Using Delphi to achieve congruent objectives and activities in a pediatrics department

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Health Services Research
• Organizational Management

Background:

• Academic medical departments face challenges in aligning departmental objectives with member activities.
• Clear objectives and activity mapping are crucial for departmental efficiency and strategic planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate the utility of the Delphi technique combined with activity analysis.
• To achieve consensus and clarity on objectives and activities within an academic medical department.

Main Methods:

• Employed the Delphi technique, a structured communication method.
• Utilized activity analysis to map tasks performed by department members.
• Combined these methods to analyze objectives and activities.

Main Results:

• The Delphi technique successfully facilitated consensus on departmental objectives.
• Identified specific activities contributing to departmental goals.
• Highlighted areas where objectives and actual activities diverged, indicating potential misalignment.

Conclusions:

• The Delphi technique is a valuable tool for achieving consensus and clarity in academic medical settings.
• Activity analysis, when paired with the Delphi technique, can reveal critical insights into operational alignment.
• Findings can inform strategic adjustments to better align activities with departmental objectives.