The document discusses the Nominal Group Technique (NGT) method for group decision making. It involves group members meeting to discuss ideas and possible solutions privately before voting. The response discusses how NGT allows for equal participation, removes social influences, and can incorporate technology for remote groups. NGT aids organizational change by allowing anonymous employee feedback to identify needed changes.

1. DISCUSSION 1
Assignment Details
This assignment has 4 parts:
The Nominal Group Technique (NGT) is a common method of
group decision making. The group members will meet to
discuss their ideas and all parts of the problem and possible
solutions and then the voting is done privately.
How can the NGT be a valuable tool for group decision making?
What possible outcomes will result from using the NGT
method? How do these outcomes differ from those that could
occur if the members voted while all together?
How can technology be integrated into the NGT to allow multi-
site groups to work together?
Describe how the NGT can aid in the organizational change
process.
Your assignment will be graded in accordance with the
following criteria. Click
here
to view the grading rubric.

2. REPLY 1
Nominal Group Technique (NGT) is a beneficial and valuable
tool to use when you are dealing with a group of individuals to
solve an issue and some of them are too vocal and others are
shy or do not want to rock the boat by having an opposite
opinion (ASQ, 2019).
A group devised discussion that leads to possible solutions that
the employees put input into. There would be more conflict if
everyone voted together especially if ties are created and
deciding votes swing one way or the other opposite either
opposing groups (Community Development, n.d.).
When incorporating technology into multiple site NGT you can
have every site put input into the problem at hand to get a larger
options pool. Having all the sites work on the issues will
increase the adaptability to the decision made since all the
employees had input into it. We use Skype at work for a lot of
offsite meetings.
When using the employees past experience’s and using them to
help solve the problem, you engage the employees into the
change that needs to be made and this will make it easier to
implement.
REPLY 2
Nominal Group Technique (NGT) is a structured method for
group brainstorming that encourages contributions from all
members through anonymity. As dynamic teams may be
comprised of individuals from differing backgrounds, strengths,

3. and weaknesses, it is crucial that all members can contribute
equally. The benefit to NGT is that the tendency that social
dynamics has to influence others is removed from the decision-
making process
(
Editorial Board
,
2014).
The NGT method allows all participants to present their
alternative ideas on an equal and flat format, allowing everyone
to prioritize all suggested solutions and vote on them privately.
Similar types of brainstorming sessions that are not conducted
per the nominal group technique can influence others into not
participating in the same way, or immediately siding with
other’s ideas as an effect of social pressure. People that have
introverted tendencies assume the position that the business will
take care of itself as well as surrounding conditions without the
need to speak for themselves. NGT forces participation without
shocking the member out of their comfort zone into an open
forum.
Technology can be utilized in the NGT in the form of
questionnaires or surveys, most typically businesses will
circulate a “rate your experience” type of survey to get
anonymous feedback on how the employee feels the business is
doing, how management is doing, and what the company can do
better. Though the employees surveyed do not participate in
voting for the change action, these answers are gathered and
prioritized by upper management and HR to issue necessary
change.
NGT aids in the organizational change process by allowing

4. employees or members to say what they have to without fear of
retaliation and gives the management the opportunity to address
concerns accordingly, as previously stated the “[feedback can
be] prioritized by upper management and HR to issue necessary
change” and change that requires overall restructuring is issued
as organizational change or change management and will
involve all of the appropriate steps including employee
involvement which may take the form of future NGT sessions.
Editorial Board (2014).
Organizational Behavior.
Schaumburg, IL: Words of Wisdom, LLC. Retrieved January 8,
2018 from
https://ebooksbvd.my-education-
connection.com/read/9781943926268/9781943926268_1_xhtml
DISCUSSION 2
Assignment Details
This DB has three parts.
Describe the four key elements of a good performance appraisal.
Many factors can lead to a company failing. Discuss the
external conditions that can occur that would hinder the success
of a company.
Discuss your understanding of the POWER SWOT. How can
this method increase the effectiveness of a strategic plan?

5. REPLY 3
Part 1
In order for a performance appraisal to be considered good, it
should be objective. Meaning that it should look at every angle
and not just assume one position. This objectivity includes
equal application to all involved, you should not single out an
individual. The performance appraisal should have a process
that is clearly defined, and procedures that are followed to
reduce backlash. The performance appraisal system should be
consistent, not fluctuating to favor certain people and make
others look bad. It should be a forward thinking, developmental
appraisal that allows employees to provide feedback on the
process. A company should make every effort to have the
performance appraisal done in order to advance, coach, or
develop employee skills, knowledge, and behavior, (Skinner and
Green, 2010).
Part 2
There are many reasons that a company can flail, and at some
point, some of these factors could very well impact your
company or the company you work for. There are several
external (outside company control) factors that can have a
negative impact on a business. The first being the economy in
which the business is in, and the world’s economy if the
company is large enough. If the economy is in a bad way, it is
likely that the business will struggle. Finance is another big
external factor that can have a damaging effect on a business.
Most businesses rely on credit of one kind or another, and if
interest rates a high then the cost of credit is high as well. This

6. includes banks that may fail, while they may not have an
immediate impact, they could have a long-term impact. Nobody
controls the rain, sunshine, tornados, hurricanes, or let’s just
say the weather. Weather at the wrong time can break a
business, especially if the business is a tourist attraction or if it
requires sunny weather. Changes in the infrastructure could also
be very damaging to a business. If the zoning laws, or
construction of a highway, or the development of housing
moves too close to your business it could have a serious impact
on the overall health of your company. When state, local, and
federal laws change it could be difficult for a company to
overcome it. A town near where I live changed their local law
recently to say that anyone under the age of 21 could not buy
cigarettes inside city limits. This had an impact on the
businesses that sell cigarettes inside city limits, on the reverse
side the places that sell them outside city limits have received
extra revenue. Not following trends or changing with the time
can result in a loss of customers for a business. People are busy
and want easy to use quick technology to do their bidding. In
this day and age no business should be started without utilizing
an Instagram and Facebook account, and the company should
develop a web page also. If they choose not to the company is
looking at limited promotional resources and the lack of
customer trust. A company should monitor the efforts in
marketing to make sure they are appealing to the proper
customer base. Should a company fallout of touch with the
consumer or lose sight of who they want to purchase their
product the company not only could lose money, but they could
end up shutting down, (Ray, 2018).
Part 3
The POWER SWOT is a more defined way to get an in-depth
view of your company and how your personal experience fits in
and use it to your advantage. Not only that but it helps you
come up with a more defined approach to constructing your

7. SWOT analysis. This process also allows the marketer to
organize the SWOT, giving each item in it a ranking from least
to most important this helps the marketer decided which items
are the most important and need to be listed first, (Marketing
Teacher, n.d.).
Reference:
Marketing Teacher, (n.d.). SWOT Analysis-POWER SWOT.
Retrieved from: http://www.marketingteacher.com/swot-
analysis-power-swot/
Ray, Linda, (2018). Small Business Chronicle. Seven External
Factors of Business. Retrieved from:
https://smallbusiness.chron.com/seven-external-factors-
business-21960.html
Skinner, Jennifer and Green, Ravonne, (2010). The
Organization for the Advancement of Library Employees.
Library Worklife. Making the Grade: The Elements of an
Effective Performance Appraisal. Retrieved from: http://ala-
apa.org/newsletter/2010/06/08/hr-practice/
REPLY 4
Describe the four key elements of a good performance appraisal.
It serves to motivate employees toward company goals.-
incentives

8. It is understandable
It is viewed, in some way, as related to compensation.
The system involves quantitative measurement of
performance versus just subjective ratings.
Many factors can lead to a company failing. Discuss the
external conditions that can occur that would hinder the success
of a company.
I see the biggest thing that hinders company now is public
perception. Media is everywhere now, whether it’s social, T.V.
or on paper. Media can twist anything into something that fits
their agenda. Another big factor that can hinder a business is
the economy as a whole. If people don’t have money to spend
then business can’t take in money. Natural disasters, stock
market crashes and pretty much anything can effect a business.
Discuss your understanding of the POWER SWOT. How can
this method increase the effectiveness of a strategic plan?
The power SWOT takes in account your personal experience
when helping you find an approach that fits your needs. This
allows you to take SWOT and organize items by rank from least
to most important.