Introduction to Appreciative Inquiry

Presented by Pepperdine MSOD Omnicron Class

Cycle Forward Learning GroupJune 2013

Module Objectives• Gain basic understanding of

Appreciative Inquiry (AI) techniques

• Experience the positive impact of AI

• Learn how and when to use/apply AI

• Exposure to AI resource toolbox for future use

Traditional Problem Solving Vs AIProblem Solving

“Felt Need”Identification of

Problem

Analysis of Cause

Analysis of Possible Solution

Action Planning (Treatment)

Appreciative InquiryAppreciating “Valuing the Best of What Is

Envisioning “What might be”

Dialoguing “What Should Be”

Innovating “What Will Be”

From Cooperrider, D. L., Whitney, D., Stavros, J. M. (2008). Appreciative Inquiry Handbook (2nd ed.). Brunswick, OH: Crown Custom Publishing, Inc.

Ap-pre’ci-ate, v., In-quire’ (kwir), v.,

“…to value or admire highly; to judge with heightened understanding; to recognize with gratitude.”

“…to search into, investigate; to seek for information by questioning.”

From Cooperrider, D. L., Whitney, D., Stavros, J. M. (2008). Appreciative Inquiry Handbook (2nd ed.). Brunswick, OH: Crown Custom Publishing, Inc.

AI Exercise – 4 Parts

Pair Interview

sPart I

Pair Interview

sPart II

Learning Group Sharing

What You

HEARD

Find Commo

n Themes

& Establis

h Actions

30 mins 25 mins

Note: Pairs should be within Learning Groups – Trios when necessary

Part IIIPart I & II

Pair Interview Questions – Part I

Instructions: Person A interviews person B using the following questions. Feel free to take notes to be prepared to report out to your learning group later. (Then reverse Roles)

Questions:1. What would you describe as being

a high-point experience while in France, a time when you were most alive and engaged?

2. When were you at your personal best?

3. What are the core factors that made our cohort most effective on this trip?

Pair Interview Questions – Part IIInstructions: Follow same process as Part I

Question:• Imagine you have awaken after a long,

deep sleep . You wake up and you have just finished the November trip to Costa Rica. Your ideal state has become the reality. – What do you see? What happened on the

trip? How were things better than the France practicum?

Learning Group ExercisePart III• In your learning group, share what YOUR

PARTNER told you during the interview (everyone should be heard; ~2min per person)

• Everyone should take notes• Record high point common themes on a

flip chart• Images of the future: How can you apply

this in the future - identify what the group wants to do different for the Costa Rica practicum to make it the best session imaginable

• Be prepared to share one brief highlight with the cohort

Five AI Principles

Positive Principle

Anticipatory Principle

Simultaneity Principle

Poetic Principle

Constructionist Principle

From Cooperrider, D. L., Whitney, D., Stavros, J. M. (2008). Appreciative Inquiry Handbook (2nd ed.). Brunswick, OH: Crown Custom Publishing, Inc.

In the interest of time we will only cover 2-3 of slides #11-14 (there will not be enough time to do them all)

Discovery“What gives life?”

The best of what is.Appreciating

Dream“What might be?”

EnvisioningResults/Impact

Design“What should be –

the ideal?”Constructing the

future

Destiny“How to empower,

learn, and improvise?”Sustaining

AffirmativeTopic

The AI 4-D Model of Positive Change

From Cooperrider, D. L., Whitney, D., Stavros, J. M. (2008). Appreciative Inquiry Handbook (2nd ed.). Brunswick, OH: Crown Custom Publishing, Inc.

In the interest of time we will only cover 2-3 of slides #11-14 (there will not be enough time to do them all)

Why AI Works – The 6 Freedoms

Free to be Known in Relationship

Free to Be Heard

Free to Dream in Community

Free to Choose to Contribute

Free to Act with Support

Free to Be Positive

In the interest of time we will only cover 2-3 of slides #11-14 (there will not be enough time to do them all)

What’s Different About AI? •Purposefully positive

•Builds on past success

•“Grass Roots” and “top down”

•Highly participative

•Nurtures a positive “inner dialogue”

•Stimulates vision and creativity

•Accelerates change

From Cooperrider, D. L., Whitney, D., Stavros, J. M. (2008). Appreciative Inquiry Handbook (2nd ed.). Brunswick, OH: Crown Custom Publishing, Inc.

In the interest of time we will only cover 2-3 of slides #11-14 (there will not be enough time to do them all)

Creating Engaging AI Questions

• State questions in the affirmative• Begin with a leading questions that builds on

affirmative topic choice• Give a broad definition to the topics• Invite participants to use storytelling and

narratives• Phrase in rapport talk, not report talk• Allow ambiguity because it gives room to “swim

around”• Value “what is”• Spark the appreciative imagination by helping the

person locate experiences that are worth valuing• Convey unconditional positive regard• Evoke essential values, aspirations and

inspirationsNote: Every question most begin with a positive preface

From Cooperrider, D. L., Whitney, D., Stavros, J. M. (2008). Appreciative Inquiry Handbook (2nd ed.). Brunswick, OH: Crown Custom Publishing, Inc.

Evolution of Uses of AI Over the Last Thirty Years

Timeline Late 1980s

Early 1990s

Mid 1990’s

Late 1990’s

Early 2000s

Approach Interviews Focus Groups

Small Conferenc

e

Large Conference

Mega Conference

Scope 1-1 Sampling Most / all engaged

Whole System

Cross-systems

Example Team / Small Dept

Med/Large Dept

Plant / Site All stakeholder

s:

Nations / Religions

Planning 1-2 people Small team Large team

Large team plus

consultants

Several teams, army of

consultants• Acquisition Integration

• Change initiatives• Coaching• Diversity Initiatives• Employee Engagement

efforts• Focus Groups• Leadership & Team

development

• Meetings• New product development Strategic

Planning• Work process redesign• Organization culture change• Organization transformation• Surveys• And many more…

Overview of Toolkit• List of recommended books on

AI• Free videos on YouTube • Sample presentations

(including this one) on AI• “Cheat Sheet” AI concepts

EXTRA INFORMATIO

N

Things to take to France• Exercise Instructions (Louise)• Hard copy of presentation (Louise) • Job Aides (Kim)• Books (Louise – 3, Kim – 1)• Markers (Louise) • Surveys (Val)