LESSON 5: APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY

APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY

Appreciative Inquiry assumes that every living system has hidden and under utilized, rich core of strengths (POSITIVE CORE) which, when removed and tapped, provides a sustainable source of positive energy for both. It is the art of practice and asking questions that strengthen a system's capacity in positive ways.

MAIN TOOLS OF APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY

• asking the right questions
• narrating positive stories (qualitative data)

PRINCIPLES OF APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY

1. CONSTRUCTIONIST - knowledge and organizational destiny are interwoven
   
2. SIMULTANEITY - implicit in the first questions asked
   
3. ANTICIPATORY - deep change occurs first in the images of the future
   
4. POSITIVE - the more the question, the greater and longer-lasting the change
5. WHOLENESS - quantum change that is sought

I learned that the basic premise in AI is to find out what works in the organization and figure out ways to do more of it or improve it. It is the art and practice of asking questions that strengthen a system's capacity in positive ways. In short, AI deals about positivity in the organization. The main points in AI are asking the right questions because it would help the organization succeed in particular areas because they have already tried and tested them before. This way, it builds up their confidence that there is an ability to succeed in the future.

For the principles of AI, constructionist means that we live in a world our questions create. The world we live in is based on the things/questions we ask ourselves and the people around us. Next, simultaneity talks about the seeds of change, which are the things that people think and talk about, what people discover and learn, and inform dialogue and inspire images of the future. Here, we visualize stories and information out of the things that we discuss and construct. Next, anticipatory is when deep change occurs first in our images of the future. We anticipate what will happen in the future in our mind. Next, positive means that the more questions there are, the greater and longer-lasting the change will be. Lastly, wholeness which means that all the members in the organization will be involved.