Managing Change using Managing Change using Appreciative InquiryAppreciative Inquiry

Lynda ClarkLynda ClarkBox Hill Centre ManagerBox Hill Centre Manager

Royal District Nursing ServiceRoyal District Nursing ServiceDecember 2004December 2004

Session OutcomesSession Outcomes

• Explain the ‘Action Research’ cycleExplain the ‘Action Research’ cycle

• Identify approaches within Action ResearchIdentify approaches within Action Research

• Describe ‘Appreciative Inquiry’ as an Describe ‘Appreciative Inquiry’ as an approachapproach

• Apply ‘Appreciative Inquiry’ to your own Apply ‘Appreciative Inquiry’ to your own situationsituation

• Enjoy ‘Appreciative Inquiry’ as an inspired Enjoy ‘Appreciative Inquiry’ as an inspired change management approachchange management approach

The Action Research CycleThe Action Research Cycle

• Action researchAction research– ““pursuing action and research, … a cyclic process, alternating action with critical reflection … (and is) also qualitative and participative” pursuing action and research, … a cyclic process, alternating action with critical reflection … (and is) also qualitative and participative” (Dick, 1997)(Dick, 1997)

• Collaborative problem-solving relationship between researcher and client which aims at both solving a problem and generating new knowledge Collaborative problem-solving relationship between researcher and client which aims at both solving a problem and generating new knowledge (Coghlan and Brannick (2001, p.3)(Coghlan and Brannick (2001, p.3)

  

Data generationData generation

• Engagement with othersEngagement with others

• Active involvement in the day-to-day Active involvement in the day-to-day organisational processes relating to organisational processes relating to the action research projectthe action research project

• Both formal and informal Both formal and informal observationsobservations

• Journaling Journaling

Approaches within Action Approaches within Action ResearchResearch

• Co-operative inquiryCo-operative inquiry

• Collaborative approachCollaborative approach

• Participatory action researchParticipatory action research

• Action inquiryAction inquiry

Appreciative InquiryAppreciative Inquiry

• Focuses on the “best of what is”Focuses on the “best of what is”

• To realise the ideal of “what might To realise the ideal of “what might be”be”

• With the consent of “what should be”With the consent of “what should be”

• For the reality of “what can be”For the reality of “what can be”

(Cooperrider and Srivastva, 1987)(Cooperrider and Srivastva, 1987)

Appreciative Inquiry ModelAppreciative Inquiry Model

Traditional Old Traditional Old ProcessProcess

• Define the problemDefine the problem

• Fix what’s brokenFix what’s broken

• Focus on decayFocus on decay

What problems are What problems are you having?you having?

Appreciative InquiryAppreciative Inquiry

• Search for solutions Search for solutions that already existthat already exist

• Amplify what is Amplify what is workingworking

• Focus on life giving Focus on life giving forcesforces

What is working What is working well around here?well around here?

(Hammond, 1998)

Assumptions of Appreciative Assumptions of Appreciative InquiryInquiry1.1. In every society, organisation or In every society, organisation or

group something worksgroup something works

2.2. What we focus on becomes our realityWhat we focus on becomes our reality

3.3. Reality is created in the moment and Reality is created in the moment and there are multiple realitiesthere are multiple realities

4.4. The act of asking questions of an The act of asking questions of an organisation or group influences the organisation or group influences the group in some waygroup in some way

Assumptions of Appreciative Assumptions of Appreciative Inquiry (2)Inquiry (2)5.5. People have more confidence and People have more confidence and

comfort to journey to the future (the comfort to journey to the future (the unknown) when they carry forward unknown) when they carry forward parts of the past (the known)parts of the past (the known)

6.6. If we carry parts of the past forward, If we carry parts of the past forward, they should be what is best about the they should be what is best about the pastpast

7.7. It is important to value differencesIt is important to value differences8.8. The language we use creates our The language we use creates our

realityreality(Hammond, 1998)(Hammond, 1998)

Appreciative Inquiry: The “4-D” Appreciative Inquiry: The “4-D” CycleCycle

Destiny“How to empower, learn,

and adjust/improvise?”Sustaining

Discovery“What gives life?”

(The best of what is)Appreciating

Dream“What might be?”

(What is the world calling for?”Envisioning

Design“What should be-the ideal?”

Co-constructing

Affirmative Topic Choice

Cooperrider, Whitney & Stavros,2003

DiscoveryDiscovery• What interests or excites you about being What interests or excites you about being

here?here?• What results are you hoping for?What results are you hoping for?• Tell me about a time when you thought --- Tell me about a time when you thought ---

was at its best.was at its best.• Tell the story of what was going on, who Tell the story of what was going on, who

was involved, and what happenedwas involved, and what happened• What did you do? What did you value most What did you do? What did you value most

about your involvement in that story?about your involvement in that story?• What do you value most about the What do you value most about the

contribution of others in that story? contribution of others in that story?

Discovery Discovery →→ Dream Dream

• Facilitates dialogue among participantsFacilitates dialogue among participants• Sharing of positive storiesSharing of positive stories• Creates energy and enthusiasmCreates energy and enthusiasm• Brings out the Brings out the positive corepositive core of the organisation of the organisation• Begin to see common themesBegin to see common themes

Dream → DesignDream → Design

• Underpinned by palliative care philosophyUnderpinned by palliative care philosophy• Solid foundationsSolid foundations• CommunicationCommunication• Shared goalsShared goals• Seamless serviceSeamless service• ResponsiveResponsive• Appropriate levels of fundingAppropriate levels of funding• Develop relationships with client and familyDevelop relationships with client and family• Multi-disciplinary teamMulti-disciplinary team

(RDNS/EPC Action Research project 2004)(RDNS/EPC Action Research project 2004)

Design PhaseDesign Phase

• Create the social-technical Create the social-technical architecturearchitecture

• Craft provocative proposition(s)Craft provocative proposition(s)

• Dream becomes a realityDream becomes a reality

Good provocative Good provocative propositionproposition• Bridge the best of “what is” and “what Bridge the best of “what is” and “what

might be”might be”• Challenge the status quoChallenge the status quo• It should be desirableIt should be desirable• State it in the affirmative and bold termsState it in the affirmative and bold terms• Fit within the architectureFit within the architecture• Zone of proximal development (ZPD)Zone of proximal development (ZPD)• Participative processParticipative process• Balance the management of continuity, Balance the management of continuity,

novelty and transitionnovelty and transition

Design element 1Design element 1

• Theme: PartnershipTheme: PartnershipRDNS/EPC partnership is based on solid RDNS/EPC partnership is based on solid foundations of shared goals, underpinned foundations of shared goals, underpinned by the palliative care philosophy of care by the palliative care philosophy of care and appropriate levels of funding, to and appropriate levels of funding, to provide a responsive, seamless service provide a responsive, seamless service enabling therapeutic relationships with enabling therapeutic relationships with client and family within a multidisciplinary client and family within a multidisciplinary team.team.

(RDNS/EPC Action Research project (RDNS/EPC Action Research project 2004)2004)

Destiny – what will be?Destiny – what will be?

Allow yourself to Allow yourself to dreamdream and you and you will will discoverdiscover that that destinydestiny is is

yours to yours to designdesign

(Dr J. Stavros)(Dr J. Stavros)

Action plan: what next?Action plan: what next?

• What can we do - together?What can we do - together?

• What will we do – to contribute?What will we do – to contribute?

• How will we do it – to provide optimal How will we do it – to provide optimal client care outcomes?client care outcomes?

Good luckGood luck

Have a go using Have a go using appreciative inquiryappreciative inquiry

ReferencesReferences

• Action Research: Action Research: – Coghlan, D. and Brannick, T. (2001), Coghlan, D. and Brannick, T. (2001), Doing action research in your own Doing action research in your own

organisation, organisation, Sage Publications Ltd., London.Sage Publications Ltd., London.– Dick, B. 1997, Dick, B. 1997, What is action research? What is action research? Occasional pieces in action Occasional pieces in action

research methodology, #2. Available online at research methodology, #2. Available online at http://www.scu.edu.au/schools/ar/arm/op002.htmlhttp://www.scu.edu.au/schools/ar/arm/op002.html

• Appreciative Inquiry:Appreciative Inquiry:– Cooperrider D, Whitney D & Stavros J 2003, Cooperrider D, Whitney D & Stavros J 2003, Appreciative Inquiry: the Appreciative Inquiry: the

first in a series of AI workbooks for leaders of change, first in a series of AI workbooks for leaders of change, Lakeshore Lakeshore Communications Inc., Bedford Heights, OH.Communications Inc., Bedford Heights, OH.

– Cooperrider, D. and Srivastva, S. 1987, ‘Appreciative inquiry in Cooperrider, D. and Srivastva, S. 1987, ‘Appreciative inquiry in organisational life’,organisational life’, Research in Organisational Change and Research in Organisational Change and Development,Development, Vol. 1., 1987, pp 129-169 Vol. 1., 1987, pp 129-169

– Hammond, S. and Hall, J. (1998), What is appreciative inquiry? In S. Hammond, S. and Hall, J. (1998), What is appreciative inquiry? In S. Hammond & C. Royal (eds.), Hammond & C. Royal (eds.), Lessons from the Field: Applying Lessons from the Field: Applying Appreciative Inquiry,Appreciative Inquiry, Thin Book Publishing Co., Plano, TX. Thin Book Publishing Co., Plano, TX. www.thinbook.comwww.thinbook.com