Appreciative Inquiry at U S Cellular The Next

Appreciative Inquiry at U. S. Cellular The Next Generation The Next Generation

History of AI at U S Cellular n Start n “Exponential Growth” n Generative Learning n Current State

History of AI at U S Cellular Criteria for Success Leadership Presence – must drive it n Cascaded leadership ownership for the process n Robust planning team process – leveraging unique individual strengths n Generative learning – from summit to summit n

Regional Summit Approach Central Region n May 7 -9, 2003 – Voices included 1800 (interviews) – AI Summit 225 – Theme: Living the Dynamic Organization OD Network Award Winning Project n April 4 -5, 2006 – Voices included 150 n April 4 -5, 2007 – AI Summit 250 – AI Voices 1000

Regional Summit Approach West Region n November 7 -9, 2006 – Voices included 1500 (interviews) – AI Summit – 240 participants – Theme: Success to Significance n October 29 -30, 2007 – AI Summit – 230 participants – Theme: Communications

Regional Summit Approach East Region n Market level: July, 2002 - May, 2003 -3 A. I. Summits (Day 1 - interviews- Day 2) - # interviewed: 117; 63; 301 n Regional level: June 19 -21, 2006 – – – Voices included: 1, 400 (interviews) AI Planning Summit: 29 Interviewers trained: 208 Data miners trained: 74 AI Summiteers: 240

Functional Summit Approach Engineering & IS n July 17 -18, 2006 – AI Summit 600 (Entire Organization) – AI Summit 125 (Entire Organization) Marketing & Sales Operations n May 3 & 22, 2006 Business Support Services n January 19, 2006 Operations Integration n February 15 -16, 2007 – AI Summit 50 (Entire Organization)

Innovations Before the Summit n East Region Planning Summit– – – “Summiteer” Selection Criteria Strengths-based Placement on teams “Barrier Busters” alignment w/teams “Imbedded Planners” (West region) Interactive Intranet site launched with teaser awareness campaign

Innovations Before the Summit n Interview Data Collection - Generative data base evolution - Virtually every person interviewed - Data Miners trained to qualitatively analyze data - Interviewer training utilized actual data entry template

Innovations Before the Summit n East Region DVD collaboration – – – Pre thru post production vision painting Outcomes alignment= mutual freedom Freedom = joint ownership energy Partners, not providers Result: 2007 TELLY Award winning DVD for Bluegill Creative

Innovations During the Summit n Data Mining – Participants Mining Raw Data n Storytelling – Alyce Smith-Cooper – During the Day, End of Day n Artwork – Associate Artists n DVD – Re-ignite Excitement – Share with those who were not there – Use for Follow-Up Activities

Data-Mining n Data Miners – Loved to read! – Forever changed by what they saw. n System & Controls – Web driven; multiple people inputting; administrator only access to main database – Matched interview questions; consistent input – Exported to Excel; set up categories based on word count – Sorted by High-Med-Low impact of comment – Pushed back into database; export raw data by category n Themes in PG – 10 themes; high-impact stories, quotes n Raw Data Mining DURING Summit

Summit DVD

Innovations in Follow-Up n East Region – Leadership Tool Kit – 3 meeting process guide n West Region – 2 -Hour Mini-Summit Modules – KFA Team Alignment with Summit Action Plans – Ongoing AI Communications Committee of Associates n Central Region – One-Day Mini-Summits in Iowa Market n Engineering and IS – Summit Tool Kit

Innovations in Follow-Up n Iowa Market: One-Day Mini-Summits Iowa One Day Mini-Session Agenda – – – A. M. Welcome, Opening Remarks Overview of Session, Agenda Understanding Appreciative Inquiry Discovering the best of U. S. Cellular, Task Brief #1 – – – – P. M. U. S. Cellular’s Positive Core, Task Brief #2 Reframing in the Positive Envisioning the Future, Task Brief #3 Identifying Initiatives, Task Brief #4 Moving Forward: Next Steps ADJOURN Celebrate What’s Right with the World

IOWA MINI-AI SUMMITS: Train the Trainer Day 1 Overview of purpose of Summit and role of facilitator Deep dive into Appreciative Inquiry n Teach AI basics n Teach presentation skills n Teach AI reframing n Participants teach-back Deep dive into Dynamic Organization n Teach DO basics n Link DO to AI n Participants teach-back Day 2 Facilitating the “Celebrate” Video n Show video n Design discussion points n Discuss techniques for soliciting/managing discussion n Participants practice leading discussions Basic facilitation skills/group dynamics n Facilitation handbook; review and discuss n Group dynamics; review and discuss n Skill practices to apply learning Preparation for Session n Checklist n Logistics n Materials n Support –

AI Mini-Summit Facilitator Job Description: The purpose of this role is to co-facilitate a one-day Appreciative Inquiry Mini -Summit to associates in the Iowa market who have not yet attended an AI Summit. Facilitators will receive training in basic facilitation skills, group dynamics, the Dynamic Organization, and Appreciative Inquiry. n n n n n Requirements to fill this position include: Previously attended an AI Summit Basic understanding of appreciative inquiry Basic understanding of the Dynamic Organization Comfortable presenting to groups of 20 -30 people Willing to learn basic facilitation skills Good listener Desire and ability to be a leader Recognized as a role model for AI and the DO – Trained 22 facilitators, who then went out into the Iowa market and co-facilitated the one-day sessions. Each facilitator conducted two sessions.

West Region 2 -Hour Mini-Summit Modules Five modules, 2 hours each: – – – n Understanding AI The AI Summit Celebrate What’s Right with the World Dream Sharing Our History (Timelines) Each module consists of a set of power point slides with facilitator notes, and a facilitator’s kit with instructions for how to teach the module, as well as instructions for set -up, handouts, and facilitator tips. Trained 15 facilitators in Tulsa and 20 facilitators in Missouri in how to conduct the mini-sessions. They in turn scheduled (through LMS) multiple sessions for people in the West Region who did not attend the Summit. Do not have a count of how many people participated in mini-sessions, but my guess is hundreds across the region. The Call Center also used the modules to teach AI there. Modules continue to be taught throughout the Region as we speak.

East Region Leadership Tool Kit Purpose: extend the journey & experience with all Associates n Process: Summiteers & team leaders facilitated all follow-up sessions - 3 stand alone meeting process guides - Option: combine into a full day summit immersion n

Engineering & IS Summit Tool Kit n n Established AI Communications Office Follow Up AI Activities – – – n Commit to learning of the principles of Appreciative Inquiry. Complete the recommended follow up activities by the end of 1 Q 07. Share your learnings with each other and with your leaders – as a means of building cooperative capacity. Development of an Dynamic (Appreciative) Leadership Workshop

Outcomes for U. S. Cellular Strengths-factored team development n “Yes, and”… dialogue response patterns n “Can do” to “Will do” to “We’ll do” n Reinforced our Dynamic Culture n Appreciative lens perspective embedded organization-wide n We’ve been used by Jim Ludema as case study during his A. I. Summit workshops n

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