AI is a way of working with people in groups and organizations, who would like to change the way they do things SO THAT (for example):
- They have less conflict
- They have more interaction
- They cover more territory
- They sell more widgets
- They provide better health services
- They make their life more satisfying (for both users and providers of services)
Focus on what we do well
Social change often focuses on problems and how to solve them. The AI process focuses on best practices and how we achieved them. It solicits “stories” about times when the organization and its people were successful, felt most satisfied about achieving their goals.
The AI practitioner comes as a facilitator, not an expert. He/she seeks to put people in touch with the heartbeat of the organization.
We call this DISCOVERY.
From the stories and memories about the high points in the organization’s life, people can discover the potential within the organization. We develop those potentials to create a vision of what could be.
We call this DREAMING.
From what could be, we pick what we will work on now.
We call this DESIGN.
From our design, we start to work on our future.
We call this DESTINY
It is an ideal process where a variety of stakeholders are involved and has been used in a wide variety of situations. For example it has been used to involve children and business people to design their ideal education system; in a Hackney school to look at sustainable London and with users and providers of diabetes services to look at priorities for further research.
How and why does AI work?
Research shows that we move towards the images we focus on in our conversation. Most traditional research focuses on what not to do or what is going wrong.
- AI is particularly effective at creating conversations, which generate images of hope and vitality, based on identifying and learning from actual moments of positive interactions across race, culture, ethnicity, gender and economic status.
- AI makes the transition from conversation to action much easier than other forms of change. AI encourages sharing stories, inviting creative reflections and stimulating ideas for the co-construction of new relationships, roles and processes.
- AI honours diversity. Everyone is heard.
- AI provides the way forward by creating energy for forward movement through its spirit of partnership and its affirming focus on creating more of what works and is life giving.
- AI is extremely flexible, allowing for infinite adaptability to each situation’s uniqueness.
AI uses a variety of methodologies to gather information. Drawing and verbal communication are the main methods of gathering data. This enables those for whom English is not their first language and for whom literacy is an issue, to be involved in sharing their ideas and visions.
