[Ailist] Re: Applying leeches?

[Alice Leibowitz]

I see a lot of people on this list and also on the Future Search list who
are opposed to evaluating the measurable results of our organizational
interventions, on the ground that such data doesn't convince skeptics to
hire us.

It may be true that this data doesn't convince skeptics, but that's not the
most important reason for gathering the data. The most important reason is
for our own integrity.

If the work we do makes people feel unified and creative for a week, but
does not result in some form of increased success in the long run, we have
failed. I don't feel ethical asking people to pay me to do something that
may not work.

I know from my past work in teen pregnancy prevention that interventions
designed to change human behavior rarely make a difference. Many
interventions which are backed by strong theory and compelling values turn
out to have no result. I believe that changing group behavior is even more
difficult than changing that of individuals.

For ourselves, as well as for the benefit of our clients, we should support
meaningful evaluation research on Appreciative Inquiry (and Future Search)
methods, so we can know what difference we are making.

-- 
Alice Leibowitz
Partner
Insight Unlimited LLC
Non-profit, Community, and Grassroots Consulting
Hartford, CT
alice at insightunlimited.org
www.insightunlimited.org
(860) 956-9299

~Contact us for a free 1-2 hour consultation


> -----Original Message-----
> From: ailist-bounces at lists.business.utah.edu
> [mailto:ailist-bounces at lists.business.utah.edu] On Behalf Of John Loty
> Sent: Friday, April 11, 2008 10:57 PM
> To: 'Roger Davies'; 'Stephanie West Allen'; 'AI list'
> Subject: RE: [Ailist] Is Appreciate Inquiry like "applying leeches"?
>
>
> Presumably patients that sought medical assistance and received the
> "applying leeches" treatment were sick in the first place.
>
> I also assume that there were some successes or at least stories of
> success.So that treatment continued for a while?
>
> Did belief in the efficacy of the treatment lead to success/relief or was
> it
> the treatment?
>
> I don't know but I do know that numerous case studies that establish
> overwhelming supporting evidence of improvements including ROI stats will
> not open a closed mind.
>
> There have been many examples of 'smart' (even business) people believing
> unproven theories and investing very large sums of money in the hope of
> making a whacking huge ROI. Some would call this gambling and others
> stupidity but it has been going on for a long long time.
>
> I am also reminded of the stories of people trying to give away real cash
> (dollars) on street corners being resisted for whatever reason/feeling.
>
> Many recent studies have established that financial success (optimal
> return
> on investment) is more connected to developing and maintaining
> non-material,
> spiritual values evidenced by collaborative cohesive meaning and purpose
> throughout the organisation.
>
> One way for people to come to understand those deeper qualities about
> themselves and their organisation as a whole is to look for those
> qualities
> and reward/celebrate them when discovered. Then they can build on that.
>
> The investment (in dollars) to do this, is in the scheme of things not
> really that significant anyway.
>
> If it does some good (and it will if applied consistently - a bit like
> taking modern medicine)then will the ROI be that significant?
>
> I think the underlying issues (when people start on about ROI and the
> like)are fear and conviction that problem solving is the only path to
> organisational recovery/improvement/salvation.
>
> The fear I am talking about is the Fear of the unknown and very closely
> connected is that curious facility our mind/brain has of
> converting/labelling/characterising new behaviours
> (dieting,exercise,quitting whatever is killing us, etc) into "error" (a
> mistake) that must be avoided lest we befall unspecified consequences
> (fear
> or not sufficient ROI).
>
> I am a keen AI Advocate because I do believe that people sharing stories
> about "best experiences" is useful, uplifting and is supported by more
> case
> studies than you can jump over.
>
> In a former life I thought it important to argue and convince but now I
> see
> that as largely something I will leave to others.
>
> This is my second rant today. Enough for a few months!
>
> John Loty
>
>
> ~