Encompass Consultants - Organizational and Community Development

Everything can be taken from us but one thing -- the last of the human freedoms -- to choose one's attitude in any given circumstance.

~ Viktor Frank

There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.

~ Albert Einstein

For Organizational or Community Development

Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a strengths-based, highly engaging approach that collaboratively explores what is working well in a given context (e.g. an organization, project or team). Based on the work of Cooperrider and Srivasta, AI is both a philosophy and an approach. Rather than starting a planning or change process from "what's wrong", AI first explores "what's right", acknowledging accomplishments and creating an understanding of the existing positive factors available to build on. Through a series of interactive activities, including the use of narrative and metaphor, AI supports individuals, teams, organizations and communities to identify and leverage core strengths and capacities for positive change and strategic action. In uncovering capacities that may be unacknowledged or even hidden, AI also generates a sense of hope and commitment.

"Why is uninhibited wonder something we generally restrict to children? If doing good inquiry is at the heart of organization development, why then so little talk of things like awe, curiosity, veneration, surprise, delight, amazement, and wonder -- in short, everything that serves to infuse what OD has traditionally referred to as the "spirit of inquiry." ~ David Cooperrider

We will work with your organization or community to create an Appreciative Inquiry, collaboratively developing an affirmative "question" to explore the capacities and success factors in your particular area of interest. A few examples of common focus areas for organizations are team work, service delivery, customer service, client care and project implementation. Examples of focus areas in a community context are agency partnerships, leadership, service integration, economic development and community planning.

For Research and Evaluation

Appreciative Inquiry (AI) can also be used effectively as a participatory action research tool, including for program and project evaluation. The simple act of posing a research question has an impact on everyone involved. AI acknowledges and capitalizes on the power of research questions. When a research question is positively framed, there is a powerful potential for the impact to also be positive. While the primary premise of AI is to shine a light on what is working well, it is also a highly pragmatic approach for highlighting "lessons learned", reinforcing learning, building shared commitment and leveraging "good practices" in areas that are challenging.

Resources and Articles on Appreciative Inquiry:

Appreciative Inquiry Commons: http://appreciativeinquiry.case.edu/

Fast Company Article: http://www.fastcompany.com/online/48/roadway.html

Appreciative Inquiry and Community Development: http://www.iisd.org/ai/

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Encompass Consultants Inc. | Vancouver, BC, Canada | Tel: +1 604.682.5432 | Fax: 604.682.5436
info@enco.ca