Although we are required to just provide the map, if people and organisations seldom reach the destination, then surely the mapmaker has some responsibility? Or, in my case - curiosity. Appreciative Inquiry (AI) offers an intriguing potential remedy.
AI was initially developed by David Cooperrider and Suresh Srivastva as an organisational development model based on the assumption that ‘organisations change in the direction they inquire'. So, organisations which investigate problems will keep finding them, whereas an organisation that focuses on what is best in itself, will discover more of what is good (and hopefully profitable).
Appreciative Inquiry incorporates a four-part cycle. Although parts two to four are currently practiced by strategists in some form or another, it is the first step that is unique:
Although point four above could easily be replaced by the word ‘implementation', what makes the process potentially so much more powerful is that it operates from a position of strength at the outset. And, as we are quite aware, that's when we perform best, whether as individuals or coalesced into organisations. Nobody got famous on a weakness.
References
J Spady. The flipside of strategic planning: Appreciative Enquiry. Running Head: AI for Strategic Planning, Walden University.
D L Cooperrider, D Whitney. A Positive Revolution in Change: Appreciative Inquiry. Draft Copy.
