Development Strategies for Independent Baseball Teams Using Delphi and Analytic Hierarchy Process(AHP)

To achieve the objectives of this study, the Delphi method and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) were employed. The Delphi panel consisted of 17 experts involved in independent baseball operations, while AHP was conducted with 40 players. Through the first round of the Delphi survey, sub-factors for the development of independent baseball teams were identified for each main factor. In the second round, five key sub-factors were selected for each main factor. AHP was then used to assess the relative priorities of these factors based on player input. The results are as follows: First, the Delphi process yielded 87 sub-items generating 556 responses across five categories—“Facilities and Infrastructure,” “Operating Systems,” “Expansion and Popularization,” “Administrative and Financial Support,” and “Coaches and Umpires.” Second, five key sub-factors were identified for each category through the second Delphi round. Finally, the AHP results indicated that “Administrative and Financial Support” was considered the highest priority among the main factors. These findings provide meaningful insights and foundational data that can support system improvements and guide future operational strategies at the field level.