A CASE FOR CHANGE

Many organisations maintain a simplistic view of change based on outdated management theories that were designed to handle unambiguous and technical issues.

The world of work today is far more interconnected and complex therefore requiring more advanced human-centric approaches that motivate workers rather than disengaging them. It is often quoted by researchers that around 75% of change efforts fail–this is both disastrous for organisations and demoralising for workers.

Appreciative Inquiry, however, enables a far more holistic approach that leverages strengths that already exist within the group and creates generative conversations that see old things in new ways.

THE LATEST RESEARCH

It is often thought that people don’t like change, when in fact, the mere existence of the human species is dependent on change and our ability to evolve. It’s not the pace of change the wears people out, but rather the way change is led.

In the latest study on change in Australian workplaces, it was highlighted that change efforts were far more successful when workers’ input to solutions was invited, and they were encouraged to self-organise and find ways to make the best ideas happen (read more on the findings here).

An Appreciative Inquiry and Design
Thinking approach brings in all off these elements together leading to greater change success.

LEARNING TEAMS CASE STUDY

Over the last two years at Downer we have been refining a bespoke program called Learning Teams that brings together key elements of Appreciative Inquiry, Design Thinking & Action Learning.

Recently nominated as a finalist in the Australian Workplace Health & Safety Awards, Learning Teams is a highly innovative approach to organisational learning that can improve all aspects of work.

It has been utilised with great success to harness the collective knowledge, wisdom and experience of workers to solve many business challenges and implement effective solutions.

• IMPROVE CRITICAL RISK CONTROLS
• REDUCE THE COST OF RE-WORK
• INCREASE REPORTING OF ENVIRONMENTAL EVENTS
• ENHANCE TEAM COHESION AND PRODUCTIVITY

APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY SUMMITS

An Appreciative Inquiry (AI) Summit is a large group planning process that accelerates positive change by bringing together a diverse range of people for a generative, action-oriented conversation, focused on what thegroup hopes to grow.

Having completed the Certificate in Creating Positive Change, the most advanced of its kind, I’ve collaborated with The Change Labs to co-facilitate virtual AI Summits with hundreds of people all around the world.

More recently, I partnered with Andrew Barrett, leading Australian Health & Safety coach and thought leader to facilitate an appreciative inquiry at the SAFEfest 2020 conference. I was also interviewed about AI on Andrew’s world-renowned podcast, Safety on Tap

FUTURE AI SUMMITS

• WELLNESS IN INFRASTRUCTURE

The construction and infrastructure sector’s have some of the most alarming rates of poor mental health of any Australian industry. We aim to use AI to design a brighter future for all workers.

• CREATING SAFER ROADS

A 10-year plan has been developed to reduce the risk to road workers and users from road maintenance activities. An AI Summit has been designed to bring together global experts in technology, automation and innovation to drive safer practices.