Appreciative inquiry (AI) is a model that seeks to engage stakeholders in self-determined change. It was developed at Case Western Reserve University’s department of organizational behavior, starting with a 1987 article by David Cooperrider and Suresh Srivastva. They felt that the overuse of “problem solving” hampered any kind of social improvement, and what was needed were new methods of inquiry that would help generate new ideas and models for how to organize.<\/p>\n
Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a strengths-based, positive approach to leadership development and organizational change.<\/p>\n
Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a collaborative, strengths-based approach to change in organizations and other human systems. The term \u2018Appreciative Inquiry\u2019 is thus used to refer to both:<\/p>\n
The AI paradigm \u2013 in itself, this relates to the principles and theory behind a strengths-based change approach; and AI methodology and initiatives \u2013 which are the specific techniques and operational steps that are used to bring about positive change in a system.<\/p>\n
Individual and Appreciative Inquiry<\/strong><\/p>\n An individual might use Appreciative Inquiry for leadership coaching or to develop a personal strategic vision. Teams and organizations use AI to understand best practices, develop strategic plans, shift culture, and create forward momentum on large-scale initiatives. At the societal level, Appreciative Inquiry has been used to find common ground around topics of global importance, to shape the direction of non-profits and NGOs, and to form multi-national initiatives that spans geography and industries.<\/p>\n Appreciative Inquiry process<\/strong><\/p>\n Whether you\u2019re using Appreciative Inquiry one-on-one, or with 1,000 people, the AI process will follow four distinct phases, called the 4-D Cycle:<\/p>\n Example<\/strong><\/p>\n Imagine you\u2019re a manufacturing company that wants to develop your capacity for innovation in order to expand research and development, and earn more market share. In this example, your strategic focus (also called the affirmative topic) would be improving innovation.<\/p>\n In the Discovery phase, you\u2019d find examples of when your company has been at its best around innovation, and then identify the common factors in these stories.<\/p>\n Next, in the Dream phase, you\u2019d invest time in thinking about what a truly innovative organization would look like: How would leaders, resources, behaviors, the physical space, organizational processes, etc., change? You\u2019d work to create a vision of the future that is invigorating and inspiring, something you truly want.<\/p>\n Once your vision for the future is clear, the next phase will ask you to Design the future. What steps are needed today, to reach that vision? In the design phase, you get as strategic and tactical as possible, creating models and prototypes of different elements of your future, mapping steps, identifying required resources, and engaging the support of others.<\/p>\n Finally, in the Destiny phase your team will work to implement your design, to make the vision a reality.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Appreciative inquiry (AI) is a model that seeks to engage stakeholders in self-determined change. It was developed at Case Western Reserve University’s department of organizational behavior, starting with a 1987 article by David Cooperrider and Suresh Srivastva. They felt that the overuse of “problem solving” hampered any kind of social improvement, and what was needed…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-114285","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n