Page 141 -

5 - PROJECT SCOPE MANAGEMENT

5.2.2.4 Group creativity techniques

Several group activities can be organized to identify project and product requirements. Some of the group
creativity techniques that can be used are:

• Brainstorming. A technique used to generate and collect multiple ideas related to project and product
requirements. Although brainstorming by itself does not include voting or prioritization, it is often used
with other group creativity techniques that do.

• nominal group technique. A technique that enhances brainstorming with a voting process used to rank 5
the most useful ideas for further brainstorming or for prioritization.
• Idea/mind mapping. A technique in which ideas created through individual brainstorming sessions are
consolidated into a single map to reflect commonality and differences in understanding, and generate
new ideas.
• Affinity diagram. A technique that allows large numbers of ideas to be classified into groups for review
and analysis.

• Multicriteria decision analysis. A technique that utilizes a decision matrix to provide a systematic
analytical approach for establishing criteria, such as risk levels, uncertainty, and valuation, to evaluate
and rank many ideas.

5.2.2.5 Group decision-Making techniques

A group decision-making technique is an assessment process having multiple alternatives with an expected
outcome in the form of future actions. These techniques can be used to generate, classify, and prioritize product
requirements.

There are various methods of reaching a group decision, such as:

• unanimity. A decision that is reached whereby everyone agrees on a single course of action. One way to
reach unanimity is the Delphi technique, in which a selected group of experts answers questionnaires and
provides feedback regarding the responses from each round of requirements gathering. The responses
are only available to the facilitator to maintain anonymity.
• Majority. A decision that is reached with support obtained from more than 50 % of the members of the
group. Having a group size with an uneven number of participants can ensure that a decision will be
reached, rather than resulting in a tie.
• Plurality. A decision that is reached whereby the largest block in a group decides, even if a majority is
not achieved. This method is generally used when the number of options nominated is more than two.
• dictatorship. In this method, one individual makes the decision for the group.

©2013 Project Management Institute. A Guide to the Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide) – Fifth Edition 115
®

Licensed To: Jorge Diego Fuentes Sanchez PMI MemberID: 2399412
This copy is a PMI Member benefit, not for distribution, sale, or reproduction.