What is the primary purpose of the Nominal Group Technique (NGT)?

The primary purpose of the Nominal Group Technique (NGT) is to identify an issue or choose a solution through group consensus. NGT is a structured method that encourages contributions from all participants in a group setting while minimizing the influence of dominant individuals. It facilitates discussion and ensures that everyone's ideas are heard and considered.

The process involves several steps: participants generate ideas individually and then share them in a round-robin format, which allows for the collection of ideas without immediate criticism or ranking. After all ideas are shared, participants discuss them further to clarify or elaborate on each point. Finally, individuals rank the ideas, and the results are collated to achieve a consensus on the best options or solutions. This systematic approach not only harnesses the diverse perspectives of all group members but also helps the group reach a collective agreement, making it an effective decision-making tool in healthcare management and other settings.