Program presented an overview of appreciative inquiry, the study and exploration of what gives life to human systems when they function at their best. This approach to organizational change is based on the assumption that questions and dialogue about strengths, successes, values, hopes and dreams are themselves transformational. It offers a positive way to engage library staff in assessment. Although this method had its inception in the health care industry, this program will demonstrate its relevance to continuous improvement in libraries. Presenters included Maureen Sullivan and Gene Spencer.

1. And Now for the Good News: Appreciative Inquiry Maureen Sullivan Gene Spencer ALA Annual Conference - June 30, 2008

3. Setting the Context "The most serious mistakes are not being made as a result of wrong answers. The truly dangerous thing is asking the wrong question." Peter Drucker

4. Focus of Assessment What are we doing well? What’s broken or ineffective? (within some +/- “gap”) Typical Assessment Process Maintain or Tweak? Fix or Abandon? AI Process Significantly Better Results Asking Different Questions

5. Introducing Appreciative Inquiry (AI) A Whirlwind Tour

7. The Essence of Appreciative Inquiry (AI) Positive Core

10. Appreciative Inquiry - Simply Put… If we look for what is best and learn from it, we can magnify and multiply our success If we continue to search for problems, we will continue to find problems

12. 4-D Cycle of Appreciative Inquiry From The Power of Appreciative Inquiry One example of a Formal AI Process Positive Core Design “ Determine what should be” Affirmative Topic Choice Dream “ Imagine what might be” Discovery “ Appreciate what is” Destiny “ Create what will be”

14. The Art of the Positive Question

15. Focus Again on the Positive Core Positive Core

16. MISSED COMMITMENTS Critical Thinking Gap Analysis Failure Rate Root Cause Analysis Emergency TROUBLE REPORT CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS PERFORMANCE REVIEW Evaluation Language of Assessment: Deficit From the Appreciative Inquiry Handbook Error Report Post-Mortem Deadline Fire Fighting Variance Report “ Missed Opportunity” “Satisfaction” Surveys WARNING

23. Application of Appreciative Inquiry

25. 4-D Cycle of Appreciative Inquiry From The Power of Appreciative Inquiry Positive Core Design “ Determine what should be” Affirmative Topic Choice Dream “ Imagine what might be” Discovery “ Appreciate what is” Destiny “ Create what will be”

27. 4-D Cycle of Appreciative Inquiry From The Power of Appreciative Inquiry Positive Core Design “ Determine what should be” Affirmative Topic Choice Dream “ Imagine what might be” Discovery “ Appreciate what is” Destiny “ Create what will be” Rapport & Empathy Trust Mutual Understanding

28. Resources for Getting Started