[Ailist] AI - an established business strategy

[Bill Scott]

Hi all,

I think I'd like to add the Rocky Flats story to this collection of organizations
using appreciative principles. I'm in the midst of reading Making the Impossible
Possible: Leading Extraordinary Performance, The Rocky Flats Story (2006) by Cameron
and Lavine. For those of you unfamiliar with Cameron's work, he is a leading
proponent of the Positive Organizational Scholarship (POS) movement.

I'm guessing the story will be very controversial to many given that it is rooted in
the cleanup of one of the most polluted places on the planet -- the Rocky Flats
nuclear site just outside of Denver. The authors acknowledge that there are those who
do not see the story as being extraordinary and yet the results that were achieved --
a 70 year, $36 billion project that came in 60 years and $30 billion under budget --
are at least worthy of critical examination.

The company involved, Kaiser-Hill, did not use an AI approach and, yet, I do believe
that they used many of the principles espoused by AI practitioners (at least as
described in the book). 

The authors quote David Cooperrider and Diana Whitney, amongst others, particularly
with respect to the heliotropic effect and the impact of studying positive deviance.
They also use an abundance approach to working with people -- one that "highlights
the key enablers -- the levers, techniques, and practices -- that explain how
extraordinary performance was realized."

It is a truly fascinating lead.

On a side note, I'm wondering if others have thought about the connections between AI
and POS. I'm just getting into the literature on POS and I'd love to hear how others
see these two approaches melding. Perhaps there is a new thread there?

Regards,
Bill
 
WJS Consulting Inc
Vancouver, B.C., Canada
wjs.consulting at shaw.ca
604-574-1856
 
Engaging human potential
 

-----Original Message-----
From: ailist-bounces at lists.business.utah.edu
[mailto:ailist-bounces at lists.business.utah.edu] On Behalf Of AnneLondon at aol.com
Sent: March 10, 2007 7:40 AM
To: ailist at lists.business.utah.edu
Subject: Re: [Ailist] AI - an established business strategy


In a message dated 9/3/07 14:05:26, cheri at mobileteamchallenge.com writes:
> Absolutely.  Do you have examples of organizations where the principles are
> flourishing?  What supported the culture shift?  What life-generating
> capacity was important for these organizations to shift and sustain?
> 
> I'm very interested in knowing what org. have done this and sustained it
> over time.
> 

Hi Cherie, Roberta and others,

I would add BP Castrol Marine to the examples already given. The new managing 
director appointed in 2004 decided to use an appreciative leadership style in 
a business that had to put in a much better performance. Now, nearly three 
years later, the internal and external surveys are showing improvements beyond 
most people's wildest dreams: the financials, customer satisfaction, employee 
morale levels etc. 

Using AI principles throughout the business and applying them to existing 
classic methodologies such as project management and strategy development have 
been crucial in moving the business from turnaround to transformation.

The details of this success will be featured in journals and books coming out 
later this year.

Working with the business leader as his thinking partner has been a real joy 
over these past three years, as you might imagine!

Best wishes, 

Anne