FacilitationIntermédiaire

Appreciative Inquiry

Developed by David Cooperrider, Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a strengths-based approach to organisational change. Rather than focusing on problems, AI asks 'What is working at its best?' and builds change from there. The 4-D cycle: Discover (what gives life?), Dream (what might be?), Design (what should be?), Destiny/Deliver (what will be?). AI creates generative energy and ownership that problem-focused approaches often undermine.

Durée

2h–8h

Taille du groupe

5–500 people

Matériel

AI interview guides, flip charts, markers

Source

Community

Comment l'animer

1
Define the affirmative topic: what aspect of the organisation do you want to strengthen? Frame it positively.
2
Discover: conduct paired appreciative interviews. 'Tell me about a time when [topic] was at its best. What were the conditions? What did you contribute?'
3
Collect stories and identify the themes and factors present when things work best.
4
Dream: based on what we discovered, what could be possible? Create provocative propositions — bold statements of the desired future as if it already exists.
5
Design: what structures, processes, and relationships need to be in place to support the dream?
6
Destiny: what specific commitments and actions will we take to move toward the design?
7
Implement and sustain through ongoing appreciative practices.

Conseils

AI is a philosophy as much as a technique — if the facilitator doesn't genuinely believe in the strength-based premise, it will feel manipulative.
Don't use it to avoid hard conversations; use it to generate energy before addressing hard realities.',

Variantes

Run an AI Summit (large group, 2+ days) for whole-organisation transformation. Use paired AI interviews as a team-building activity or meeting opener. Combine with Future Search Conference for large-scale community engagement.

Contextes d'utilisation

Organisational transformationCommunity developmentTeam culture changeStrategic visioningLeadership development

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Method descriptions on Workshop Weaver are original content written by our team, based on established facilitation practices.