Presentation used at the #2012waic Conference - Ghent, Belgium

1. Appreciative Problem Solving
Could the combination of Appreciative Inquiry and
Problem Solving be life-giving?
David Hansen
DTU Management Engineering
Technical University of Denmark

2. What brings life to a strength-based and
innovative work system?
A new challenge for Danish production: Work System Innovation.
Novo Nordisk, one of the most successful Danish companies, are
working with both Lean Production and Appreciative Inquiry. They
have had summits and a shared vision, but struggle with how their
dialogues should be in the daily practice of problem solving?
Affirmative topic choice: Role models for industrial production à
From problem solvers to work system innovators.
What brings life to a strength-based and innovative work system for
optimizing work system innovation?
2 Technical University of Denmark Appreciative Problem Solving at 2012 WAIC

3. Embracable dilemmas:
Exploration vs. Execution
Intuition vs. Analytics
Flexibility vs. Control
More value vs. Remove waste
Innovation vs. Fixing
AI vs. Problem Solving
… is it either or?
Could a combination be fruitful?
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4. Approaches to process improvements
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5. Three approaches to improvements
Expand success
Work system Proactive
improvement development
Solve problem
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6. What can AI bring to Problem Solving?
What can Problem Solving bring to AI?
*Read the conference article for more details
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7. Curiosity for the role of the process itself
Strength-based improvement culture
Energizing What question
Affirmative topics relations would be useful to
ask now?
Positivity
Improvement process
Appreciative eyes
Trust
Social capital Curiosity
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8. The Process of Problem Solving
Why is it caused?
Cause Problem
Solve!
Cause No Problem
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9. The Nature of Problem Solving
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10. The Process of Appreciative Inquiry
What could be?
Topic reframing
Problem Dream
What is the best of what is?
Use strengths
for leverage!
Problem Improvement
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11. The Nature of Appreciative Inquiry
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12. How would Appreciative Problem Solving look?
Topic reframing
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13. When to use what?
Problem Appreciative Appreciative
Solving Problem Inquiry
Solving
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14. Research Conclusions and further ??
• Appreciative Inquiry can enhance
Problem Solving in many different ways
• Problem Solving is a valid and
useful improvement approach
in some cases
• Grasping the top of the iceberg, what
can be found below the ocean for
Strength-based Lean/Problem Solving?
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15. Discussion for the future journey
Changes in
Chemical
Engineering
Appreciative
Inquiry
Appreciative
Product
Development
15 Technical University of Denmark Appreciative Problem Solving at 2012 WAIC