D R . S U S A N C . H A N L O NA S S I S T A N T D E A N

C O L L E G E O F B U S I N E S S A D M I N I S T R A T I O N – T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F A K R O N

DRIVING CHANGE IN STABLE ORGANIZATIONS

Migration

Inadequate

InstitutionsPandemics

InequalityTerrorism and War

Environmental Damage

Global trade breakdowns

Fragile

Financial

systems

Decline in Health & Education

FORCES FOR CHANGE“CAPITALISM AT RISK”

State Capitalis

m

FreedomAccess to informatio

n

Education

Digitalization

Connectivity

TRENDS CREATING A FLAT WORLD

APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY

• To appreciate means to value - to understand those things of value worth valuing.

• To inquire means to study, to ask questions, to search.

• AI is a collaborative search to identify and understand the organization’s strengths, its potentials, the greatest opportunities, and people’s hopes for the future.

• AI Allows People to:– Envision new opportunities– Build consensus around ideas– Create vision through dialogue

• Which Results in:– The creation of momentum,

energy and passion to construct and propel the organization to the ideal future through collaboration, innovation, and action.

Why Appreciative Inquiry?

• Identify Problem• Conduct Root Cause

Analysis• Brainstorm Solutions

and Analyze• Develop Action Plans

• Metaphor: Organizations are problems to be solved.

• Appreciate “What is” (What gives life?)

• Imagine “What Might Be”

• Determine “What Should Be”

• Create “What Will Be”

• Metaphor: Organizations are a solution / mystery to be embraced.

THE SUMMIT

• Foundation of AI methodology• Entire system in the room• 3-4 days• 100 participants to 10,000 (typical = 200-300)• Facilitators• Planning• Task statement• By invitation

UA CBA CURRICULUM SUMMIT

• Faculty, employers, administrators, staff, students, advisors• ½ day• Two identical sessions• 120 people• Mandate for change• 2 major pieces of curriculum revised first time in

20+ years• 1 year from beginning to end

The University of Akron College of Business Administration

Appreciative Inquiry Summit on Curriculum

Building Generation “A”

  The CBA Summit on Curriculum: Building Generation “A” will be held on Friday, January 22, 2010. You are a key stakeholder in the success of the CBA as we move forward to improve our MBA and CBA undergraduate core curriculum. Your input is valuable and significant to this process and we hope you will make every effort to attend the Summit.

The Appreciative Inquiry Summit will be a three hour interactive event focused on the positive core of our faculty, staff, and business community partners. The work conducted at our Summit will be based upon the assumption that our success does not “just happen”. We need to harness the positive energy and ideas of our stakeholders to co-create our future.

OUR TOPIC STATEMENT FOR THE SUMMIT IS:

The CBA is a recognized provider of quality business programs as evidenced by recent rankings.   We will sustain this in the future through an innovative, applied and cross disciplinary approach to learning.   In addition to the learning outcomes already embedded in our programs and co-curricular student experiences, we will focus on “Generation A” competencies.  These competencies are overarching and will transcend all programs.  They have been selected based on input from the CBA strategic planning focus groups, strategic priorities of The University of Akron and the University System of Ohio.  

“Generation A” competencies include:  Innovative Thinking, Global Awareness, STEMM Integration, and Collaborative Relationships.  How can we best develop these competencies among our students?  A differentiating strength for the CBA is its strong and vibrant relationship with the business community.   How can we best capitalize on this relationship to emphasize the “Generation A” competencies?

 

The morning session will be from 9:00 am to noon and the afternoon session will be from 1:00 pm to 4:00 with a buffet lunch available beginning at noon. The Summit will take place at the Taylor Institute (Polsky 507) Dress is business casual. We are fortunate to have two experienced Appreciative Inquiry facilitators from YRC designing and conducting our Summit and anticipate a productive and unique work session.

We are looking forward to your participation!

Discovery• Positive Core

• What we value most

Design• Goals &

Actions

Dream•Images of the

Future

Winning teams and successful organizations win because every individual, functional unit, or department is focused on the same goal. The CBA is a recognized provider of quality

business programs as evidenced by recent rankings. We will sustain this in the future through an innovative, applied and

cross disciplinary approach to learning. We will complement and enhance our current learning outcomes and co-curricular

student experiences with a new focus on “Generation A” competencies. These competencies are overarching and will

transcend all programs and serve as a guide as we co-construct the CBA curriculum of the future. The CBA will continue to grow and capitalize on our strong and vibrant

relationship with the business community in new and innovative ways.

Destiny• Teams

• Implementation

COMPLETE INTERVIEW GUIDE

• Answer Questions 1 through 3 • Write your answers in your handout • 15 minutes

OUR ORGANIZATION AT ITS BEST

• Think back to when you first decided to join our organization. What attracted you?• Reflect on you entire time with the organization –

high points and low points. Tell me the story of a time when you felt the most alive, most engaged, and the most proud of yourself and our organization.• What was it about you, others, and the

organization that made your high-point experience possible?

Starting AI Interview

• A-->B (15 min)• B-->A (15 min)

• Spirit of discovery• Take notes• At the end.. summary & thanks

13

GROUP TASK

• Introduce your interview partner to the group• Share stories and highlights from your

interview• Select one story to share• Identify common themes as a group • Record your themes

14

GROUP TASKSELF MANAGE AT TABLES:

•Appoint (see page 6) :

Discussion LeaderTimekeeperRecorderReporter

15

THE DREAM – THE DESIGN

• Create a map of themes from high-point stories

• Arrive at common commitment to values for curriculum changes and learning outcomes

• Mandate for change from participants

• Design and Destiny took place outside the Summit

3 Stickers from the center of the table

Vote with your stickers on what is most important to you.

Thank you

FACTORS FOR SUMMIT SUCCESS

• “100 Voices” (Bank of Scotland) vs 5• Commitment to AI from top leadership –

unconditional focus on positive• Whole system in the room the whole time• Commitment to follow-through• Planning, planning, planning• Create a narrative of Summit; repeat it often and

loudly• Minimal and mindful facilitation• Healthy physical and relational space

CBA IMAGES OF THE FUTURE

• Collaboration – alumni; UA; faculty; course design• Business and community involvement• Innovative curriculum – real world mirror;

team teaching; business teaching partners; ethics; sales; leadership• Global integration• Educational approach – share success; learn

how to learn; engaged students; increase standards; disciplined