How do you use the nominal group technique to rank and prioritize ideas in a group setting?

1 What is NGT?

NGT is a structured process that allows each member of a group to contribute their ideas anonymously and independently, and then to rank them based on their preferences. NGT can help you avoid some of the common pitfalls of group decision making, such as groupthink, conformity, social loafing, and evaluation apprehension. It can also increase the diversity and quality of ideas, and the satisfaction and commitment of the group members.

3 How to generate ideas with NGT?

The first step of NGT is to ask each group member to write down their ideas on paper, without discussing them with others. They can generate as many ideas as they want, but they should write each idea on a separate piece of paper or sticky note. The facilitator should encourage them to be creative and original, and to use the problem statement as a guide.

4 How to rank ideas with NGT?

The second step of NGT is to collect all the ideas and display them on a flip chart or a wall, where everyone can see them. The facilitator should read each idea aloud and clarify any questions or ambiguities. Then, the facilitator should ask each group member to rank their top five ideas, by assigning them points from 5 (most preferred) to 1 (least preferred). They should write their scores on a scoring sheet, without revealing them to others.

5 How to prioritize ideas with NGT?

The third step of NGT is to add up the scores for each idea and rank them from highest to lowest. The facilitator should announce the results and show them on another flip chart or a wall. The group can then discuss the ranking and see if there is a consensus or a disagreement on the top ideas. The facilitator should encourage constructive feedback and respectful dialogue, and help the group resolve any conflicts or doubts.

6 How to use the results of NGT?

The final step of NGT is to use the ranking and the discussion as a basis for further action or exploration. Depending on the purpose and the scope of the problem, the group can choose to implement the top idea, or to combine or refine some of the ideas, or to generate more ideas using other methods. The facilitator should document the process and the outcomes, and share them with the group and any relevant stakeholders.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?