Motivating high performance - Research Paper Example

Motivating High Performance The Nominal Group Technique (NGT) was developed by Delbecq and VandeVen (2) and involves a detailed method of collecting views from a large group without applying the traditional techniques of using the most popular solution or idea. The NGT is very effective in collecting the ideas of individuals in a group that are not subject to influence by other group members. In the process, everyone’s ideas are considered and are pooled in order to determine which ones are the most favored and those that are least favored.

NGT has also been used as a means of identifying weak points in a group and generating solutions. In this session there are five basic steps that are going to be followed (Delbecq, VandeVen & Gustafson 7). They are broadly going to be used as a template to generating formidable themes aimed at improving the activities of the group. The first step will be to introduce the group members to the purpose and the procedures that will be followed in the realization of the goals set. This should not take more than 10 minutes as the members have a pre-generated agenda for the meeting in advance.

In the second step, each member present will be provided with a sheet of paper where they will be required to silently detail their ideas without consultation with other members. Here, they are encouraged to jot down as many ideas as they can think of. This step will take approximately 15 minutes.The third step will involve the sharing of the ideas generated. At this stage, the ideas presented to the group by each member are jotted down on a chart using key words until all ideas from all members have been heard and recorded.

Then, each member is given 20 minutes to write down any new ideas that they may have gotten from the discussion. This process is very important as it allows members to brainstorm and exhaustively generate any possible ideas on the issue being discussed. The fourth stage allows for members to seek clarifications on the ideas generated. Here, each member is given a small amount of time to elaborate on their ideas without taking too long. The facilitator ensures that the process is neutral and no criticism is leveled against any idea.

There is no single idea that is eliminated at this stage. This may take up to 45 minutes.The last stage involves voting on the ideas with a view to ranking them in order of the most and least favored. Here, the scale method will be applied where numbers 1 up to 10 will be used with 10 signifying the most favored and 1 signifying the least favored. This ensures that by the time the meetings end, there is a conclusive list of ideas with each idea prioritized. This stage takes 10 minutes. After the initial ranking, the group discusses the order of the ranks in more detail in a bid to establishing whether the best outcomes have been considered.

Here, group members can have a second ranking session where they have a limited number of items they are required to rank (say 5) different from the first ranking where they chose all items on the charts.There can be a hybrid of ideas where two or more ideas are coalesced to form a single, better and more detailed idea. Regardless of how many steps are taken, the final outcome of the NGT should have a definite way forward resulting from this session not expected to take more than 21/2 hours.Works CitedDelbecq A.L. and VandeVen A.H. “A Group Process Model for Problem Identification and Program Planning.

” Journal of Applied Behavioral Science VII (July/August, 1971), 466 -91Delbecq A. L., VandeVen A. H., and Gustafson D. H. Group Techniques for Program Planners. Glenview, Illinois: Scott Foresman and Company, 1975