National Group Technique
The Nominal Group Technique (NGT) is a very helpful and practical process for a sports facility due to the fact that a facilitator is always on hand to mediate discussions -- especially those discussions which become arguments. When a university intercollegiate facility, for example, is using NGT and a decision must be made, the NGT strategy is to allow every person in the group that has any part in the presentation of activities to participate equitably in the process. This paper delves into the advantages to the group -- and to the public that will utilize the facility -- of a sports facility organization implementing the NGT.
The Seven Steps to Solving Difficult Problems -- Making Sound Decisions
Step ONE: A group by definition will always have a variety of personalities within its structure, and those varied personalities can be (and should be) the source of strength when it comes to decision-making. However, when the decision to be made is vital and yet potentially contentious, and there is friction among group members, the facilitator gets the discussions started by stating the question to be addressed. Before moving to the next step the group must accept that the question as laid out by the facilitator is the salient question in this meeting. The question must be written on a board or otherwise displayed so members of the group can see it and refer back to it during the dialogue.
Marketing Professor David W. Stewart contributes to the overview of NGT in his publication Focus Groups: Theory and Practice. Stewart explains that "…each member of the group is interviewed as an individual,"...
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Step TWO: the group members work by themselves for about five minutes; they are to write down their ideas and thoughts -- as many as come to them -- and wait for the facilitator to say that time is up. This gives group members private time to prepare their points-of-view without having to verbalize thoughts that may not yet be complete and thoroughly thought out. The question being addressed could be, "How to assure there are as many sports for females as there are for males, given that today male sports opportunities are dominant on campus."
Step THREE: Now it is time for the individuals in the group to -- one by one -- provide ideas. The facilitator writes down the ideas on a board in front of the room as each group member shares their best suggestion for a solution to the previously presented problem or issue. The facilitator is not asking for any responses to the suggestions at this point, just ideas and suggestions for solutions.
Step FOUR: At this point the facilitator goes through each of the suggestions. The group is not yet allowed to editorially comment on each suggestion; at this point clarity of the myriad ideas and solution suggestions is paramount. One very cogent suggestion from a male member of the group is this: "We should have co-coordinators instead of one activity coordinator; one should be a…
