Appreciative Inquiry in Trying Times

Faced with dwindling financial resources that cause staff reductions, impact productivity, erode infrastructure, lower morale, and corrode the core mission, the agency shifted from standard problem solving to a form of positive solution generation, Appreciative Inquiry (AI). AI provided a framework that clarified irreducible elements of the organizational mission, supported the exploration of what works well in the agency, re-energized employees, assisted in goal attainment, and initiated improvements in productivity. The AI process asked a group of managers and supervisors to answer one question, envision two scenarios, and spend an hour exploring each. The query was: when have you felt most alive, engaged and committed to your life and profession? The first scenario envisioned the perfect health department. The second imagined the agency, at its future best. These conversations highlighted positive elements of the organization and clarified organizational mission. From here, the group built strategies for dealing with the current economic reality. The process concluded with the team stating their commitment to public health was re-invigorated and they had a renewed sense of hope. Their productivity was improved. The AI process was successful and may be used throughout the agency. This promising practice offers an alternative to standard problem solving techniques, is highly transportable to other agencies, and is economical to use and resulted in apparent sustained results.