Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is one of the most exciting and increasingly recognized concepts being used to facilitate organizational change. This book studies AI in depth, illustrating the method of asking particular questions and encouraging staff to consider both the positive and negative systems in place and to recognize the need to implement change. It demonstrates how AI can be applied by combining the skills, perspectives and approaches presented here into a practical conversational approach to organizational challenges. Case studies from organizations that have already integrated conversational methods into their change management practice show why the processes are valuable, why they are effective, and how to generate such conversations. Written in jargon-free language, Appreciative Inquiry for Change Management is an excellent resource for discovering the benefits that conversational techniques can have on an organization and its performance.
Part 1 Understanding conversational approaches to change
Introduction to Part 1
1 Organizations as machines, workers as cogs and management as a control
Introduction
Organization as a group social skill
Taylorism and Scientific Management
Belief in the power of problem solving to change organizations
Belief in the power of naming problems to produce change
Belief in the power of instruction to achieve change
The belief of emotions as problematic
Belief in the power of criticism and fear to motivate change
The belief in the head and body organizational split
The belief in the power of separating elements to enhance clarity and so the ability to act efficiently
The belief in a ‘right answer to the problem of design
Summary
2 An alternative approach: organizations as living human systems
Introduction
The organization as living
Organizations as human
Organizations as systems
A belief in the power of appreciation to promote growth
A belief in the power of inquiry
The power of talk to change things
The power of imagination to produce change
The power of positive emotional energy to achieve change
The belief that language is creative
Belief in the place and power of stories in organizational life
Summary
3 The development of conversational approaches to organizational change
Where does the story begin?
What is the history of Appreciative Inquiry?
Why is Appreciative Inquiry becoming popular?
Post-modernism
Appreciative Inquiry and the information revolution
Appreciative Inquiry and globalization
Appreciative Inquiry and the human search for hope
Appreciative Inquiry meets a need for connection in organizations
Summary
4 Appreciative Inquiry: how do you do it?
Introduction
Preparing for change
Define
Discovery
Dream
Design
Destiny
Summary
Part 2 Advanced ideas and practice
Introduction to Part 2
5 The power of the question
Introduction
Not locks and keys
Looking at questions
Summary
6 The power of conversation
Introduction
What is conversation?
The power of conversation to transform
The fear of conversation
Understanding the fears and ambivalence towards conversation
Some issues for the conversational practitioner to consider
The ambivalence of organizations towards conversation
How can a conversational practitioner support powerful conversations within organizations?
The inner life of the conversational practitioner
What will we as conversational practitioners bring to our work with organizations?
Summary
7 Extending practice: working with story in organizations
Introduction
The common ground with the conversation-based approach to organizational change
Using story
Working with story
Sense making: creating temporary moments of clarity in an unclear world
Summary
8 Developing your conversational practice
Introduction
Common themes
The World Café
Open Space
Future Search
The Circle
A real-life example of using conversational processes to achieve organizational rebirth
Bringing them all together
Summary
9 Becoming an appreciative conversational practitioner
Introduction
Purpose
Working spirit-fully
Appreciative practice skills
Summary
Part 3 Using conversational approaches in the organization
Introduction to Part 3
10 How to introduce appreciative inquiry and related approaches to your organization
Introduction
Guidance in getting started: commissioning conversations
Moving to the 4D cycle: common blocks and how to overcome them
Summary
11 Case study: Using Appreciative Inquiry at BP Castrol Marine
David Gilmore and Ann Radford
Introduction
The organization
The organization challenge
Selecting the approach
Appreciative leadership
Mix of AI and other methodologies
Objectives for the change process
Description
Introduction of appreciative leadership: managers and regional sales teams
The Easy Business vision
Outcomes
Reflections and lessons learnt
12 Case study: Revitalizing corporate values in Nokia
Caryn Vanstone and Bruno Dalbiez
Introduction
The organization
The organization challenge
Selecting the approach
Description of the project experience
Outcomes so far
Reflections and learning
Summary
13 Case study: World Café
Arian Ward, Paul E Borawski and Juanita Brown
Introduction
The organization
The organization challenge
Selecting the approach
Aims for the change
Description
Outcomes
Reflections
14 Case study: Applying Appreciative Inquiry to deliver strategic change: Orbseal Technology Center
Jacqueline M Stavros and Joe R Sprangel Jr
Introduction
The organization
The organization challenge
The role of decision making
Selecting the approach (why AI and SOAR framework)
Description of the project experience
The outcomes
Reflections and learning