Delphi Method (delphi + method)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


USE OF THE DELPHI METHOD IN RESOLVING COMPLEX WATER RESOURCES ISSUES,

JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN WATER RESOURCES ASSOCIATION, Issue 1 2003
Jonathan G. Taylor
ABSTRACT: The tri-state river basins, shared by Georgia, Alabama, and Florida, are being modeled by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to help facilitate agreement in an acrimonious water dispute among these different state governments. Modeling of such basin reservoir operations requires parallel understanding of several river system components: hydropower production, flood control, municipal and industrial water use, navigation, and reservoir fisheries requirements. The Delphi method, using repetitive surveying of experts, was applied to determine fisheries' water and lake-level requirements on 25 reservoirs in these interstate basins. The Delphi technique allowed the needs and requirements of fish populations to be brought into the modeling effort on equal footing with other water supply and demand components. When the subject matter is concisely defined and limited, this technique can rapidly assess expert opinion on any natural resource issue, and even move expert opinion toward greater agreement. [source]


Comparing senior executive and project manager perceptions of IT project risk: a Chinese Delphi study

INFORMATION SYSTEMS JOURNAL, Issue 4 2010
Shan Liu
Abstract The success rate for information technology (IT) projects continues to be low. With an increasing number of IT projects in developing countries such as China, it is important to understand the risks they are experiencing on IT projects. To date, there has been little research documenting Asian perceptions of IT project risk. In this research, we examine the risks identified by Chinese senior executives (SEs) and project managers (PMs), and compare these two groups. The importance of top management support in IT projects is well documented. Prior research has shown that from the perspective of IT PMs, lack of support from SEs is the number one risk in IT projects. Surprisingly, senior executives' perceptions towards IT project risk have never been systematically examined. One reason why lack of support from senior executives continues to represent a major risk may be that senior executives themselves do not realize the critical role that they can play in helping to deliver successful projects. In this study, we use the Delphi method to compare the risk perceptions of senior executives and project managers. By comparing risk factors selected by each group, zones of concordance and discordance are identified. In terms of perceived importance ascribed to risk factors, PMs tend to focus on lower-level risks with particular emphasis on risks associated with requirements and user involvement, whereas SEs tend to focus on higher-level risks such as those risks involving politics, organization structure, process, and culture. Finally, approaches for dealing with risk factors that are seen as important by both SEs and PMs are provided. [source]


Development and Validation of Quality Indicators for Dementia Diagnosis and Management in a Primary Care Setting

JOURNAL OF AMERICAN GERIATRICS SOCIETY, Issue 3 2010
Marieke Perry MD
OBJECTIVES: To construct a set of quality indicators (QIs) for dementia diagnosis and management in a primary care setting. DESIGN: RAND modified Delphi method, including a postal survey, a stakeholders consensus meeting, a scientific expert consensus meeting, and a demonstration project. SETTING: Primary care. PARTICIPANTS: General practitioners (GPs), primary care nurses (PCNs), and informal caregivers (ICs) in postal survey and stakeholders consensus meeting. Eight national dementia experts in scientific consensus meeting. Thirteen GPs in the demonstration project. MEASUREMENTS: Mean face validity and feasibility scores. Compliance rates using GPs' electronic medical record data. RESULTS: The initial set consisted of 31 QIs. Most indicators showed moderate or good face validity and feasibility scores. Consensus panels reduced the preliminary set used in the demonstration project to 24 QIs. The overall compliance to the QIs was 45.3%. Discriminative validity of the set was good; significant differences in adherence were found between GPs with high and low levels of patients aged 65 and older in their practice, with and without PCNs, and with positive and negative attitudes toward dementia (all P<.05). Based on the demonstration project, one QI was excluded. The final set consisted of 23 QIs; 15 QIs contained innovative quality criteria on collaboration between GPs and PCNs, referral criteria, and assessment of caregivers' needs. CONCLUSION: This new set of dementia QIs is feasible, reliable, and valid and can be used to improve primary dementia care. Because of the innovative quality criteria, the set is complementary to the existing dementia QIs. [source]


A Delphi survey of evidence-based nursing priorities in Hong Kong

JOURNAL OF NURSING MANAGEMENT, Issue 5 2002
C PSYCHOL, Peter French PhD
The purpose of this study was to inform an evidence-based nursing development project within the Hospital Authority, Hong Kong. It considered the specific question of: what are the nursing practice issues which need to be addressed as a matter of priority in order to improve nursing practice, the quality of care or develop some aspect of nursing practice. A three round Delphi survey was adopted. The methodological problems associated with the use of the Delphi method are addressed. An expert panel consisting of 190 Department Operations Managers (nurses) was identified. The data collection focused on issues related to nursing skills and client care and excluded management or educational issues. Agreed categories were prioritized in the final round by utilizing a 11-point rating scale. The group mean score for each category was calculated and rank ordered. The results provided 45 categories that reflected the nursing practice priorities that required more research evidence to guide practice. The top five ranked items were: nurse patient communication, resuscitation, administration of medicines, counselling and nursing documentation. The top 10 items were used to inform the advisory and selection processes for the evidence-based practice development project. [source]


DEVELOPING STRATEGIES TO GATHER INFORMATION ABOUT THE MATERNITY EXPERIENCES OF INDIGENOUS WOMEN IN AN ACUTE CARE SETTING

AUSTRALIAN JOURNAL OF RURAL HEALTH, Issue 3 2002
Jennifer Watson
ABSTRACT: This project emerged from the concerns of health care professionals at a large acute care hospital in the Northern Territory of Australia. The aim of the project was to develop educational resources through information and experiences provided by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander women and health care professionals. The objectives are to optimise collaboration and participation by Indigenous and Torres Strait Islander women in sharing their maternity experiences about the birthing of their baby either in hospital, or out of hospital before arrival. Stage one of a three stage project is reported here. In stage one a modified Delphi method was used to interview ten purposefully chosen professional Indigenous women with insight into the research process and changing social arrangements. Stage two involved the development of an interview schedule and face-to-face interviews. Stage three includes the development of a questionnaire to be answered by health care professionals. Discussion of the background to the study, reviewed literature and issues identified from interviews with the professional Indigenous women regarding best methods and appropriate data collection processes is presented. Research described here explores issues of concern for Indigenous women from the Northern Territory around their child birthing experiences in an acute care setting. [source]