The Power of Appreciative Inquiry to Spark Innovation

A network of Ottawa-based health-care providers has demonstrated with quantitative data that linking Appreciative Inquiry (AI) and inter-professional collaboration helps build the team perspective and creates more innovation around delivering better care to patients.

Founding partner of Innovation Partners International (IPI) Joanne Daykin refers to this success as an example of how AI can be a powerful tool for sparking innovation.

Joanne Daykin

Asked about the “secret sauce,”and  what it is about AI that triggers new solutions, Daykin refers to one of its vital components — co-creation.

"I’ve seen Appreciative Inquiry used in a variety of ways, but if it’s used without the additional piece of collaboration and invitation to contribute I find it doesn’t have quite as much juice and power,” Daykin tells Axiom News.

Authentic co-creation — not just inviting feedback on proposals from senior leaders — means there are more ideas on the floor, as well as higher energy and buy-in to fully contribute beyond the ideas phase, says Daykin, referring to an IPI strategic planning session where this came to life in a very real way.

Daykin is one of three guest editors for the AI Practitioner spearheading a special edition designed to showcase “outstanding examples of AI innovation.”

To be released at the 2012 AI conference in Ghant, Belgium, the edition is to be the first-ever video publication, an innovation in itself.

AI practitioners and others working in the field are invited to submit initial ideas for a video presentation by July 1. Click here for full details.

“I think there’s a real call in our world for innovation,” says Daykin, noting over the last several years she’s seen the corporate world, which obviously also has a vested interest in innovation, produce a growing number of AI applications and results.

She’s expecting to see more videos from that perspective, in addition to the traditional international development and non-profit work, where much of AI has been anchored.

Daykin adds that in her home city of Ottawa she’s seeing an openness to AI, and a blooming of its practice and application around innovative solutions.

“It makes me proud to see what people are doing and how they’re applying the principles and the process of AI in their own worlds, and I’m really looking forward to seeing what some of those people will be able to show and have them showcase in this special edition,” says Daykin. 

If you have feedback on this article please contact Michelle at 800-294-0051, ext. 27, or e-mail michelle(at)axiomnews.ca.