Four routes to designing a Delphi study

The quality of a Delphi study is largely determined before the first round. In Delphi Pronoia, the panel can be prepared via four different routes. The choice depends on how much planning the study requires and how much time is available.

1. Thorough planning: DPE and Handoff

The most thorough route goes through Metodix's planning ecosystem (DPE, Delphi Planning Ecosystem). It consists of planning tools distributed as plugins. These tools help you

select the Delphi variation and orientation
describe the phenomenon under study
assemble the panel
formulate the questions, i.e., theses.

The planning foundation can be strengthened with Futures Wheel and Relevance Tree methods. These can also be used independently, without a Delphi study.

The complete plan is imported into Pronoia as a complete package (Handoff). In Pronoia, the panel's initial information can still be supplemented and modified.

2. Wizard guides step by step

The second route is the planning wizard. It guides you step by step from basic study information through the phenomenon description, panel, theses, and quality gates. Finally, the plan is transferred as a semi-complete study to the main program, where work continues.

3. Ready-made template

The third route is to select a ready-made template and adapt it to your needs. The templates are designed for various research and development needs, and their names indicate their purpose. The selection includes, for example, classic anticipatory Delphi, argument Delphi, barometer, participatory citizen Delphi, and corporate strategy Delphi. There are also ready-made example studies, such as The Future of Food 2040 and Workplace Culture Now and 2031.

4. Blank template

The fourth route is to open a new study with just a Delphi variation. In this case, the entire study is built directly in the data collection program. This route works well when the setup is already clear or when you want to build the study through experimentation.

Where to start?

If the study is extensive or its results will guide significant decisions, thorough planning pays for itself. If you want to get started quickly, the wizard or a template is a good beginning. All routes lead to the same program, so the plan can always be supplemented later.