Using Appreciative Inquiry to Change Perceptions Concerning the Satisfaction of Organization Members’ Needs

Cojocaru, S, Bragaru, C. 2012, Using Appreciative Inquiry to Change Perceptions Concerning the Satisfaction of Organization Members’ Needs. Transylvanian Review of Administrative sciences, vol. 35E pages: 62-77 (full article – download free)

Asbtract

This study explored the innovative use of Appreciative Inquiry (AI) in the organisational environment for changing the perception concerning the satisfaction of its members’ needs. The experiment started from the assumption that organisations are social constructions generated by the interpretations social actors have about this entity and about themselves, being the result of
human interactions. The experiment used the Appreciative Inquiry as form of intervention, run in the four stages of the 4-D cycle. The results of the intervention show that, although Appreciative Inquiry was directed chiefly towards changing the perceptions concerning the satisfaction of the need for security, the interpretations given by organisation members changed in regard to the
satisfaction of all needs (security, basic needs, belonging, esteem and self-actualisation). The study shows that motivation can be changed through an appreciative approach of events,  through their reinterpretation within a process of dialogue and consensus; the reinterpretation of the organisation as a text and the application of Appreciative Inquiry principles results in an organisational
reconstruction as a process that can be run in a relatively short period of time. The positive changes of the organisational environment were also a result of the way the organisation was researched. The appreciative interviews resulted in individual reinterpretations of organisational contexts, which were negotiated and assumed in the environment of the collectivity. The changes were supported by the organisation members’ involvement in building a shared vision, in making a plan in which every person is a voice in the organisation, and in developing attachment and ownership in relation to the developed plans.

Keywords: Appreciative Inquiry; needs; motivation; constructionism; security; organisational development; vision; intervention; experimental situation.

References

Aldred, R., 2011, From community participation to organizational therapy? World Cafe and Appreciative Inquiry as research methods. Community Development Journal, 46(1), pp. 57-71.

Andrus, C., 2010, Using appreciative inquiry to build organizational capacity to learn, risk and grow. Revista de Cercetare si Interventie Sociala, 30, pp. 63-76.

Asif, Z., Klein, H.K., 2009, Open and free deliberation: A prerequisite for positive design. Information and Organization, 19(3), SI, pp. 186-197.

Bellinger, A. Elliott, T., 2011, What Are You Looking At? The Potential of Appreciative Inquiry as a Research Approach for Social Work. British Journal of Social Work , 41(4),  pp. 708-725.

Boerema, A.J., 2011, Challenging and Supporting New Leader Development. Educational Management Administration & Leadership, 39(5), pp. 554-567.

Burke, W.W., 2011, A Perspective on the Field of Organization Development and Change: The Zeigarnik Effect.  Journal
of Applied Behavioral Science, 47(2), pp. 143-167.

Bushe, G.R., 1999, Advances in appreciative inquiry as an organization Development Intervention,  http://www.gervasebushe.com/aiodj.htm

Bushe, G.R., 2010, A comparative case study of appreciative inquiries in one organization: implications for practice. Revista de Cercetare si Interventie Sociala, 29, pp. 7-24.

Chapagain, C.P., Ojha, G.P., 2008, Appreciative inquiry for enhancing individual and organization capacity. Revista de Cercetare si Interventie Sociala, 20, pp. 7-18.

Cojocaru, D., 2003, Ancheta Apreciativa – forma a cercetarii-actiune in schimbarea sociala. Revista de Cercetare si Interventie Sociala, 2, pp.203-208.

Cojocaru, S., 2005, Metode apreciative in asistenta sociala. Ancheta, supervizarea si managementul de caz, Iasi: Polirom.

Cojocaru, S., 2008, Appreciative evaluation – a form of formative evaluation. Revista de Cercetare si Interventie Sociala, 20, pp.
42-48.

Cojocaru, S., 2010, Appreciative supervision in social work. New opportunities for changing the social work practice. Revista de Cercetare si Interventie Sociala, 29, pp.72-91.

Cooperrider, D.L, Withney, D., 2000, Apreciative Inquiry: Rethinking Human Organization Toward a Positive Theory of Change, Stipes: Champaign, IL.

Cooperrider, D.L., Srivatsva, S., 1994, Appreciative inquiry: an alternative to problem solving.  In French, W & Bell, C., Organizational development and transformation, Ridge, Irwin, pp. 207-208.

Cooperrider, DL, Barett, F., Srivatsva, S., 1995, Social construction and appreciative inquiry: A journey in organiyational theory. In Hosking, D.M., Dachler, P.H. şi Gergen, K.J., Management and Organiyation: relational alternatives to individualism, Avebury, Aldershot, pp. 157-200.

Cooperrider, DL, Srivatsva S., 1987, Appreciative Inquiry in Organization Life. Research in Organizational Change and Development, 1, pp. 124-148.

Cowling, W. R. III, Repede, E., 2010, Unitary Appreciative Inquiry Evolution and Refinement. Advances in Nursing Science, 33(1), pp. 64-77.

Cuyvers, G., 2010, Appreciative inquiry as a foundation for quality development. Revista de Cercetare si Interventie Sociala,
30, pp. 39-52.

Dick, B., 2011, Action research literature 2008-2010: Themes and trends. Action Research, 9(2), pp. 122-143.

Donaldson, S.I., Ko, I., 2010, Positive organizational psychology, behavior, and scholarship: A review of the emerging literature and evidence base. Journal of Positive Psychology, 5(3), pp. 177-191.

Elliott, C., 1999, Locating the Energy for Change: An Introduction to Appreciative Inquiry, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada,
International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD).

Felluga, D., 2003, Matrix: paradigma postmodernă sau impostură intelectuala? In Zeffeth, G., Matrix. Ştiinţă, Filozofie şi Religie, Bucharest: Amaltea.

Fitzgerald, S.P., Oliver, C., Hoxsey, J.C., 2010, Appreciative Inquiry as a Shadow Process. Journal of Management Inquiry, 19(3), pp. 220-233.

Galazka, A., 2011, Drama as a Tool of Appreciative Inquiry in Creative Learning. New Educational Review, 24(2), pp. 45-56.

Gergen, K..J., 1985, The social constructionism movement in modern psychology. American Psychologist, 40 (3), pp. 266-275.

Gergen, K..J., 1994, Realities and relationships: soundings in social construction, Harvard University Press,Cambridge.

Gergen, K..J., 1999, An invitation to social construction, Sage Publications,London.

Gonzales, C.K., Leroy, G., 2011, Eliciting user requirements using Appreciative inquiry. Empirical Software Engineering, 6(6), pp. 733-772.

Gordon, J.R., 1991, A diagnostic Approach to Organizational Behavior, Boston, Allyn and Bacon.

Hirunwat, P., 2011, Appreciative Inquiry based organization development intervention process on satisfaction and engagement of senior patients and sustainability of Sukavet Institution: a case study of nursing home. Revista de Cercetare si Interventie Sociala,
33, pp. 56-71.

Johnson, G., Leavitt, W., 2001, Building on success: transforming organisations through an appreciative inquiry. Public personnel management, 30 (1), pp. 129-136.

Kanaskie, M.L., 2011, Incorporating Cafe Design Principles Into End-of-Life Discussions: An Innovative Method for Continuing
Education. Journal of Continuing Education in Nursing, 42(4), pp. 166-171.

Kavanagh, T., Stevens, B., Seers, K., Sidani, S., Watt-Watson, J., 2010, Process evaluation of appreciative inquiry to translate pain management evidence into pediatric nursing practice. Implementation Science, 5, 90.

Kelly, T., 2010, A positive approach to change: the role of appreciative inquiry in library and information organisations. Australian Academic & Research Libraries, 41(3), pp. 163-177.

Kluger, A.N., Nir, D., 2010, The feedforward interview. Human Resource Management Review, 20(3), SI, pp. 235-246.

Kumar, L.R., Chacko, T.V., 2010, Using appreciative inquiry on learning styles to facilitate student learning. Medical Education, 44(11), pp. 1121-1122.

Lustig, P., Ringland, G., 2010, The role of appreciative inquiry in meeting the challenges of the next decade.  Revista de Cercetare si Interventie Sociala, 30, pp. 77-85.

Marshak, R.J., Grant, D., 2008, Organizational discourse and new organization development practices. British Journal of Management, 19, SI, S7-S19.

Messerschmidt, D., 2008, Evaluating Appreciative Inquiry as an Organizational Transformation Tool: An Assessment from Nepal. Human Organization, 67(4), pp. 454-468.

Miftode V., 2003, Tratat de metodologie sociologică,Iaşi: Lumen.

More, C., 2011, The effect of Appreciative Inquiry as organizational development intervention on organizational planning and service quality improvement in St. Francis School (ICSE), Revista de Cercetare si Interventie Sociala, 33, pp. 27-43.

Murrel, K.L., 2001, Book review of Appreciative inquiry: change at the speed of imagination. Organization Development Journal, 19(3), pp. 92-93.

Ojha, G.P., 2010, Appreciative inquiry approach to evaluation practices in South Asia. Revista de Cercetare si Interventie Sociala, 30, pp. 7-18.

Powley, E.H., Fry, R.E., Barrett, F.J., Bright, D.S., 2004, Dialogic democracy meets command and control: Transformation through the appreciative inquiry summit. Academy of Management Executive, 18(3), pp. 67-80.

Rattanaphan, P., 2010, Impact of organization of organization development interventions on human capital: a case study of
Thailand Appreciative Inquiry Network. Revista de Cercetare si Interventie Sociala, 29, pp. 25-43.

Repede, E., 2011, Participatory Dreaming A Unitary Appreciative Inquiry Into Healing With Women Abused as Children. Advances in Nursing Science, 34(3), pp. 174-197.

Repede, E.J., 2009, Participatory Dreaming A Conceptual Exploration From a Unitary Appreciative Inquiry Perspective. Nursing Science Quarterly, 22(4), pp. 360-368.

Rubin, R., Kerrell, R., Roberts, G., 2011, Appreciative inquiry in occupational therapy education. British Journal of Occupational Therapy, 74(5), pp. 233-240.

Sandu, A., 2011, Appreciative philosophy. Towards a constructionist approach of philosophical and theological discourse. Journal for the Study of Religions and Ideologies, 10(28), pp. 129-153.

Sandu, A., Ciuchi, O.M., 2010, Affirmative dimensions of applied ethics. Appreciative therapies. Revista de Cercetare si Interventie Sociala, 30, pp. 53-62.

Somerville, M.M., Howard, Z., 2010, ‘Information in context’: co-designing workplace structures and systems for
organizational learning. Information Research-An International Electronic Journal, 15(4), art. 446.

Van Der Haar, D., 2002, A positive change. A Social Constructionist into the Possibilities to Evaluate Appreciative Inquiry, Tilburg University, Netherlands.

Van Gramberg, B., 2010, The usefulness of appreciative inquiry as a method to identify mass sports program success. Transylvanian Review of Administrative Sciences, 30E, pp. 118-131.

Wendt, S., Tuckey, M.R., Prosser, B., 2011, Thriving, not just surviving, in emotionally demanding fields of practice. Health & Social Care in the Community, 19(3), pp. 317-325.

Withney, D., 1998, Let’s change the subject and change our organization: an appreciative inquiry approach to organization change. Career Development International, 3(7), pp. 314-319.

Yoon, M.N., Lowe, M., Budgell, M., Steele, C.M., 2011, An Exploratory Investigation Using Appreciative Inquiry to Promote Nursing Oral Care. Geriatric Nursing, 32(5), pp. 326-340.