Inter-community Dialogue: An Appreciative Inquiry Application

Abstract

'Dialogue' has become a new goal in developing public policy. In the face of widespread cynicism about consultation and with some key issues for public policy seeming to be stalemated between groupings with entrenched positions, new approaches to dialogue are being trialed throughout New Zealand with assistance of government research funding. Appreciative Inquiry is an approach to organisational development that focuses on what is valued and is working, possibilities, constructive experience and a constructionist understanding of narrative. This paper will review an example of using Appreciative Inquiry as one methodology used in a MORST funded research project on dialogue around biotechnology. A particular implementation of Appreciative Inquiry was developed by the authors and trialed in two groups (Auckland and Christchurch). The groups comprised both scientists engaged in and/or advocating forms of genetic engineering, and people known for their questioning or rejection of such technology. The paper will describe how Appreciative Inquiry was used and assess its potential for enhancing dialogue based on this trial and Appreciative Inquiry literature.

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