government - appreciative inquiry

Detailed Description:

Until recently within the company, learners have been members of work teams that have moved through a traditional development process. In these teams, the members' focus has been on identifying problems and developing solutions, the leadership roles may or may not have been shared, members' authority and influence may have been limited, and members expected team leaders and project managers to give specific direction and make final decisions. Team building training provided by the company taught members what it meant to be a "good team player" and itemized problems to expect as the team developed from stage to stage. Similarly, team leaders were taught how to direct members, monitor and evaluate individual and team performance, and deal with problem behaviors. The traditional employee development curriculum does not reflect the new management style needed to cope with shifting priorities, matrixed responsibilities, and short production deadlines. A more flexible employee development methodology is being instituted, "Appreciative Inquiry."

Current members of various corporate teams and are being groomed to hold the position of team leader or project manager in their respective departments as part of an initiative by the company to redefine these roles across the organization. They will be matched with mentors who will work with them in on-line environments and in face-to-face meetings to help them construct expert level knowledge of the Appreciative Inquiry process. Multimedia resources will be available for the learners to use to observe modeled examples of the approach. Learners will keep a journal of their attempts to apply the model to their work situations and will submit role-play videos for mentor critique. They will also participate in developmental team projects and engage in discussion forums and conversations.

Learning Outcomes:

Learners will internalize the skills of experienced leaders and managers who can use the Appreciative Inquiry process to build and support successful productive teams. They will learn to:

Understand and apply the Appreciative Inquiry's principles and proceses as these relate to team development
Acquire the higher-level skills and abilities necessary for successful project management
Hone competencies necessary to balance and communicate priorities, and to make decisions
Enrich their communication, facilitation, and negotiation abilities, especially when dealing with diverse teams and divisive issues
Appreciate multiple points of view and be able to synthesize differences into a coherent and cohesive action plan
Use Appreciative Inquiry to develop and guide cohesive and collaborative teams capable of sustaining high levels of performance.