What is Nominal Group Technique Template?

The Nominal Group Technique (NGT) is a facilitated brainstorming method that encourages individuals to generate ideas in isolation and then share their thoughts with others. The NGT template provides a structured framework for conducting this technique, which can be applied in various settings, such as business, education, or community organizations.

Here's a breakdown of the Nominal Group Technique Template:

Preparation

1. Objective: Clearly define the problem or goal to be addressed.
2. Group composition: Assemble a group of 6-12 individuals with diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
3. Instructions: Explain the NGT process to the participants, emphasizing that they will work individually first.

Individual Thinking Time (15-30 minutes)

1. Problem statement: Provide each participant with a copy of the problem or goal statement.
2. Individual brainstorming: Ask each participant to generate as many ideas as possible in response to the problem statement. They should not discuss their ideas with others at this stage.

Round-Robin Presentation (15-30 minutes)

1. Time limit: Set a time limit for each participant to present their ideas (e.g., 2-3 minutes per person).
2. Format: Each participant presents one idea at a time, without discussion or evaluation.
3. Note-taking: Encourage the facilitator and other participants to take notes on the presented ideas.

Discussion and Evaluation

1. Debate: Allow the group to discuss and debate the presented ideas (10-20 minutes).
2. Evaluation criteria: Establish clear evaluation criteria for the ideas, such as feasibility, relevance, or impact.
3. Group prioritization: Ask the group to prioritize the top ideas based on the established criteria.

Post-NGT Activities

1. Action planning: Assign tasks and responsibilities to team members based on the agreed-upon ideas.
2. Follow-up: Schedule follow-up sessions to review progress, provide feedback, and make adjustments as needed.

The Nominal Group Technique Template provides a structured approach to brainstorming, which can lead to more diverse and innovative ideas compared to traditional group brainstorming methods. By encouraging individual thinking time followed by round-robin presentations, this technique helps to reduce groupthink and increase the quality of generated ideas.