Choosing Appreciative Conversations For Nonprofit Board Development

This action research project explored how sharing
stories of board excellence through an appreciative
inquiry process could strengthen a nonprofit board.
By participating in the Appreciative Inquiry cycle,
board members shared stories, identified themes that
contributed to higher board efficacy, constructed a
shared vision, and developed an action plan. Through
narrative inquiry interviews, the researcher assessed
participants' perceptions regarding the effect of the
process on individual and team learning, commitment
to action, and group effectiveness. The research also
revealed themes related to teams, group development,
leadership, board structure and processes, and
the social construction of meaning. The Appreciative
Inquiry process resulted in tangible changes in group
dynamics and inspired commitment to actions which
enhanced the nonprofit board's ability to achieve the
organization's strategic objectives.

Autorentext

Jocelyne Hamel, MA Leadership and Training and BA BusinessAdministration. Ms. Hamel has over 20 years experience innonprofit management and currently is working as Executive Directorat Mount Pleasant Neighbourhood House, Vancouver, BC, Canada,where she conducted this action research project with theorganization's nonprofit Board of Management.

Klappentext

This action research project explored how sharingstories of board excellence through an appreciativeinquiry process could strengthen a nonprofit board.By participating in the Appreciative Inquiry cycle,board members shared stories, identified themes thatcontributed to higher board efficacy, constructed ashared vision, and developed an action plan. Throughnarrative inquiry interviews, the researcher assessedparticipants' perceptions regarding the effect of theprocess on individual and team learning, commitmentto action, and group effectiveness. The research alsorevealed themes related to teams, group development,leadership, board structure and processes, andthe social construction of meaning. The AppreciativeInquiry process resulted in tangible changes in groupdynamics and inspired commitment to actions whichenhanced the nonprofit board's ability to achieve theorganization's strategic objectives.