Execution Phase
From Design to Action
Up to this point, you have designed your Delphi study, configured your survey, and completed the necessary preparation. The execution phase is where that work pays off — this is when your study goes live and begins generating real expert input.
During this phase, your role shifts from designer to facilitator. Rather than building the study, you are now guiding it: inviting participants, monitoring engagement, reviewing incoming responses, and steering the process toward meaningful results.
What the Execution Phase Involves
Once your survey is active, your responsibilities center around four core activities:
- Launching the study – activating your survey and sending invitations to participants
- Managing engagement – monitoring participation levels and sending timely reminders
- Overseeing incoming data – reviewing responses and assessing data quality as results come in
- Closing the study – recognizing when sufficient consensus or data saturation has been reached and bringing the process to a close
These responsibilities remain consistent regardless of which Delphi format you are running — though how they unfold in practice depends on the type of study you have chosen.
Real-Time vs. Multiple-Round Delphi: A Key Distinction
The most significant difference during the execution phase comes down to how iteration is handled. Durvey supports two distinct formats, each with its own logic:
Real-Time Delphi
Operates as a single, continuous survey. Participants can log in at any time, view aggregated feedback from other respondents, and revise their answers accordingly. There are no defined rounds — the process is fluid, and feedback updates live as new responses are submitted.
Multiple-Round Delphi
Follows a more structured, iterative approach. The study is divided into separate rounds, and participants receive summarized feedback between rounds before being asked to reconsider their positions. As the researcher, you actively manage each transition — analyzing results, preparing feedback reports, and opening the next round when ready.
Understanding which format you are working with will shape how you approach every step of the execution phase.
Your Role as Facilitator
Regardless of the Delphi format, your primary responsibilities during execution are the same:
- Ensuring sufficient and sustained participant engagement
- Maintaining data quality throughout the process
- Keeping the study on schedule and on track
- Managing round transitions where applicable
- Deciding when the study is complete based on the responses received
A well-managed execution phase is not just an administrative task — it is essential to the validity of your results. Strong participation rates, consistent communication, and attentive monitoring are what transform a well-designed survey into reliable, meaningful expert consensus.
What This Section Covers
Start & Run Delphi
Learn how to launch your survey, invite participants, and manage the live study environment from the moment it goes active.
Track Progress – Real-Time Delphi
Understand how to monitor incoming responses, interpret live feedback, and determine when your real-time study has reached a natural conclusion.
Track Progress – Multiple-Round Delphi
Learn how to manage individual rounds, analyze results between iterations, and guide your panel progressively toward consensus.
A Note Before You Begin
The execution phase is where your carefully designed study either delivers on its promise — or falls short due to poor facilitation. The guidance in this section is designed to help you stay in control at every step, so that the data you collect is not only plentiful, but trustworthy and actionable.
Start & Run Delphi →