DELPHI METHOD APPLIED IN PROJECT MANAGEMENT RESEARCH: A PESPECTIVE BEYOND CONSENSUS.

• Main Authors: Tainá Alves dos Santos., Cristiane Drebes Pedron.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata 2019-06-01
• Series: Iberoamerican Journal of Project Management
• Subjects: Delphi method; Project management; Consensus; Research methodology
• Online Access: http://www.ijopm.org/index.php/IJOPM/article/view/427/591

The Delphi method involves the application of multiple rounds of questionnaires to obtain expert groups' opinions for long-term scientific forecasting and analysis. The use of this technique allows convergent and divergent opinions of the participants on a complex problem through several rounds of questionnaires and feedbacks between them, being considered a valid tool to support the area of project management in problem solving. The purpose of this article is to analyze how the Delphi method has been used in project management studies, besides presenting its history, concept, application and possible variations of methodological application. Therefore, a qualitative study approach was chosen from the development of a systematic review of the literature, making use of publications available in the ISI Web of Science and Scopus databases. The sample used consisted of 16 articles that deal with the use of the Delphi method in project management studies. We sought to analyze the characteristics of these surveys to answer the proposed research question. Although the use of protocols for the application of the method has been suggested, few articles followed the recommendation. It is expected that the effective understanding of the method guides the use in scientific research in the area of project management.