Ravalier PhD Theis.pdf - Anglia Ruskin Research Online

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As already demonstrated AI is a relatively new methodology and one of the major drawbacks with much AI
research is that it is very rarely evaluated, and when it is evaluated the methodology used is often poor. Inherent
within similar research techniques, such as AR, are an evaluative step to each intervention cycle. This is lacking in
the original AI conception as put forward by Cooperrider and Srivastva in 1987, and as such is a problem that is to
be addressed in the current study, with the addition of a fifth ‘D’.
The addition of this fifth ‘D’ is a new component to the AI process, introduced to the AI cycle in order to
ensure efficient and effective evaluation of the change process inherent in the project design. The present project
is one of the first of its kind to introduce this new step thus bringing the AI cycle design into line with other, more
widely used cyclical research paradigms such as Action Research. The moniker ‘Deliberate’ was chosen for two
principle reasons: first of all it begins with ‘D’, harmonising the use of the letter ‘D’ throughout the research
process. Secondly, the Cambridge Online Dictionary (2011) describes ‘Deliberate’ as:
“Describes a movement, action or thought which is done carefully without hurrying.”
Evaluation of the AI techniques and methods that have been used is essential in order to discuss how
effective the changes made had been, as well as what further interventions could be made to the process in order
to make the changes more valuable. This can therefore lead to a new AI cycle, thus starting the process again.
Therefore the amended AI cycle is as follows:
Figure 9: AI Cycle with
5 th ‘D’