Appreciative Inquiry: Root Causes of Success

Step 1:

• Describe an overview of the process and then specify a theme or what kind of story participants are expected to tell.
  3 minutes

Step 2:

• Structuring Invitation
• Ask, “Please tell a story about a time when you worked on a challenge with others and you are proud of what you accomplished. What is the story and what made the success possible? Pair up preferably with someone you don’t know well.”

Step 3:

• In pairs, participants take turns conducting an interview and telling a success story, paying attention to what made the success possible.
  7–10 minutes each; 15–20 minutes total

Step 4:

• In groups of 4, each person retells the story of his or her pair partner. Ask participants to listen for patterns in conditions/assets supporting success and to make note of them.
  15 minutes for groups of 4 people

Step 5:

• Collect insights and patterns for the whole group to see on a flip chart. Summarize if needed.
  10-15 minutes

Step 6:

• Ask, “How are we investing in the assets and conditions that foster success?” and “What opportunities do you see to do more?” You could Use 1-2-4-All! to discuss the questions.
  10 minutes

Tips for running this activity online

• Pick an online whiteboard tool that allows to use a large, zoomable canvas.
• Set up each topic at a different area of the board, spread them out just like you would do it on a the walls of a room.
• Invite participants to zoom in and visit each section and add their ideas as sticky notes once you reach that section of the exercise.
• If you’re not using an online whiteboard, we’d recommend using a collaboration tool such as Google Docs to collect the information for each step under a separate heading. Invite everyone into the document but be very clear in regards to editing rights.
• Precreate your screen deck and screen share this with your participants through your video conferencing software. We’d also recommend sharing this so participants can go through the deck again during the reflection steps.
• When facilitating group discussion, we’d recommend that participants use non-verbal means to indicate they’d like to speak. You can use tools like Zoom’s nonverbal feedback tools, a reaction emoji, or just have people put their hands up.The facilitator can then invite that person to talk.