Week 3 – 3 AI Resources
ai consulting blog http://aiconsult.wordpress.com/
ai consulting is a firm located in Manchester that specializes in appreciative inquiry strategic planning and “positive engagement” events. While the company’s website is a sales pitch for their appreciative inquiry services, their blog is written more for the DIY (do it yourself) appreciative inquiry consultant. Blog entries I read cover how to create an appreciative feedback form and how to conduct an appreciative inquiry interview, but there are many more short but insightful posts for the neophyte ai evaluator. The last posting was on 1/23/09, an indication that we might be able to use it as a reference moving forward.
AI is not just about the positive (2 articles)
http://www.gervasebushe.ca/AI_pos.pdf
http://www.gervasebushe.ca/AI%20and%20generativity.pdf
After reading 50 pages of Preskill and Catsambas, one might begin to think that AI is all sunshine and roses. I found two articles by Gervase Bushe where he explains otherwise. Bushe explains that at the “core of AI is generativity (Bushe, 2007a).” Generativity “occurs… when a group of people discover and create new ideas that are compelling to themselves and others and provoke new actions. A generative idea is one that causes people who hear it to shift how they think about things and opens up new possibilities (Bushe, 2007b).” The author details AI experiences that went wrong because even the most positive stories told during sessions were pathetic and could not be used “transform” the session or the organization.
Appreciative Inquiry Commons: http://appreciativeinquiry.case.edu/
This organization has a multitude of resources for every level of AI consultant. The site features blogs, articles, job opportunities, and conferences and classes (including a listing of all colleges offering an AI certificate or workshop).
Thoughts about Using Simultaneity in Re-evaluating Student Technologies
We use a large enterprise system to manage all of our student data. Our multi-million dollar system serves us well on the staff side, but is lacking in what we offer to students. We offer no online application process.
When asked why we cannot offer an online application process we explain:
• Students need to provide a proof of residence in person anyway
• Students may need to take placement tests
• Students do not know which program to be admitted to
• Students will add themselves repeatedly and create duplicates in the system
• We will install a new version in 3 years, maybe we will add this feature
Creating Possibilities
I work on many of the web solutions we offer students. It has been on my mind for a while to find a solution to this. After reading about Appreciative Inquiry, I thought I would try a new line of questioning.
Last week, I created a flowchart with 3 possible solutions for allowing students to admit themselves into our system. I took the document to two people who are programmers and system architects.
Instead of asking: “Why can’t students apply online?” I asked “I created some flowcharts for an online admission process, would you mind reviewing them with me?”
I sat with each of them individually while we marked up the flowcharts. When we hit a wall, I just kept asking them more questions. Each question brought up another question and another possibility.
Programmer #2: We just can’t let the students add themselves to the database.Me: Is there a way for student data to be held in limbo until it is approved?
Programmer #2: Maybe we can have a temporary table with a search screen so registrars can move them to the real database after they approve it.
During the meetings, I really felt that the programmers were getting excited about the process. We were talking about providing a service to our students that we had thought wasn’t possible.
From the two meetings, I was able to build a final flowchart which is now awaiting approval (and funding) from the system directors. The process allows for students to complete an online application, but still requires them to come to campus for their initial registration. This should shorten registration lines because students can complete the application at home or at a lab instead of completing it by hand and having a clerk key it into the system while they wait.
Did I use the Simultaneity Principle to get help build the process document? I think I definitely borrowed from it. Whitney & Trosten-Bloom state that “questions…can give hope where none existing before (2003, p.58).” Questions can spark ideas, and asking positive questions- even when faced with statements like never or can’t - enabled us to engage in constructive conversations that will hopefully transform the online experience for our students.
References:
Bushe, G (2007a).Appreciative Inquiry Is Not (Just) About The Positive. OD Practitioner. 39, 30-35.
Downloaded from: http://www.gervasebushe.ca/AI_pos.pdf
Bushe, G (2007b).Generativity and the Transformational Potential of Appreciative Inquiry. Organizational Generativity: Advances in Appreciative Inquiry.
Downloaded from: http://www.gervasebushe.ca/AI%20and%20generativity.pdf
Kelm, J.B. (2005). Appreciative Living: The Principles of Appreciative Inquiry in Personal Life. Wake Forest, NC: Venet Publishers
Whitney, D, & Trosten-Bloom, A (2003). The Power of Appreciative Inquiry. Berrett-Koehler Publishers.
January 27th, 2009 at 10:11 pm
Hi Kristen – What a great use of the simultaneity principle in the example of working with the students using AI for logging on. Also great resources and good to see AI from the aspect of generativity. Thanks Donna
February 2nd, 2009 at 5:01 pm
Wow…your calm, positive persistance really seems to have paid off. The simultaneity principle was certainly in action here. What I noticed is that you did not simply keep asking “Why can’t we..” and “Why not?” Instead you asked about creative workarounds with phrases such as “Is there a way to….” You directed the discussion away from the impossible and towards exploring what was possible. I think the programmers became excited because you gave them a way to achieve success. They must have been just as frustrated as everyone else by the lack of some form of online registration.