Appreciative inquiry builds capability

This report presents findings from 25 projects that were funded to use appreciative inquiry (AI) in the vocational education and training (VET) sector in Australia in 2008, as part of the Reframing the Future program. AI is a methodology for influencing change that concentrates on the positives, not the deficits, within a group or organisation. It revolves around asking positive questions about existing strengths (discovery stage), possible futures (dream stage), improved designs (design stage) and preferred pathways going forward (destiny stage). This summary report shows that AI can...  [+] Show more

This report presents findings from 25 projects that were funded to use appreciative inquiry (AI) in the vocational education and training (VET) sector in Australia in 2008, as part of the Reframing the Future program. AI is a methodology for influencing change that concentrates on the positives, not the deficits, within a group or organisation. It revolves around asking positive questions about existing strengths (discovery stage), possible futures (dream stage), improved designs (design stage) and preferred pathways going forward (destiny stage). This summary report shows that AI can have a strong, positive impact on the capability of individual VET practitioners and the capacity of VET organisations in implementing the national training system. The report’s title ‘Appreciative inquiry builds capability’ draws attention to the way AI can assist practitioners to improve capabilities such as developing closer engagement with industry, improving relationships with separate enterprises, contributing to continuous improvement practices and refining workplace training and assessment strategies.