainstorming. It's especially valuable when dealing with controversial topics, diverse perspectives, or groups with power imbalances.
How Nominal Group Technique Works
The process typically follows these steps:
1. Silent Generation of Ideas
• Participants independently write down their ideas
• No discussion occurs during this phase
• This prevents anchoring bias and groupthink
2. Round-Robin Recording
• Each participant shares one idea at a time
• Facilitator records each idea for all to see
• No criticism or discussion yet - only clarification if needed
• Continues until all ideas are shared
3. Serial Discussion
• Group discusses each idea for clarification
• Evaluates strengths and weaknesses
• Combines similar ideas if appropriate
• No eliminating ideas at this stage
4. Voting/Ranking
• Participants privately rank or rate ideas
• Common method: distribute 100 points among options
• Alternatively: rank top 5 choices (5 points for best, 1 point for fifth best)
5. Final Discussion
• Review voting results
• Discuss any surprising outcomes
• Reach final agreement on priorities
Advantages of NGT
• Balanced participation from all members
• Reduces influence of status or personality
• Generates more ideas than unstructured discussion
• Creates clear priorities with quantitative support
• Provides anonymity during initial idea generation
• Efficient use of meeting time
• Creates group ownership of results
Limitations of NGT
• Can feel mechanical or rigid
• Takes more preparation than informal discussions
• May not build the same rapport as open dialogue
• Requires skilled facilitation
• Limited applicability for very complex problems
Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Nominal Group Technique
1. Know the Key Differentiators
Understand what makes NGT different from other elicitation techniques:
• Individual ideation BEFORE group discussion
• Structured voting/ranking process
• Equal participation by design
2. Recognize Appropriate Scenarios
Be able to identify when NGT is most suitable:
• When prioritization is needed
• When some participants might dominate discussion
• When sensitive topics make open discussion difficult
• When generating a large number of ideas is important
3. Remember the Exact Steps
Questions often test if you know the specific order:
• Silent ideation first
• Round-robin sharing second
• Discussion for clarification third
• Voting/ranking fourth
• Final discussion fifth
4. Understand Facilitation Challenges
Be prepared for questions about:
• Managing time effectively across steps
• Handling dominant personalities
• Ensuring all ideas are recorded accurately
• Keeping discussion focused on clarification, not criticism
5. Connect NGT to PMI-PBA Concepts
Link the technique to broader concepts:
• How NGT supports requirements elicitation
• How it fits into stakeholder engagement strategies
• How the quantitative results support decision-making
6. Watch for Comparison Questions
Exams may ask you to compare NGT with:
• Traditional brainstorming
• Delphi technique
• Focus groups
• Interviews
7. Application Scenarios
Practice applying NGT to different situations, such as:
• Prioritizing product features
• Identifying project risks
• Solving stakeholder conflicts
• Gathering requirements from diverse user groups
Remember that NGT is distinguished by its structured approach that balances individual contribution with group consensus-building, making it an excellent tool in the business analyst's toolkit for eliciting and prioritizing requirements.
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