Yesterday, the Icelandic team of PRISMA had the last meeting in the preparation phase of PRISMA. From now on the group will not meet again – as a group of all the participants in Iceland – until the study visits are over. (Of course the participants will continue to work together until, during and after the study visits but meetings will only be held within smaller groups.)
There was both excitement and laughter on the meeting yesterday, as well as remains of Christmas cookies, tea and biscuits, fruits and cheese among pens, papers and laptops.
On the meeting we went through the last step of the Appreciative Inquiry method, which has been used in the preparation of the team and since we agree that the method has been useful for us we‘d like to share the knowledge with the rest of the PRISMA team.
In theory, Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a perspective, a set of principles and beliefs about how human systems function. It has an attendant set of core processes, practices, and even ‘models’ that have emerged. In practice, AI can be used to co-create the transformative processes and practices appropriate to the culture of a particular organization since it suggests that we look for what works in an organization, i.e. it is the cooperative search for the best in people, their organizations, and the world around them. It involves systematic discover of what gives a system ‘life’ when it is most effective, it focuses on the positive aspects of our lives and leverages them to correct the negative.
The four steps of AI – or the four D‘s: Discovery, Dream, Design and Destiny – have proven to be a successful framework for the preparation phase.
This is how we used the strategy:
There was both excitement and laughter on the meeting yesterday, as well as remains of Christmas cookies, tea and biscuits, fruits and cheese among pens, papers and laptops.
On the meeting we went through the last step of the Appreciative Inquiry method, which has been used in the preparation of the team and since we agree that the method has been useful for us we‘d like to share the knowledge with the rest of the PRISMA team.
In theory, Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a perspective, a set of principles and beliefs about how human systems function. It has an attendant set of core processes, practices, and even ‘models’ that have emerged. In practice, AI can be used to co-create the transformative processes and practices appropriate to the culture of a particular organization since it suggests that we look for what works in an organization, i.e. it is the cooperative search for the best in people, their organizations, and the world around them. It involves systematic discover of what gives a system ‘life’ when it is most effective, it focuses on the positive aspects of our lives and leverages them to correct the negative.
The four steps of AI – or the four D‘s: Discovery, Dream, Design and Destiny – have proven to be a successful framework for the preparation phase.
This is how we used the strategy:
1st – Discovery: To map the strengths in participants and to recall the core value of the team. Key questions used: Recall a moment where you felt most alive. What made it an exciting/successful/pleasant experience? Why was it exciting/successful/pleasant? What in yourself made it valuable? What are the things you value most about yourself? What are the strengths in you (and are valuable to your team)? 3rd – Design: Select a path to achieve the vision by turning the picture of the ideal future into an action plan. The action plan frames the wishes for the team for the participation in PRISMA and is the basis of the mobility agreement. Key questions used: How do we use the opportunity of PRISMA to get closer to our dream? What can PRISMA offer us on the way? What do I bring to the project that makes it successful? | 2nd – Dream: To envision the future for the group. Key questions used: Envision yourself in three years (a year has passed since the PRISMA project was over). Where are you? What is happening? What has changed? The PRISMA project has been very successful and fulfilled the dreams of the participants. What is said about the project? What are the values of the project? What is it that makes PRISMA an outstanding project? 4th – Destiny: The most effective step for the participant to take right at this moment (the actual starting point of the process of PRISMA mobility). Key question used: What is the smallest and fastest step – action, decision or initiative – I can take that would make the biggest impact for the PRISMA project right now? |