ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was for university consultants to apply and critically evaluate Appreciative Inquiry (AI) as a methodological approach to collaboration with the national organisation for promoting sport and physical activity in Wales, a Welsh national governing body for sport, and a Welsh local authority department responsible for sport and leisure, to develop a physical literacy (PL) programme for primary schools. Three phases of an AI cycle; the discovery phase, the dream phase, and the design phase were the focus of this study, within which the consultants acted as ‘boundary spanners’, to promote collaboration between the different organisations, over a period of six months. In the discovery and dream phases data was gathered through AI conversations, written accounts and observation, whilst a collaborative meeting and specific follow up actions were employed for the design phase. Qualitative thematic analysis revealed key messages for the use of AI in such collaborative projects, and some interesting insight into the complexities of this methodological approach. Overall, in considering the key contribution to knowledge of this study, AI was shown to be an effective approach to adopt in multi-organisational collaborative ventures of this nature. However, the collaborative structures were often intricate and dynamic in nature, resulting in some challenges for the consultants convening them. The practical implications for those wishing to conduct AI, are that such approaches require large amounts of resources in the form of energy, commitment, skill and nurturing on the part of the leaders.

摘要

这项研究的目的是让大学顾问应用和批判性地评价鉴赏性查询（AI），作为一种方法方法与国家机构在威尔士推广体育和体育活动，威尔士国家体育管理机构和威尔士地方组织进行合作负责体育和休闲的权威部门，为小学制定了体育素养（PL）计划。AI周期的三个阶段；在发现阶段，梦想阶段和设计阶段是本研究中，在其中担任“边界扳手”的顾问，以促进不同组织之间的合作，在为期六个月的重点。在发现与梦想中通过AI对话，书面陈述和观察收集阶段数据，同时在设计中采用协作会议和特定的后续行动相。定性的主题分析揭示了在此类协作项目中使用AI的关键信息，并对这种方法的复杂性有一些有趣的见解。总体而言，在考虑对本研究知识的关键贡献时，人工智能被证明是采用这种性质的多组织合作企业的有效方法。但是，协作结构通常是复杂而动态的，这给召集顾问的顾问带来了一些挑战。对于那些希望进行人工智能的人来说，实际的含义是，这种方法需要大量资源，包括领导者的精力，投入，技能和养育。