Appreciative Inquiry(AI) Summit for Shared Visioning, Cultural Change, Corporate Profitability and Commitment

Purpose OF AI

To accelerate positive whole system transformation by actively connecting staff/stakeholders to the new vision and focus.

4 Phases of AI

Step 1: Design to Initiate an AI-Based Process – the Preparation Workshop
The  development of  customized content and decisions about the inquiry architecture are done by a microcosm of  the organization/stakeholders with stakeholders …. This core group will be called the “steering committee”

Goals include:

• To understand AI approach and its cultural change, team building  and personal ownership benefits.
• For participants to create their own AI interview guidelines for gathering the appropriate data.

To plan the AI Summit approximately 6 weeks later, including the selection and invitations for stakeholders/attendees (up to 1000 people can be invited, depending on the facilities used).
Who participates: Steering Committee, facilitators and COO (optional) meets.

Step 2: Development of a customized interview content and Inquiry Architecture
Feedback from Steering Committee to facilitators for input into design and workbooks.

Step 3: AI Summit
The summit consists of 4 Phases: Discovery, Dream, Design; Destiny
Discovery Phase: What give life? The best of what is? Appreciating….
Dream Phase: What might be? What the  world is calling for? Envisioning Impact…
Design Phase: What should be—the ideal? Co-constructing….

Benefits include: As a change method focused on the positive aspects, it  helps foster conversations directed at what can be done…. Helping to focus and move an organization in the chosen direction with a high level of energy and commitment. Because of the customized design and the process, a large number of people can be involved in the Summit, often covering all the internal and external stakeholders of a company, while still being both flexible and structured. This process:

• Fosters opportunities for people to have their voices heard and to share their knowledge
• Focuses on what works and helps people to focus on talking in a positive fashion on a regular basis
• Encourages people to share their hopes, ideas and passions based on personal experiences
• Recognizes Success Stories … and helps drive the focus of the organization on success
• Enables rapid engagement and commitment to outcomes, as well as embodiment of the chosen cultural change through the individual and group involvement, commitment and input of those across the company through the opportunity to be involved in the design and implementation of the change.
• Fosters the development of best practice outcomes that fit the nature and strengths of the organization.