Capella University Modified Delphi Project Technique Assessment
Instructions: Modified Delphi Project Technique Paper
Write a 3-4 page paper that examines various aspects of the modified Delphi project technique, including reasons for choosing it and the process for conducting a study. Then find two articles about studies that explore aspects of change leadership and that use a Delphi project technique. Summarize and analyze the studies.
Introduction
Companies are looking for DBA graduates who are able to make decisions that support the organizational changes that are needed to improve a company’s effectiveness. The Delphi technique is a process used to gather consensus regarding recommendations for decision making. In this technique, you survey a panel of experts. Their input can be used by a change agent to gather opinions about future events. In your doctoral studies, you have learned about qualitative and quantitative techniques and methods, however, you may choose a capstone project using a modified Delphi technique. When you are writing your topic concept paper, the material in the course and this assessment will give you an opportunity to explore the modified Delphi technique.
Overview
In this assessment, you will write a paper to demonstrate an understanding of the modified Delphi project technique. You may eventually choose a capstone project that uses a modified Delphi technique. When you are writing your topic concept paper for this course, the material in the course and this assessment will give you an opportunity to explore this project technique. In the first part of your paper, you will use the course materials and articles you find in the Capella library to demonstrate an understanding of the modified Delphi technique. You will then discuss examples of studies where the research technique was used for conducting research in the field of leadership. This activity will give you an opportunity to locate and analyze scholarly literature regarding appropriate application of research techniques for conducting projects.
Instructions
Review the modified Delphi technique resources provided in in the Resources for this assessment. Search the Capella Library databases to find additional articles with the following characteristics:
Methodological papers and resources discussing modified Delphi techniques and methods.
Two studies that used a Delphi technique to address a change-related leadership problem or topic.
Write a 3-4-page paper where you address the following:
Discuss the reasons for choosing a modified Delphi technique and when it would be appropriate to use the approach.
Define and describe the context in which a modified Delphi technique is applicable. What constitutes a modification to the Delphi technique?
Explain the process for conducting a study using a modified Delphi approach.
Using two examples of Delphi studies found in the Capella library databases on change-related leadership topics, respond to the following:
Describe the studies and explain a leadership-related business problem or gap in practice the study was addressing.
Evaluate the characteristics, purpose, benefits, strengths, and the weaknesses of the studies.
Explain how the modified Delphi technique was used to explore the topics, focusing on the data collection and analysis processes in the studies.
Develop project questions that you could use in a modified Delphi technique Capstone Project based on one of the selected articles.
POST
Resources: Change ManagementManagement Study Guide. (n.d.). Change management ‒ Meaning and important concepts. https://www.managementstudyguide.com/change-manage...Review this web page for a variety of brief change management articles. As you review the articles, focus on understanding the need for change management, kinds of change and barriers to change, reasons for resistance to change, and leadership in change management. In this course, you will be identifying business problems related to leadership, where the solutions to those problems usually require some change management. Reflect on your own experiences as you apply the concepts in these articles to ways organizations can manage change.Brandt, E. N., Kjellström, S., & Andersson, A.-C. (2019). Transformational change by a post-conventional leader. Leadership & Organization Development Journal, 40(4), 457-471.This article focuses on the concepts related to the ability to master change and how to cope with the challenges to achieving change in organizations. You will see why organizations need to adapt and respond to catalysts for change to survive.Katombe, M. (2018). The effect of leadership on the resistance to change in an organization. OD Practitioner, 50(3), 47-55.This article focuses on change and what is required for organizations to sustain their existence and competitive position. Pay attention to ways to minimize resistance to change. The article reviews models that have been proposed for managing change, which will be helpful for you in this course.Varney, G. H. (2017). Change your change process and make change work. Organization Development Journal, 35(1), 25-33.This article explains how the scientific method of making change can help leaders reevaluate the way they create and lead change.
Resources: Leading Change to Solve Business ProblemsTransforming organizations and responding to the business problems created by a fast-paced and complex global economy are often catalysts for change. As part of leading change, it is essential to analyze the current situation in an organization and take responsibility for evaluating and managing business problems. Leaders may need to understand the forward-looking recommendations or solutions received from stakeholders in the organization or experts in the field to answer business problems.Coruzzi, C. A. (2020). Leading change with intelligence: The power of diagnosis in creating organizational renewal. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science, 56(4), 420-436.This article explores leading change and creating organizational renewal to solve business problems. In this article, you will find an in-depth study of the Burke-Litwin model of organizational performance and change that can be used in business practices to increase organizational performance through change. As a practitioner, if you are implementing change management initiatives, the model will help you understand the relationship between management practices, organizational structure, work unit climate, and performance.
Resources: The Delphi Technique and Modified Delphi TechniqueMethodologies and TechniquesMethodologies are overarching processes, techniques, or strategies to conduct a project. Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods are the three methodologies used. Capstone projects use techniques that consist of specialized procedures for conducting a study as documented in the literature. The technique chosen includes a set of specific processes to collect and analyze data appropriate for the type of project being proposed or completed. For example, learners may use a generic qualitative inquiry technique, collecting data from interviews, and analyzing data using thematic analysis. If a learner used a quantitative inferential statistics technique, data may be collected by surveying participants and from existing archived database. When using a project technique and planning a study, methodological literature is used to support the design of the study.The Delphi TechniqueThe conventional Delphi technique entails the use of surveys with key experts in the field to aid in the problem-solving and decision-making process. The technique is used to identify forward-looking solutions to complex business problems and opportunities. Leaders seek key experts with extensive experience, education, and a position that would indicate they truly are experts. The Delphi technique offers opportunities for gathering expert narratives, which can be developed into a summary of themes.Gordon, J. (2020). Delphi technique. The Business Professor. https://thebusinessprofessor.com/lesson/delphi-tec...Review this website for an overview of the Delphi technique.Modified Delphi Technique OverviewIn your research methods and other courses, you have learned about qualitative and quantitative techniques in detail. In this course, you are learning more about the use of the modified Delphi technique. You may choose a capstone project that will use a modified Delphi technique in a study that focuses on forward-looking recommendations or solutions from a panel of experts. Modified Delphi is employed to customize a Delphi procedure. In general, researchers refer to the applied modifications to the classical or conventional Delphi of the RAND Corporation, which is recognized as the standard. New variants are developed to suit the technique to specific circumstances and research questions. For a capstone project, modified Delphi studies may include four rounds of data collection, with the data analysis results of each round informing the creation of the instrument for the subsequent round. The Delphi is to be deemed as modified when the researcher bypasses the first brainstorming round of data collection. To accomplish this approach, a structured survey containing a list of potential forward-looking solutions is presented to panelists based upon a synthesis of relevant factors found during a review of the literature. Panelists are given the opportunity to review and add to the list. In round 2, the expert panelists numerically rate the forward-looking solutions. After analysis and data reduction, round 3 is presented to the panelists, in which they rank the pared-down list of forward-looking solutions. After analysis and data reduction, round 4 is presented to the panelists in which the objective is to arrive at a consensus of the top 4-6 forward-looking solutions.Modified Delphi Technique: DetailsRead the following articles to develop an in-depth understanding of the modified Delphi technique:Brady, S. R. (2015). Utilizing and adapting the Delphi method for use in qualitative research [PDF]. International Journal of Qualitative Methods, 14(5). 1-6.Grisham, T. (2009). The Delphi technique: A method for testing complex and multifaceted topics. International Journal of Managing Projects in Business, 2(1), 112-130.Chapter 19 of the Handbook of Research on Scholarly Publishing and Research Methods is an extensive overview of the Delphi technique, where you will gain additional insight on how Delphi technique research studies may be modified in order to meet certain research needs and types of problem solving:Wang, V. X. (2015). Handbook of research on scholarly publishing and research methods. IGI Global.Chapter 19, "Demystifying the Delphi Method," pages 375-395.