VIRGIN TRAIN COMPANY

Virgin Train Company

Virgin Train Company

Introduction

Virgin trains can use the Delphi technique and can get all of its answers with the help of this technique, Delphi technique was named after the oracle at Delphi, who, according to Greek myth, delivered prophecies. As the name implies, the Delphi technique was originally developed to forecast future events and possible outcomes based on inputs and circumstances. The technique was primarily developed by Norman Dalkey and Olaf Hel-mer at the RAND Corporation in the early 1950s. The earliest use of the Delphi process was primarily military. Delphi started to gain popularity as a featuring tool in the mid-1960s and came to be widely applied and examined by researchers and practitioners in fields such as curriculum development, resource utilization, and policy determination. In the mid-1970s, however, the popularity of the Delphi technique began to decline. Currently, using the Delphi technique as an integral part or as the exclusive tool of investigation in a research or an evaluation project is not uncommon. This entry examines the Delphi process, including subject selection and analysis of data. It also discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the Delphi technique, along with the use of electronic technologies in facilitating the implementation.

The Delphi Process

The Delphi technique is characterized by multiple iterations, or “rounds,” of inquiry. The iterations mean a series of feedback processes (Altschuld 1991, 179). As such, following the more or less linear steps of the Delphi process is important to success with this technique.

Round 1

In Delphi, one of two approaches can be taken in the first round. After receiving responses from participants, investigators convert the collected qualitative data into a structured instrument, which becomes the second-round questionnaire. A newer approach is based on an extensive review of the literature (Adler 1996, 75). To initiate the Delphi process, investigators directly administer a structured questionnaire based on the literature and use it as a platform for questionnaire development in subsequent iterations.

Round 2

Next, Delphi participants receive a second questionnaire and are asked to review the data developed from the responses of all invited participants in the first round and subsequently summarized by investigators. Investigators also provide participants with their earlier responses to compare with the new data that has been summarized and edited. Participants are then asked to rate or rank order the original statements and are encouraged to express any skepticism, questions, and justifications regarding the statements. This allows a full, and fair disclosure of what each participant thinks or believes is important concerning the issue being investigated, as well as providing participants an opportunity to share their expertise, which is a principal reason for their selection to participate in the study.

Round 3

In Round 3, Delphi participants receive a third questionnaire that consists of the statements, summarized by investigators after the preceding round. Participants are additionally asked to revise their judgments and to express their rationale for their priorities. This round provides participants an opportunity to make further clarifications and review previous judgments and inputs ...