Appreciative Inquiry

Appreciative Inquiry is an affirmative approach to organizational analysis. It is based on both the search for knowledge and a theory of intentional collective action. Like Future Search it also moves through 4 distinct stages of work to enable stakeholders to envision a preferred future based on the collective experience of best practice and success.

Stage 1 is the discovery stage where appreciative interviews are conducted both inside the system and with a random selection of stakeholders outside.
Stage 2 involves identifying through stories the best of “what is” in the system to support the development of what can be.
Stage 3 is the development of provocative propositions, inspiring statements like mini-visions which guide the work of the system in moving toward its ideals.
Stage 4 is the delivery stage in we identify the action steps that will respond to the data and drive toward the preferred future.

This large group methodology includes a data gathering process prior to the event, as well as extensive interviewing within the conference itself in search of the organization or systems best practices. This process accommodates 100-150 stakeholders in creating provocative propositions, or “mini-visions” for each of the systemic themes. The consensus building process around these themes prepares participants to begin the work of determining the action steps that will make the dream reality.