The Delphi method as a research tool: an example, design considerations and applications Chitu Okoli * , Suzanne D. Pawlowski a John Molson School of Business, Concordia University, GM 209-23, 1455 Boulevard de Maisonneuve Ouest, Montre ´al, Que ´., Canada H3G 1M8 b Department of Information Systems and Decision Sciences, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, LA, USA Accepted 8 November 2003 Available online 27 March 2004 Abstract The Delphi method has proven a popular tool in information systems research for identifying and prioritizing issues for managerial decision-making. However, many past studies have not adopted a systematic approach to conduct a Delphi study. This article provides rigorous guidelines for the process of selecting appropriate experts for the study and gives detailed principles for making design choices during the process that ensure a valid study. A detailed example of a study to identify key factors affecting the diffusion of e-commerce in Sub-Saharan Africa illustrates the design choices that may be involved. We conclude with suggestions for theoretical applications. # 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. Keywords: Delphi method; Group decision making; Research design; Strategic planning; Electronic commerce 1. Introduction The Delphi method has proven a popular tool in information systems (IS) research [4,6,13,14,16,24, 25,35]. Citing ‘‘a lack of a definitive method for conducting the research and a lack of statistical sup- port for the conclusions drawn,’’ Schmidt [34] pre- sented a step-wise methodology for conducting such studies. Building on the framework that Schmidt developed, we offer two contributions towards increasing the value of Delphi studies in investigating research questions. First, we fill in many details in the context of Schmidt’s framework by providing guide- lines on how to conduct a rigorous Delphi study that identifies the most important issues of interest by soliciting qualified experts. Second, we demonstrate how to use a Delphi survey as a research tool to serve a variety of different purposes in the theorizing process. Increasing the rigor will increase the confidence with which researchers can use the results in subsequent studies and managers can make decisions based on information gathered using these methods. Bricolage is a French term that means ‘‘to use whatever resources and repertoire one has to perform whatever task one faces’’ [40]. Characterizations of the research process as bricolage and the researcher as bricoleur [10] serve to remind us of the improvisation and opportunism inherent in the research process and the need to put our research tools to multiple use. A third goal, then, is to encourage researchers to Information & Management 42 (2004) 15–29 * Corresponding author. Tel.: þ1-514-848-2424x2967; fax: þ1-514-848-2824. E-mail address: cokoli@jmsb.concordia.ca (C. Okoli). 0378-7206/$ – see front matter # 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved. doi:10.1016/j.im.2003.11.002