Sect 37
Appreciative Inquiry by David Cooperrider & Diana Whitney ppg
395-400
Sunday, February 20, 2011
3:53 PM
Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a "Creating a positive revolution in the field of
organization development and change management" (p395, Robert from U Michigan)
Why? --> because organizations are not problems to be solved rather it is designed as a
solution in its own time to meet a challenge or satisfy a need for society.
Life-centric view -- the organization is a center where relationships, partnerships,
alliances and unbound knowledge and actions that are capable of harnessing the poser
of combinations of strengths.
AI is an organizational development process or philosophy that engages individuals
within an organizational system in its renewal, change and focused performance. AI is
based on the assumption that organizations change in the way they inquire and the
claim that an organization which inquires into problems or difficult situations will keep
finding more of the same but an organization which tries to appreciate what is best in
itself will find/discover more and more of what is good.
Book example: Approaching Problems from the Other Side
GTC/Verizon
Tom White, the president, was able to change the culture of his org based on AI (14
mos. He won an award for best change in an org)
The questions his team of internal and external changed agents asked: How can we
engage the positive potential of all employees toward transforming the company?
The team wanted all efforts put towards recognizing and inviting the positive expression
of frontline employees strength, initiatives, and capabilities.
• created a 5:1 ratio of positive performance and success stories to negative
one
• In 1yr, change agents (OD Consultants, ER Managers, Public Affairs, Comm
staff) + 800 frontline employees received AI training
• Create a story center, sent stories out to other managers and newsletters;
storytelling was embedded into may existing processes; AI Story book was created as a
teaching tool for employees
• Provided surveys for employees to take (open ended questions asked)
• AI was used to develop a new partnership model for union and company
management
End result gave the company another approach of problem solving by creating a positive
culture and brining out the best in employees
WHAT IS APPRECATIVE INQUIRY? (p397)
Ap-pre’ci-ate, v., 1. valuing; the act of recognizing the best in people or the
world around us; affirming past and present strengths, successes, and
potentials; to perceive those things that give life (health, vitality, excellence) to
living systems 2. to increase in value, e.g. the economy has appreciated in
value. Synonyms: VALUING, PRIZING, ESTEEMING, and HONORING.
In-quire’ (kwir), v., 1. the act of exploration and discovery. 2. To ask questions;
to be open to seeing new potentials and possibilities. Synonyms: DISCOVERY,
SEARCH, and SYSTEMATIC EXPLORATION, STUDY.
Definitions are found on bottom of pg (397) --WORTH READING! :)
The basic idea is to build organizations around what works, rather than trying to fix what
doesn't. It is the opposite of problem solving. Instead of focusing on gaps and inadequacies
to remediate skills or practices, AI focuses on how to create more of the exceptional
performance that is occurring when a core of strengths is aligned. It opens the door to a
universe of possibilities, since the work doesn't stop when a particular problem is solved but
rather focuses on "What is the best we can be?" The approach acknowledges the contribution
of individuals, in order to increase trust and organizational alignment. The method aims to
create meaning by drawing from stories of concrete successes and lends itself to cross-
industrial social activities.
THE POSITIVE CORE
• The positive core of an org & humans life = their values, visions,
achievements, and best practices See table 37.1 (pg 398) for list of assets, strengths
and resources that constitute an org or community's positive core.
• In the process of inquiry into the positive core, the org enhances its collective
wisdom, builds energy, and extends its ability to create results
Problem solving approach: away from the traditional view and shift to AI
See chart illustrating the differences in approach (pg 399)
