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2008
Workshops and Retreat Calendar is in Progress. Contact
us by email for information at
info@appreciativeinquiryunlimited.com.
Our Appreciative Inquiry workshops are
designed for those who want to understand
Appreciative Inquiry as a process for transformative change
in all organizations and systems, as well as
a perspective in which to live life. The workshops are
characterized by a focus on the ideas and processes that are
contained in the book,
Appreciative Inquiry:
Change at the Speed of Imagination,
written by Jane and Bernard Mohr.
ALL
WORKSHOPS ARE HIGHLY EXPERIENTIAL, and are based on:
-
Our strong belief that there is
no single process for "applying"
Appreciative Inquiry,
rather that an Inquiry is co-created with the client to fit the needs of that system
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An approach that emphasizes
Appreciative Inquiry as a world view
that can inform all organizational change processes
including traditional OD approaches
-
A somewhat longer workshop timeframe and
a maximum of 24 participants so that
participants have an in-depth experience with the theory
and worldview of AI
in addition to an introduction to the multiple ways that
Appreciative Inquiry has been applied in change
processes.
-
Our commitment to experiential learning
and community sharing that creates
a
learning community which may continue after the workshop
-
The experience we have acquired over the past three
decades in our work
with corporations, government agencies, non-profit and
community organizations, and international organizations
using Appreciative Inquiry for organizational change
processes--strategic planning, evaluation, teambuilding,
survey feedback application, organizational redesign,
etc--across the United States and in dozens of countries
around the world.
- We
believe that learning to live and work from an AI
approach is an on-going process that is enhanced by
opportunities to dialogue with other practitioners or
"AI users." Therefore, we offer advanced workshops. We
also offer FOCUS ON YOUR
PRACTICE, which is offered at our Retreat Home,
MarshHaven. A Focus on Your Practice Retreat is by
design limited in number of participants. This is time
for quiet, reflection, and deep conversation and
dialogue about OD Practiced and life lived from the
perspective of Appreciative Inquiry. Participation is
limited to those who have completed a foundations, or
similar workshop, and who have broad experience using the
approach and philosophy of Appreciative Inquiry in their
work.
Appreciative Inquiry Workshops
Appreciative Inquiry is a powerful process
for energizing positive change in an organization’s human,
ecological and economic functioning. AI has been used very
successfully with large system processes like restructuring,
mergers, acquisitions, and for relational processes such as
union/management relationship, diversity as an asset, and
preparing the workforce to shift from hierarchy to
horizontal team based processes. AI is particularly useful
in turbulent environments.
Rather than just another
technique, AI is presented as a radically innovative
approach to the whole field of organization development.
In addition to becoming familiar with tools
for applying AI in organizations, workshop participants
will:
-
Receive support in practicing
appreciative question construction, interviewing skills,
topic identification, imagining the future, creating
provocative propositions.
-
Become familiar with the
multi-disciplinary principles, research and theory base
of AI
-
Develop their ability to apply the AI
framework to a variety of OD interventions such as:
Strategic Planning, Internal Auditing, Organizational
Redesign, Mergers, Teambuilding, Evaluation, and
Diversity.
-
Learn to introduce this strikingly
different approach in ways congruent with AI philosophy.
-
Receive follow-on
mentoring and consultation for at least one year
following the workshop.
Custom
Workshops and Consultations
Appreciative Inquiry is dynamic and a perspective that is
most effective when the application is a co-creation between
you and us. We offer many years experience of practice in
Organization Development and in working with diverse
individuals and organizations in many rich cultures and
countries. This practice and our experience is grounded in
the theory and concepts of Appreciative Inquiry. When our
work is a collaborative experience, the outcomes are the
most exciting, productive and of the most benefit.
A Custom Workshop and/or consultation is
available for your organization and for your area. We have
provided workshops internally in corporations, non-profit
organizations, government systems, and for individual and
professional groups in many localities.
We really like working with individuals and
organizations to co-create a workshop or process to address
a particular interest or area. Please contact Ralph Kelly to
discuss what you may have in mind. Call (757) 259-9942.
Also, you may use the “Contact Us”
button available on this site.
Workshop Quotes:
-
…thanks again..... to you, Jane and Ralph... I look
forward to more time spent together and lots of great
conversations…
-
I was
able to attend the info session and it was like tasting
a rich dessert and not being able to finish it!! The
workshop must have been fabulous...I look forward to
thinking about how to offer this again ...
-
I am
reading some information that is one of the principles
we are sharing in a session this week with leaders and
managers. As I read it, I am so reminded of Jane and
Ralph as they exemplify the leadership in this
statement. Please forward to them with my heartfelt
thanks for a great week.
-
Such a pleasure to have met with and
worked with you, Jane and Ralph! You are great leaders!
AI Workshops
That Involve AI Unlimited
There are
several venues for workshops offered by Jane Watkins and/or
Ralph Kelly either together or in partnership with
Appreciative Inquiry Associates. These include:
NTL:
As the organization that pioneered the application of
behavioral science to organizations and created the
field of Organization Development, NTL has been a
constant innovator in the field. Focused on training for
OD professionals and organization leaders and managers,
NTL offers a foundation workshop in AI (6 days) and a
field practicum (7 days) that provides real clients for
workshop participants that equip participants to use AI
in client systems. Both of these workshops can be
included in the NTL Certificate Program in Organization
Development. A Certificate Program dedicated exclusively
to Appreciative Inquiry is in the planning stages and
should be ready by the end of 2002. Information about
the program will be available on the NTL.org web page
and here on AI Unlimited.
AI Unlimited Workshops by Invitation:
We provide AI foundation and advanced workshops
by invitation from groups or individuals who partner
with us. For example, with our Toronto associate, Mo
McKenna, and her company, Mentoring with Momentum, we have offered both foundation workshops in
Toronto and Winnipeg and advanced workshops in Toronto.
We have presented foundation workshops for the Minnesota ODN; for the Education for Ministry trainers of the
Episcopal Church as well as for church based trainers
and leaders in the Diocese of Mississippi and in the
Diocese of Southern Virginia; for the College of
Southern Maryland; for the Girl Scouts of America staff;
and in South Africa and for a group in the UK. We
facilitate workshops hosted by Paula Cornunelli and Ivy
Gordon in California.
In addition, we often provide foundation workshops for
our clients as a strategy to insure sustainability.
Note: Schedules of workshops will be
included in this section. However, we are always happy to
hear from you and to update you on whatever information we
have about our workshops or the workshops of colleagues that
we know about. |
