Wide Band Delphi: A Collaborative Decision-Making Technique

Wide Band Delphi (WBD) is a collaborative decision-making technique used to gather and analyze expert opinions on a particular topic. It is a structured process that involves a group of experts who provide their judgments and feedback on a specific issue or problem. The technique is based on the Delphi method, which was developed in the 1950s by the RAND Corporation as a way to forecast future events.

WBD is a widely used technique in software engineering, project management, and other fields where expert opinions are critical for decision-making. It is particularly useful when there is no clear consensus on a particular issue or when the available information is incomplete or uncertain.

The WBD process typically involves the following steps:

• Selection of Experts: A group of experts is selected based on their knowledge, experience, and expertise in the relevant field.
• Questionnaire Design: A questionnaire is designed to elicit expert opinions on the specific issue or problem. The questionnaire should be clear, concise, and focused on the key issues.
• Round One: The experts complete the questionnaire independently, providing their judgments and feedback on the issue or problem.
• Analysis: The responses are analyzed, and a summary report is prepared that includes the range of opinions, areas of agreement, and areas of disagreement.
• Round Two: The experts are provided with the summary report and asked to revise their initial judgments based on the feedback from the other experts.
• Analysis: The revised responses are analyzed, and a final report is prepared that includes a consensus view on the issue or problem.

WBD has several advantages over other decision-making techniques. It allows for a wide range of opinions to be considered, which can lead to a more comprehensive and accurate assessment of the issue or problem. It also provides a structured process for gathering and analyzing expert opinions, which can help to reduce bias and improve the quality of the decision-making process.

Overall, WBD is a valuable tool for organizations and individuals who need to make complex decisions based on expert opinions. By using this technique, they can tap into the collective knowledge and expertise of a group of experts and arrive at a consensus view that is well-informed and objective.