1. Nominal Group Technique
Todd Molfenter
Reduce Waiting & No-Shows  Increase Admissions & Continuation

2. Nominal Group Technique
Designed to promote group participation in the decision making process,
Used by small groups to
Reach consensus on the identification of key problems (Principle 2) or
Develop solutions that can be tested using rapid change cycles (Principle 5).

3. Generating Solutions We have done a walk-through
We have identified key process problems
We have identified an aim to focus on…
NOW we need SOLUTIONS – this is where the NGT comes in

4. When to use the Nominal Group Process
Brainstorming
Reaching consensus
Assigning priorities
Involving equitable staff participation

5. Nominal Group Steps Room Preparation Silent Idea Generation
Record ideas
Discussion of Ideas
Preliminary Voting
Discussion of preliminary vote
Final voting

6. 2. Silent Idea Generation
Allows adequate time for thinking and reflection through recall
Promotes social facilitation (e.g., seeing others hard at work)
Avoids interruptions, undue focus on one idea, and competition, as well as status and conformance pressures or choosing prematurely between ideas
Promotes a problem-centered focus

7. 3. Round Robin Recording Promotes equal participation
Increases problem-mindedness and the ability to deal with a large number of ideas
Separates the ideas from the person
Allows for the tolerance of conflicting ideas
Encourages hitchhiking on ideas
Provides written records of the ideas

8. 4. Serial Discussion of Idea
Avoids unduly focusing on any one idea or a subset of ideas
Provides an opportunity for clarification and the elimination of any misunderstanding
Outlines the arguments and disagreements over ideas
Records differences of opinion without undue augmentation

9. 5. Preliminary Voting Rating Approach Ranking Approach
“Dot” distribution

10. NGT Steps 6 and 7 Preliminary discussion Final Voting
Examine items with inconsistent voting patterns
Discuss ideas with “too many” or “too few” votes
Final Voting
Prioritization among top ideas

11. Change Team Assignment
As a table, ask one participant to identify a key issue that they are dealing with as the focus of your nominal group process.
Assign a Change Leader to facilitate
Go through each section as a team to generate solutions
Vote on those solutions to identify the top idea to test first