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I do think this potent tool originally designed to predict future trends has been Shanghaied to the ends outlined in the manner outlined.

IMHO, the DELPHI technique is best used via email with a carefully objective and even-handed management of the process to insure complete freedom of participants and their objectivity or opinions as THE PARTICIPANTS feel fitting.

The group process mode is a travesty and a gross manipulation, IMHO.

In the email or snail mail mode, there are several iterations of collecting opinions anonymously from a range of experts to common people on a topic. The comments are then distributed to all the participants anonymously. One doesn't know who's opinions are "expert" and who's aren't. Then the participants are asked to make comments on the comments. This sort of iteration may go for 3-5 sequences though 3-4 are probably most common--or were last I read much about it.

It turns out that when the group of participants are well chosen--that it's a robust group with a great deal of diversity--including experts in the field as well as a cross section of the population--the product resulting is one of the most accurately predictive kinds of documents that can be arrived at. And, the technique's best use has been just that--predicting TRENDS in society. Any kind of trend seems to be fair game in about any sort of discipline or area of life public or private.

The face to face group process use of the technique is irresponsible, immoral, unprofessional, unethical, horrid and but a sample of the kind of tyranny Shrillery, Boxerface et al are eager to weight us all down with.

I personally don't even feel it deserves to be called the DELPHI technique.