Ravalier PhD Theis.pdf - Anglia Ruskin Research Online

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2) Dreaming
Figure 1: The 4D’s of Appreciative
Inquiry
4) Destiny
1) Discovery
3) Design
Affirmative Topic Choice
3) From Dreaming to Design – An Innovative Service
Describes what ‘should be’ (Steyn, 2009). This stage translates what was ‘dreamt’ in the previous stage into some
specific work design on how a better service could be improved. This is more than a vision – it should be an
inspiring statement of intent grounded in the realities of what has worked in the past combined with what new
ideas are envisioned for the future (Cooperrider, Whitney & Stavros, 2008). Therefore, within the City council
example, this stage meant that a ‘vision statement’ emerged which included key elements of what was disclosed
in this section (McAllister & Luckcock, 2009).
4) From Design to Destiny – Delivering the Innovative Service
Creates and sustains what will be (Steyn, 2009). Once the shared image of the future of the organisation is
gathered, members design ways to help move the organisation closer to the ideal, and because these ideals are
grounded in reality, the organisation is empowered to make things happen (Cooperrider, Whitney & Stavros, 2008).
Within the case study’s context, this stage resulted in a re-thinking of the manner in which the service operated
and the best way to resolve this change was envisaged, leading to many significantly positive outcomes (McAllister
& Luckcock, 2009).