An overview of appreciative inquiry in evaluation

Abstract

Appreciative inquiry is an approach to seeking what is right in an organization in order toAppreciative Inquiry is a relatively new asset-based approach from the field of organizational development that has been garnering attention for its successful application in facilitating organizational change. Appreciative Inquiry is a process that inquires into, identifies, and further develops the best of what is in organizations in order to create a better future. A fundamental premise is that "organizations move toward what they study" (Cooperrider, Whitney, and Stavros, 2003, p. 29).A wide range of approaches, including Total Quality Management, Continuous Quality Improvement, the Balanced Score Card, Future Search, Open Space, and Appreciative Inquiry, have led change management efforts. The strategies outlined in these approaches vary; they include, among others, using measurement and evidence-based decisions for quality improvement, employing mediation and negotiation for the discovery of common ground, and following processes that aim to build organizational assets. While organizational development methods differ greatly depending on the purpose of the intervention and the organization's population and context, many approaches tend to focus on identifying specific problems, analyzing possible causes and solutions to these problems, and devising a plan to resolve or eliminate the problems.Appreciative Inquiry looks at organizational issues, challenges, and concerns in a significantly different way. Instead of focusing on problems, organizational members first discover what is working particularly well in their organization. Then, instead of analyzing possible causes and solutions, they envision what it might be like if "the best of what is" occurred more

An Appreciative Inquiry Approach to Evaluating Culture, Structure, and Power in Agricultural Teacher Education Program Reform

“…This technique of participatory evaluation begins with participants discussing successful experiences, identifying the commonalities among those experiences, and creating a plan for the future to make those experiences occur more often (Coghlan, Preskill, & Catsambas, 2003) while taking into account local culture and social structures. The case study was guided by the five principles of AI as outlined by Cooperrider and Whitney (2001).…”

The factors that attract healthcare professionals to and retain them in rural areas in South Africa

“…All that is exemplary within a system is considered using AI, and then an exploration is conducted to generate further excellence within the system or organisation. 15 We used the AI methodology because we wanted to better understand the factors that cause healthcare professionals to be attracted to and to remain in rural areas, rather than just focus on encountered challenges. In developing an understanding of these positive determinants, a different understanding was obtained with regard to how to develop a retention strategy for HCPs in rural areas.…”

Avaliação apreciativa de um Núcleo de Prática Jurídica

“…O uso de procedimentos participativos e inclusivos, bem como de incentivos para aumentar a capacidade de aprendizagem e de mudança dentro de organizações e comunidades, também faz parte do processo de avaliação (COGHLAN;PRESKILL;CATSAMBAS, 2003).…”

“…O ponto de partida deste artigo repousa neste paradigma, coerente com a tendên-cia de se criar ambientes de aprendizagem mais produtivos e de revitalizar visões e missões das instituições (COGHLAN;PRESKILL;CATSAMBAS, 2003). Procura-se realçar mais o que está dando certo na atuação da organização (HAMMOND, 1998) e menos o que se refere a seus aspectos críticos ou problemáticos de seu funcionamento, como preconiza a visão tradicional.…”