Abstract

Delphi is a research approach that enables a consensus to be derived from the progressive and iterative refinement of individual expert opinion about a problem domain or research proposition. Although it offers a highly practical way to understand complex phenomena in different subject areas, including business and management, to date, Delphi studies have mainly focused upon the generation of theory based upon current or future scenarios. Rarely, have researchers tried to employ Delphi for theory testing or conceptual development, nor have attempted to merge experiences from diverse subject area. The need to address these gaps in knowledge and to enable successful management of Delphi forms the justification for this paper. This paper reviews the relative place of Delphi studies in the spectrum of consensus seeking methods and presents the case for a non-traditional use of the Delphi method for theory evaluation. On the basis of experience gained through secondary and primary research, a generic decision toolkit for Delphi studies is proposed, comprising a taxonomy of Delphi design choices, a stage model and a set of critical methodological decisions. These research tools will help to increase confidence of the researcher when considering adoption of the Delphi and allow for a wider and more comprehensive recognition of the method within the either the scientific or interpretivist traditions.