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The nominal group technique

المجموعة الشكلية (Nominal Group)

The nominal group technique, a meeting method devised at the University of Wisconsin after studying more than ten thousand meetings — which al-Suwaidan reports gives four times the results in a quarter of the time — by steps: sub-headings, individual silent writing, collecting all views without repetition, objections and inquiries only, then voting.

Depth

At a glance

Region
Global / Diaspora
Review

Politics, governance and authority

Summary

Tareq al-Suwaidan introduces the 'nominal group' (nominal group technique) as a meeting method devised at the University of Wisconsin, which subjected more than ten thousand meetings to doctoral research to find what wastes time; the studies he relays give it four times the results of the ordinary method in a quarter of the time — sixteen times better — and the version now taught is the revised one (revised nominal group) (needs_source for the figures) 1 2 3 4. It is called 'nominal' because people sit in their seats without discussion — which is the secret of its effectiveness 5 6.

Its five steps

First, the item's sub-headings are fixed without discussion; second, each person writes his view individually and in silence — the chair's rule: as long as they are writing the time extends, and once most of them stop, the step ends; third, all views are collected in a visible place, one from each in turn and without repetition; fourth, only objections and inquiries are opened — an objection on legal grounds or an inquiry to verify, not opinions; fifth, voting 7 8 9 10 11.

Voting

For conflicting proposals — such as one name for a journal — each person holds three votes without discussion; if a view emerges by a clear margin the item is closed, otherwise a limited debate — a supporter and an opponent for each — is opened over the top three to five proposals, then one vote per person, and ties are settled by the chair's vote 12 13 14 15. For complementary proposals — goals that can all stand together — each proposal is voted on separately, one vote each and a simple majority, the voters being warned when two proposals are internally conflicting that one's victory kills the other 16 17 6.

Its limits

The nominal group does not suit, in his view, meetings meant to crystallise an intellectual or scholarly opinion — these need discussion, and one person's view may surpass them all — but suits the management of daily work; and of brainstorming he says it fits some cases and yields more proposals than the ordinary method but does not fit most 18 19 20.

People and things also explored

Ahl al-Diwan (those paid from the state register of soldiers and officers, and the rules of their conditions and distribution)· Ahl al-Hall wa al-Aqd (those who loose and bind: the men of power whose choice confirms the imam)· Ahl al-Mahalla (the people of a quarter, their imam, call to prayer, and their part in the oath and blood money where a body is found)· Islamic management· Experience versus service, and self-development· Leadership and the leader's six roles· Situational leadership· Vision and mission in strategic planning

Sources

  1. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Administrative Processus Abilities, episode 5, at 01:50:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  2. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Administrative Processus Abilities, episode 5, at 01:51:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  3. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Administrative Processus Abilities, episode 5, at 01:52:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  4. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Administrative Processus Abilities, episode 5, at 01:53:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  5. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Administrative Processus Abilities, episode 5, at 02:02:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  6. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Administrative Processus Abilities, episode 5, at 02:08:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  7. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Administrative Processus Abilities, episode 5, at 01:54:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  8. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Administrative Processus Abilities, episode 5, at 01:55:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  9. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Administrative Processus Abilities, episode 5, at 01:56:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  10. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Administrative Processus Abilities, episode 5, at 01:57:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  11. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Administrative Processus Abilities, episode 5, at 01:59:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  12. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Administrative Processus Abilities, episode 5, at 02:01:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  13. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Administrative Processus Abilities, episode 5, at 02:02:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  14. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Administrative Processus Abilities, episode 5, at 02:04:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  15. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Administrative Processus Abilities, episode 5, at 02:05:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  16. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Administrative Processus Abilities, episode 5, at 02:06:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  17. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Administrative Processus Abilities, episode 5, at 02:07:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  18. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Administrative Processus Abilities, episode 5, at 02:06:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  19. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Administrative Processus Abilities, episode 5, at 02:09:30 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
  20. Assabile archive of Tareq al-Suwaidan's lectures (video) , Administrative Processus Abilities, episode 5, at 02:10:00 · Listen at the archive (opens the audio at this time)
Cite this page

islam.museum contributors. “The nominal group technique”. islam.museum, https://islam.museum/en/concept/al-majmua-al-shakliyya/. CC BY-SA 4.0. Last updated 2026-10-26.

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Ideas

Beliefs, concepts, sciences and schools, explained in plain words. Related

Ahl al-Diwan (those paid from the state register of soldiers and officers, and the rules of their conditions and distribution)

Diwan is a Persian loan-word meaning a collection of sheets and writings, in which the army and those given grants were written; for the jurists it is the register in which the names of those in state service who receive a stipend from the public treasury are recorded, and the office that keeps it. Umar ibn al-Khattab was the first to set up the diwan, according to two accounts. The people of the diwan are of several kinds: soldiers, on conditions that are regulatory, such as puberty, freedom, Islam, health and fitness for fighting; holders of office, such as governors, judges, scholars, collectors, imams and muezzins; and the needy. The Companions differed on preference in distribution: Abu Bakr and Ali made it equal, while Umar and Uthman preferred by precedence in Islam, and Umar added kinship to the Prophet; Abu Hanifa and Ahmad followed the latter view.