To AI or NOT?

Presenter

Dr. Claudia A. White

 AI Jam: Rooted and Rising!

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Discussion Topics

• AI: Has a Double Meaning in Business
• Appreciate Inquiry (AI) Defined
• 5 Dimensions of AI
• Reasons For Using AI
• Reasons for Not Using AI
• Unplanned Consequences of AI
• Unintended Consequences of Using AI
• Organizational & Individual Benefits
• Q & A

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AI….What does it mean?

AI has different meanings depending on the context…..

• Artificial Intelligence: The ability of a digital computer or computer-controlled robot to perform tasks commonly associated with intelligent beings. 
• Appreciative Inquiry: A perspective on the world that invites people to see themselves and the world through an appreciative or valuing eye.

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So, AI Is……

• Based on the principle that all systems have strengths that can generate desirable and sustainable changes
• Rooted in the assumption that questions and dialogue about strengths, values, and dreams are transformational and that change is a relational process of inquiry grounded in appreciation (full of worth, respected)
• Resilient and strength-based in the future so that positive and sustainable change can be facilitated
• Creates opportunities to re-align current thinking and engagement that lead to more strategic implementations and outcomes

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Five�Dimensions �of�Appreciative Inquiry�

Reasons For Using AI

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• Drives innovation and creativity
• Leads to new ideas and solutions
• Changes implemented are based on the real needs and aspirations of the organization and its stakeholders
• Will have a profound impact on every aspect of the issue
• Affects what is ‘done’ and how it is ‘done’

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More Reasons For Using AI

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• Focuses on positivity - what works
• Change of pace fosters creativity, goodwill, innovation, and organizational culture
• Increases the self-esteem and confidence of those involved because it values and recognizes their positive contributions
• Generates concrete and lasting results 

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Even More Reasons For Using AI

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• Encourages cooperation and engagement among participants
• Leads to shared understanding and vision
• Helps people communicate more effectively, leading to a greater mutual understanding of the issue(s)
• Promotes continuous learning and development by encouraging the exchange of experiences, questioning, and experimentation

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Reasons Not To Use AI

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• Can feel cumbersome
• Get an answer to what is asked
• The possibility of a bias towards positivity blinds participants to the deficits and issues that are part of the reality
• Simple problems can be overkill, and a more traditional ‘problem-focused’ approach may yield a better solution

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More Reasons Not To Use AI

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• By focusing solely on appreciation, it ends up removing room for a true sense of inquiry and hinders growth
• Requires focusing on the best of what is, as well as the solutions to the problems and challenges facing organizations
• Traditional Approach: Diagnose the problem, find the cause, design a solution, and implement it, may be all that is needed

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More Reasons Not To Use AI

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• Once ‘the cause’ of a problem is identified, it is worth asking, “What else has to be present for this problem to exist? What other contributing causes are there?”
• Requires a considerable investment of time and resources
• By having a one, two, or three-day retreat or event, people walk away feeling good, but it yields minimal solutions to the issue(s)

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Even More Reasons Not To Use AI

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• A shift of attitude from senior management is often required
• People tend not to look beyond the first answer to the question, “What is causing this?”.
• Tendency to jump to ‘premature solutions’ and overlook or miss other contributing factors or causes

Even More Reasons Not To Use AI

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• To have value, positive action is required
• Positive thinking cannot deny that difficulties exist
• Positive thinking needs to create an environment that asks for the identification of what is possible now
• Recurrent problems suggest that the fixes already tried are not addressing root causes, or that some causes have been missed 

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Even More Reasons Not To Use AI

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• The fix designed to solve a problem in one area can cause worse problems to emerge later, or in other areas
• Systemic effects and time-lags can lead to unforeseen consequences
• Where every proposed fix seems to be outweighed by potential downsides, it is worth turning attention away from the problem and looking for the places where the problem is not occurring

Even More Reasons Not To Use AI

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• Complex problems are harder to diagnose. Where no single cause can be identified, a different approach is needed
• May require an outside facilitator to help the team stay on course and get to root causes
• Requires focusing on the best of what is, as well as the solutions to the problems and challenges facing organizations
• A benchmark might be an alternative option to get a needed solution

Unplanned Byproducts of AI

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• Requires strong collaboration
• Explores the positive aspects, rather than focusing on problems and shortcomings
• Identify and expand on what already works well, stimulating creativity, innovation, and participation from stakeholders

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More Unplanned Byproducts Of AI

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• Discovery of growth…. Being able to challenge norms and behaviors, leading to the adoption of new norms
• Increase in the application and versatility of technology
• Recognize that positive changes can arise out of unrealized adversity and unforeseen challenges
• If little organizational commitment exists, disengagement, or sabotage could occur

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Unintended Consequences Of Using AI

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• Pushes people out of their comfort zones to ask questions and actively listen
• Indirectly encourages curiosity and creates an opportunity to ask more and better questions
• Processes the identification and leveraging of strengths
• Creates comradery
• Could spark competition or microaggressions

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Organizational Benefits

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• Leads to a wide range of changes, including building new infrastructures, increasing and strengthening collaboration, team building, and analyzing performance data
• Reframes problems into possibilities and threats into opportunities
• Bring to light the strengths and successes of individuals, groups, and organizations
• Increases curiosity and potentially removes judgment

Organizational Benefits

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• Utilizes strategies that help individuals and systems shift their paradigm from a deficit-based perspective to a growth or strength-based perspective
• Helps to increase the bottom line in the long run
• Leads to a belief that actions matter and requires persistence of actions to achieve the desired outcome and goals

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Individual Benefits

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• Uses or offers praise and appreciation liberally
• Embrace improvisation
• Encourages storytelling
• Dig into the answers given by asking further “why” questions
• Encourages open-ended questions that inspire creative thought

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So, To AI or Not?

You Are Appreciated

Claudia A. White, Ph.D.�White Sand Consultants

whitesander@yahoo.com