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The Delphi Technique was developed by the Rand Corporation for use by the Department of Defense as a psychological tool to control people. Dissenters are singled out, and dismissed or ridiculed to diminish their credibility. It is simply a psychological technique to "divide and conquer" and is used by churches, businesses, etc.

Not quite. Delphi was developed by RAND as a technological forecasting tool; it is (properly) a method of anonymously collecting the opinions of various experts, then allowing them to defend or revise their opinions, in a series of iterations, without personalities interfering in the process. It can, properly, be used to arrive at a consensus OR to identify multiple possible outcomes.

It is abused, as you say, by folks who wish to drive a meeting to a predetermined conclusion.

The delphi technique is a very natural part of human nature, just identified and consciously put into practice by corporations and other groups to create consensus (based on whatever the leaders have for an agenda, not necessarily on truth!)

A good article here:

http://www.freerepublic.com/forum/a37b321093ce6.htm

Most people don't even realize it's happening, it's become such a natural part of our society. You learn nothing but how to manipulate via the delphi process too.

http://www.newswithviews.com/PaulProctor/proctor8.htm

Facilitators of Diaprax always minimize the importance of scriptural knowledge (facts) and didactic teaching (lectures) in order to successfully seduce their subjects into group participation with un-offensive human interaction, superficial edutainment, non-threatening worshiptainment and dialectic ‘team-building’ techniques. Diaprax doesn’t teach anyone anything except how to THINK, FEEL and EXPERIENCE what everyone else is thinking, feeling and experiencing. The only thing learned by Diaprax is the process itself. What Diaprax is REALLY all about is unlearning your core values—letting go of anything that keeps you from moving toward the new paradigm of global harmony. It’s about turning one’s ears from the Ancient of Days to the latest noise on the street for spiritual guidance and direction.

Here's another good article:

The Delphi Technique — What Is It?