Appreciative Inquiry The 4-D Process COS 4850 From: Whitney & Trosten-Bloom (2003) The Power of Appreciative Inquiry Berrett-Koehler
Dec 20, 2015
Appreciative InquiryThe 4-D Process
COS 4850From: Whitney & Trosten-Bloom (2003)
The Power of Appreciative Inquiry
Berrett-Koehler
Appreciative Inquiry “4-D”
Discovery“What gives life?”
(The best of what is)Appreciating
DiscoveryDiscovery“What gives life?”“What gives life?”
(The best of what is)(The best of what is)
AppreciatingAppreciating
Dream“What might be?”(What is the world
calling for)Envisioning Results
DreamDream“What might be?”“What might be?”(What is the world(What is the world
calling for)calling for)Envisioning ResultsEnvisioning Results
Design“What should be—
the ideal?”Co-constructing
DesignDesign“What should be“What should be——
the ideal?”the ideal?”
CoCo--constructingconstructing
Destiny“How to empower, learn,
and improvise?”Sustaining
DestinyDestiny“How to empower, learn,“How to empower, learn,
and improvise?”and improvise?”
SustainingSustaining
AffirmativeTopic Choice
Topic Choice
The choice of topic for the 4-D process The questions we create, or co-create,
will change our perspective, relationships, values, and our world. Genius is in creating the question.
“What would the universe look like if I were riding on the end of a light beam at the speed of light?”
Albert Einstein
Topic Choice
Enhanced Profitability Discovering new business Customer retention
Customer Service going above and beyond delighting the customer
Topic Choice
Strategic advantage Being the best Creative growth potential
Employee retention Happiness at work On-the job learning
Topic Choice
Topics are positive Topics are desirable Topics stimulate learning Topics stimulate discussion about
desired futures
Topic Choice
Core questions Tell me about a high point in your
professional life when you felt most alive, most engaged, and really proud of yourself and your work.
Without being humble, what do you value most about yourself, your work, your career, your team, your organization?
Topic Choice
What are the things that give life to this organization when it is at its very best?
If you woke up tomorrow morning and this organization was vital and healthy what would it be like?
Topic Choice
A process for selecting topics Provide overview of AI Identify themes Share stories Discuss potential topics Cluster and select topics
Discovery
Who will craft the questions and guide? Who will we interview? Who will conduct the interviews? What training will the interviewers
need? Who will make meaning of the data? How will we communicate stories and
best practices?
Discovery
Craft appreciative interview questions Develop an interview guide Create an interview plan Communicate the strategy Train interviewers Conduct interviews Disseminate stories and best practices Map the positive core
Discovery
Good interviews flow naturally and have a conversational quality.
They invite stories. They touch people’s heart and soul. They draw on experiences in life and
work. The focus us on a series of powerfully
positive experiences.
Discovery
They give people room to explore. Invite an inner journey. Paint positive pictures. Have a logical flow to them. Give free reign to imagination. Suggest action.
Discovery
Interview guides Overview
This is how we will proceed and how the information will be used.
Set the stage Tell me about your beginnings with the
organization. What do you value most about your association with.
Discovery
Interview Guides Topic questions
Reflect the affirmative topics selected
Concluding questions What are the core factors that give life to
_____? Five years from now this organization is being
recognized for excellence, why?
Discovery
Summary Sheets Record stories and information
Quick Action Sheets Items for immediate attention
Discovery
Stories are powerful. Our organizations and culture rely on stories to communicate conventions and meaning.
Dream
Whom should we involve? What experiential activity will reveal our
images of the future? What will be the outcome of our dream?
Dream
Reflect on a focal question Imagine we are 10 years in the future. We
are where we want to be. What does it look like? How do people act, how do they live, what do they value?
Dream
Engage in a dream dialog Sharing the dreams that emerge
Clarify the collective dream What have you heard others share? What does it look like?
Dream
Creatively Enact the Dream Skits, stories, songs, poems
Determine Common Themes Identify threads and similar visions
Create an Organization Dream Map A mural, a book, an archive of the
collective dream
Design
Give form to the the expression of human creativity and enable the realization of aspirations.
Design
Organizational design Work processes Partnerships or relationships Principles of leadership, service,
satisfaction Values
Design
A statement or picture of the ideal organization Narrative statements proposing an ideal Stretch the organization Use vivid positive imagery Statements of belief that constitute the
ideal organization
Design
Everyone who touches this organization feels welcome and valued. We honor and cherish the diversity of our clients, co-workers, partners, and our community. When we become involved in someone’s life, opportunities are realized, dreams become reality, and healthy, fulfilling lives are the result.
Destiny
How will we learn about the gains we have already made?
How will we celebrate? What are the parameters of self-
organized action? How shall we self organize? How will we support success?
Destiny
Review, communicate, and celebrate accomplishments
Generate a list of potential actions Self-organize for inspired action projects Support the success of projects Systematic application of appreciative
inquiry
Destiny
Celebrate Along the Way Tell me about the good things that have
happened since we began this process
Ideas for Action Tangible, exciting opportunities
Destiny
Expand the application of appreciative inquiry
Self-organize for action New teams, processes, ways of working
Establish a Supporting Infrastructure Advisory Teams Team Leaders