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Lesson 4: 4-D Model, Discovery Phase

Lesson Activities

Discovery Phase Group Discussion

Overview

By sharing your best-ever group experience, this discussion activity aims to help you recognize the role and the importance of the affirmative/appreciative questions in AI practice.

Instructions

Within your AI Practice group, each of you should discuss the following topic: Tell the story of your best-ever group experience.

It could have been a sports team, a school group, a work project, a volunteer organization, etc. Your memory should be one in which the group was effective and the experience was enjoyable. Share what you think made it a peak experience. Consider the details of the cooperation or collaborative spirit. This functions as an interview of sorts in that each person must share their experience although not in a traditional question-answer format.

After you have shared your stories, ponder and discuss some further thoughts in this discovery phase as well:

  • How did recounting your story make you feel, did it bring back the original energy you felt?
  • How did you feel reading your teammates’ stories?
Posting Timelines
Day Task
Monday–Wednesday Post initial reply.
Thursday–Friday Review fellow learners' posts and respond to at least two.
Saturday–Sunday Review and reply to fellow learners' responses to your post.
Looking Ahead

Next week, we work in the dream phase.

Lesson 4 Discussion and Response

Overview

As indicated in Lesson 4, the bedrock of AI is the appreciated interview and the appreciative interview sparks positive energy meant to pervade the entire initiative.

This discussion activity asks you to consider the ways to deal with and manage negativity and ways to generate a positive energy during the AI interviews.

Three Ways to Deal with and Manage Negativity During the AI interviews
Postponing

Revisit point during the “what would you change if you could” segment of the conversation.

Listening

Be empathetic and maintain a caring and affirmative spirit.

Redirecting

Paraphrase and revisit topic of focus.

Instructions

Consider and respond to the following prompts:

  1. Of the 3 ways to deal with and manage negativity during the AI interviews above, which have you tried or which would you like to try in managing negativity in this setting? Give an example of ways this has worked for you in dealing with people.

  2. Next, think back to a previous time that you worked with a group to address an issue or concern.

    • Knowing what you now know about Appreciative Inquiry, what would you do differently?
    • How might the Discovery phase look?

In order to maximize the engagement in the discussion, do not wait until the last minute to post your responses or reply to your peers. You're encouraged to post your responses early in the week, no later than 11:59 p.m. (ET) Wednesday, and reply to the posting of at least two other students by 11:59 p.m. (ET) Friday so that they have a chance to reply to you by the end of the week.

Posting Timelines
Day Task
Monday–Wednesday Post initial reply.
Thursday–Friday Review fellow learners' posts and respond to at least two.
Saturday–Sunday Review and reply to fellow learners' responses to your post.

Article Abstract

Research-Based Article Abstract Assignment

Overview

A research-based article summarizes the results of qualitative or quantitative research and reflects a systematic investigation of a topic. To emphasize: a research article is not based entirely on the author's own opinion.

You can review any number of journals such as Organization Development Journal, International Journal of Training and Development, Training and Development Journal, Journal of Organizational Change Management, The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science Human Communication Research, Human Organization, etc.

There are two deliverables for the Research-based Article Abstract:

Deliverable 1: Research-Based Article Selection

Submit a research article regarding appreciative inquiry or positive organizational scholarship. (Due in Lesson 2.)

Deliverable 2: Research-Based Article Abstract Submission

After you decide on a research article regarding appreciative inquiry or positive organizational scholarship, prepare an article abstract. (Due in Lesson 4.)

When you begin writing the abstract, include the bibliographic citation using the most current Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association at the top of the first page.

This assignment focuses on Deliverable 2.

Instructions

Focusing on a research article regarding appreciative inquiry or positive organizational scholarship, prepare an article abstract. To be clear, you MUST select a research-based article.

Expand to display the checklist to use to organize your work with sub headers.
Abstract Checklist

Did you (yes, no, or N/A)…

  • Begin the abstract with a complete bibliographic citation in proper APA style?

  • Select an article on Appreciative Inquiry or Positive Organizational Scholarship then describe the research problem or issue that was investigated?

  • List the research questions or objectives?

  • Describe the methodology used?

  • Describe the approach to sampling if available?

  • Summarize the methods of analyzing the data collected and the study's results?

  • Describe key limitations and/or assumptions of the research? Or your suggestion?

  • List issues for future investigation or research identified by the researcher? Or your suggestion?

  • Explain directly why this article would be a useful read for peers in this program?

  • Three to five pages in length, double-spaced, 12 pt font?

Deliverable

Submit your article abstract to this assignment by the end of Lesson 4.


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