Assessment
Write a 3-page paper that examines various aspects of the modified Delphi project technique, including reasons for using the technique and the process to conduct a study or project in your workplace. Then find two articles about studies that explore aspects of strategic innovation 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 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. Note that the modified Delphi is not an approved technique to conduct your DBA Capstone Project but is a technique you might consider using in the workplace to develop forward-looking strategies or solutions to overcome a problem in your organization or industry. Employers expect DBA graduates to be familiar with a variety of problem-solving techniques.
Overview
In this assessment, you will write a paper to demonstrate an understanding of the modified Delphi project technique. Note that the modified Delphi is not an approved technique to conduct your DBA Capstone Project but is a technique you might consider using in the workplace to develop forward-looking strategies or solutions to overcome a problem in your organization or industry. Employers expect DBA graduates to be familiar with a variety of problem-solving techniques. 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 strategy and innovation. This activity will give you an opportunity to
locate and analyze scholarly literature regarding appropriate application of research techniques for conducting workplace projects.
Assessment Instructions
Review the modified Delphi technique resources provided in What You Need to Know. 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 strategic innovation problem or topic.
Write a 3-page paper where you address the following:
• Discuss the reasons for choosing a modified Delphi technique to study and potentially overcome a problem in your workplace, 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 related to topics of strategic innovation, respond to the following:
o Describe the studies and explain a business problem or gap in practice related to strategy or innovation that the study addresses.
o Evaluate the characteristics, purpose, benefits, strengths, and the weaknesses of the studies.
o Focusing on the data collection and analysis processes, explain how the modified Delphi technique was used to explore the topics.
• Develop project questions that you could use in a workplace modified Delphi study.
o Note: The Modified Delphi Technique interactive learning module shows an example of how you could format the project question and sub-questions.
Submission Requirements
As you complete your assessment, be sure your submission meets the following guidelines:
• Before you submit: Before submitting your assessment, you are required to check that your in-text citations match the reference list at the end of your assessment.
• For this assessment:
o You are required to follow the Standard Naming Convention requirements for any files you upload. You will find the requirements in the DBA Submissions Requirements page.
o You are required to follow the Track Changes requirements. You will find the requirements in the DBA Submissions Requirements page. Track changes are also required for each re-submission of an assessment based on the previous review.
• Written Communication: Writing is grammatically correct and free from errors that detract from the overall message.
• APA Formatting: All resources and citations should be formatted according to current APA style and formatting guidelines. The APA Module can help with this.
• Length: Total length of the assessment should be 3 double-spaced pages.
• Font and Font Size: APA style font, 12-point.
• Scholarship: Use at least five scholarly or reputable practitioner sources to support your main points and analysis. Two course readings may be included among the five required sources.
Use the resources linked below to help complete this assessment.
Fostering Innovation
Innovation is often fostered by a need to change based on an event, situation, or a person that leads to opportunities for innovation. Events or situations may include mergers, a crisis, economic shifts, competitor changes, new government regulations, or pressure from organizational stakeholders. Managers may initiate change because of performance gaps, new technology, identification of opportunities, or a change in strategic direction. Change may be caused by stimuli in the external environment, including political, social, economic, or technological shifts outside of the organization. Internal stimuli may include a change in leadership, new policies, or a shift in employee attitudes.
Review the following website, where you will find a variety of brief change management articles:
• Management Study Guide. (n.d.). Change Management ‒ Meaning and Important Concepts. https://www.managementstudyguide.com/change-management.htm
As you review the articles, focus on understanding the need for change management and how that relates to innovation. To innovate, you will need to understand how to change and take into account barriers to change, reasons for resistance to change, and the role of innovation in change management. In this course, you will be identifying business problems or opportunities related to strategy and innovation, where addressing those problems or opportunities usually requires some strategic innovation. In developing a potential capstone project, you can use what you learn in this course about innovation, design, and creativity.
The following scholarly resources explore the fundamentals of fostering innovation. Reflect on your own experiences as you apply the concepts in these articles about ways organizations can create a culture of innovation.
• Assessment 02: Fostering Innovation.
Innovating to Solve Business Problems
The need to transform organizations and respond to the business problems created by a fast- paced and complex global economy is often a catalyst for innovation. As part of strategic innovation, it is essential that managers analyze the current situation in an organization and take responsibility for evaluating and managing business problems. Management may need to understand the forward-looking recommendations or solutions provided by stakeholders in the organization or experts in the field to answer business problems or find innovative solutions.
The following resource explores leading change and creating organizational renewal to solve business problems:
https://journals-sagepub- com.library.capella.edu/doi/full/10.1177/0021886320953982?utm_source=summon&utm_mediu m=discovery-provider&
Refer to the following readings.
• Innovating to Solve Business Problems
The Delphi Technique and Modified Delphi Technique Methodologies and Techniques
Methodologies 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. Refer to
the Doctor of Business Administration (DBA) Programs of Research [PDF]document to learn more about the approved techniques to conduct a DBA Capstone Project. When using a project technique and planning a study, methodological literature is used to support the design of the study.
The Delphi Technique
The 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 positions 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.
Review the following website for an overview of the Delphi technique.
• Gordon, J. (2020). Delphi Technique. The Business Professor. https://thebusinessprofessor.com/lesson/delphi-technique-explained/
https://thebusinessprofessor.com/en_US/management-leadership-organizational- behavior/delphi-technique-explained
Modified Delphi Technique Overview
In 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. Note that the modified Delphi is not an approved technique to conduct your DBA Capstone Project but is a technique you might consider using in the workplace to develop forward-looking strategies or solutions to overcome a problem in your organization or industry. Employers expect DBA graduates to be familiar with a variety of problem-solving techniques. Modified Delphi is employed to customize a Delphi procedure. In general, researchers refer to the applied modifications to the classical/conventional Delphi of the RAND Corporation, which is recognized as the “standard.” New variants are developed in order to suit the technique to specific circumstances and research questions. The Delphi is deemed to be 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 top four to six forward-looking solutions by importance. 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 four to six forward-looking solutions.
Modified Delphi Technique – Details
Refer to the following readings.
• Modified Delphi Technique – Details.
Chapter 19 on pages 375–395 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.
o Chapter 19, “Demystifying the Delphi Method,” pages 375–395.
Competencies Measured
By successfully completing this assessment, you will demonstrate your proficiency in the following course competencies and scoring guide criteria:
• Competency 1: Write clear and concise abbreviated project technique sections, which are valid and meaningful to strategy and innovation professionals.
o Adhere to the rules of grammar, usage, and mechanics.
o Apply APA formatting to in-text citations and references.
• Competency 2: Locate and analyze scholarly literature regarding appropriate application of research techniques for conducting projects in the field of strategy and innovation.
o Provide a clear, concise description of the appropriate use of the modified Delphi technique.
o Define and describe the context in which a modified Delphi technique is applicable.
o Explain the process for conducting a workplace study using a modified Delphi approach.
o Locate, describe, evaluate, and analyze scholarly literature containing examples of studies using a modified Delphi technique.
o Develop project questions appropriate for the modified Delphi technique.
Scoring Guide
Use the scoring guide to understand how your assessment will be evaluated.
Criterion 1
Provide a clear, concise description of the appropriate use of the modified Delphi technique.
Distinguished
Provides a clear, concise, detailed explanation of the appropriate use of the modified Delphi
technique and cites credible sources to support the explanation.
Proficient
Provides a clear, concise description of the appropriate use of the modified Delphi technique.
Basic
Provides an inaccurate or incomplete description of the appropriate use of the modified Delphi
technique.
Non Performance
Does not provide a clear, concise description of the appropriate use of the modified Delphi
technique.
Criterion 2
Define and describe the context in which a modified Delphi technique is applicable.
Distinguished
Defines and describes the context in which a modified Delphi technique is applicable, providing
examples of when it is not applicable.
Proficient
Defines and describes the context in which a modified Delphi technique is applicable.
Basic
Provides an inaccurate or incomplete definition and description of the context of which a
modified Delphi technique is applicable.
Criterion 3
Explain the process for conducting a workplace study using a modified Delphi approach.
Distinguished
Provides an expert, detailed explanation of the process for conducting a workplace study using a
modified Delphi approach.
Proficient
Explains the process for conducting a workplace study using a modified Delphi approach.
Basic
Provides an inaccurate or incomplete explanation of the process for conducting a workplace
study using a modified Delphi approach.
Non Performance
Does not explain the process for conducting a workplace study using a modified Delphi
approach.
Criterion 4
Locate, describe, evaluate, and analyze scholarly literature containing examples of studies using a modified Delphi technique.
Distinguished
Locates, describes, and critically analyzes scholarly literature with examples of studies using
modified Delphi technique, completing a comprehensive evaluation of the articles.
Proficient
Locates, describes, evaluates, and analyzes scholarly literature containing examples of studies
using a modified Delphi technique.
Basic
Locates scholarly literature with examples of studies using modified Delphi technique, but little
to no evaluation and analysis is provided.
Criterion 5
Develop project questions appropriate for the modified Delphi technique.
Distinguished
Develops project questions appropriate for and in expert alignment with the modified Delphi
technique.
Proficient
Develops project questions appropriate for the modified Delphi technique.
Basic
Develops project questions that are not appropriate for the modified Delphi technique.
Non Performance
Does not develop project questions appropriate for the modified Delphi technique.
Criterion 6
Adhere to the rules of grammar, usage, and mechanics.
Distinguished
Exhibits strict and nearly flawless adherence to the rules of grammar, usage, and mechanics.
Proficient
Adheres to the rules of grammar, usage, and mechanics.
Basic
Errors in grammar, usage, and mechanics inhibit readability and comprehension and detract from
good scholarship.
Non Performance
Does not adhere to the rules of grammar, usage, and mechanics.
Criterion 7
Apply APA formatting to in-text citations and references.
Distinguished
Exhibits strict and nearly flawless adherence to APA formatting of in-text citations and
references.
Proficient
Applies APA formatting to in-text citations and references.
Basic
Applies APA formatting to in-text citations and references incorrectly and/or inconsistently,
detracting noticeably from good scholarship.
Non Performance
Does not apply APA formatting to in-text citations and references.
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