Generative inquiry emphasizes generativity within Positive Inquiry, an approach to inquiry and problem-solving that focuses on generating new insights, possibilities, and solutions. It involves a mindset of exploration, curiosity, and creativity.
Here are some characteristics of generativity within the context of Positive Inquiry as an approach to organizational change:
- Open-mindedness: Generative inquiry requires an open and receptive mindset. It involves suspending preconceived notions and exploring ideas and perspectives that may challenge conventional thinking.
- Curiosity and exploration: Generative inquiry is driven by curiosity and a desire to explore new possibilities. It involves asking probing questions, seeking diverse perspectives, and delving deeper into the underlying issues to uncover fresh insights.
- Creative thinking: Generative inquiry encourages creative thinking. It involves breaking free from traditional or limited approaches and embracing innovative and imaginative solutions. It encourages individuals to think outside the box and consider unconventional ideas.
- Collaborative engagement: Generative inquiry often benefits from collaborative engagement. It involves actively involving multiple stakeholders, experts, or diverse perspectives in exploring and generating ideas. Collaboration fosters synergy and collective intelligence, leading to richer and more innovative outcomes.
- Iterative and adaptive approach: Generative inquiry is an iterative and adaptive process. It recognizes that solutions and insights may evolve and change over time. It involves a willingness to revise and refine ideas based on new information, feedback, and learning.
- Systems thinking: Generative inquiry embraces a Systems Thinking perspective. It considers the interconnectedness and interdependencies among various elements and explores how changes in one part of the system may impact others. It seeks to understand the broader context and implications of potential solutions.
- Action-orientation: Generative inquiry is not just about generating ideas but also about taking action. It emphasizes the practical application of insights and solutions to address real-world challenges. It encourages experimentation, prototyping, and learning from experience.
- Reflective and self-aware: Generative inquiry involves reflection and self-awareness. It encourages individuals to be mindful of their own assumptions, biases, and limitations. It fosters a willingness to learn from failures, embrace feedback, and continuously improve the inquiry process.
Generative Inquiry promotes a mindset of exploration, creativity, and collaborative problem-solving. It encourages individuals and organizations to go beyond conventional thinking, generate innovative ideas, and effectively develop solutions that address complex challenges.
When successful, generative inquiry generates spontaneous, unsupervised, individual, group, and organizational action toward a better future. Positive Inquiry (PI) is generative when it has both qualities: It changes people’s thinking while encouraging them to create compelling images that people want to act on.
Bushe on Generativity
Gervase R. Bushe, Ph.D., has a perspective on Positive Inquiry (PI) that emphasizes the need for it to be both positive and generative: “It is a generative process when it produces generative images ─ that is ideas, metaphors, visual representations ─ that have two effects. One, they allow people to think differently about something in a way that opens up new possibilities for making decisions and/or taking action. Secondly, the image is attractive to people; they want to act in the new ways opened up for consideration.”
Here’s an overview of Bushe’s perspective:
- Positive focus: Appreciative inquiry is rooted in a positive mindset. It seeks to identify and amplify an organization’s strengths, assets, and positive aspects. By focusing on what works well, appreciative inquiry aims to foster a sense of optimism, energy, and possibility.
- Generative approach: Bushe highlights the importance of appreciative inquiry being generative. This means it goes beyond simply identifying and appreciating what is already present. It involves generating new possibilities, ideas, and solutions that build upon the organization’s positive core. Generative appreciative inquiry encourages creativity, innovation, and the exploration of new pathways for growth and development.
- Transformative change: Bushe sees appreciative inquiry as a vehicle for transformative change. By building on the positive and generative aspects, appreciative inquiry helps to shift mindsets, foster new ways of thinking, and create a shared vision of a desired future. It aims to create sustainable and meaningful organizational change by tapping into its members’ collective wisdom and aspirations.
- Engaging multiple perspectives: Bushe emphasizes the importance of engaging multiple perspectives in appreciative inquiry. By involving diverse stakeholders and encouraging dialogue and collaboration, appreciative inquiry seeks to create a shared understanding and co-create the desired future. This inclusive approach ensures that different voices are heard and that the resulting outcomes reflect various perspectives and ideas.
Bushe’s perspective on Positive Inquiry emphasizes its dual nature of being both positive and generative. By focusing on the positive aspects of an organization and actively generating new possibilities, it can facilitate transformative change, engage stakeholders, and contribute to the overall growth and success of the organization.
