Critical appreciative process CAP Combination of appreciative inquiry

Critical appreciative process (CAP) • Combination of appreciative inquiry (AI) and critical theory (CT) • AI is an action research method • CT is a process of evaluation • In this study: • AI follows the intent of the 4 D cycle , Discover, Dream, Design, Deliver • CT incorporates Habermas’ concepts of ‘lifeworld’, the ‘system’ and ‘civil society’ • Lifeworld sit well with Dream phase of AI - a space for freedom and equality • The System’s ‘currencies’ of money & power complicates actions • These impacts and implications are critically ‘appreciated’ • Using AI and CT together in CAP need not be a paradox • AI & CT shares transformational intent

Critical appreciative process (cont). • • CAP forms a reflexive lens to view social reality through CAP refocuses the concept of appreciation, providing deeper insight into things CAP provides balance to both AI and CT CAP reduces the risk of distortions in AI & CT • Bringing a AI and CT together in a CAP: • Provides a better understanding of AI as it develops • Allow for consideration of the influence of the system on the lifeworld • System = administrative state and the market economy • Lifeworld = everyday sphere where social interaction take place • Contribute towards human flourishing

Prophetic imagination as a critical appreciative process Cobus Kilian, Ph. D Candidate Waikato Management School 27 May 2015

About Prophetic imagination (PI) • Researchers can engage social reality from both rational and prophetic positions (Tillich) • PI consist of combination of rational and prophetic critiques • Prophetic critique gains concreteness from rational critique • Rational critique gain inevitability from prophetic critique • The task of a PI is to evoke an alternative consciousness to the dominant culture around us • Imagining an alternative world based on faith positions can incorporate any faith • I am approaching this from the Christian faith position • Two faith principles that influence my view of PI: • Humans have inherent value (we are created in the image of God) • We are responsible for each other (love your neighbour like yourself)

The purpose of prophetic imagination Brueggeman commented that: • Contemporary society’s focus on consumerism has undermined our ability to believe or act • Many have lost their faith traditions • Many only focuses on the ‘now’ • Resulted in • Loss of our collective memory of community • A hope in a future is ridiculed • Faith traditions are seen as a threat to the prevailing culture • PI’s task is to bring the claims of the Christian tradition and the enculturation of consumerism into an effective interface. • Incongruities must be pointed out with grace and compassion

Prophetic imagination Brueggeman -There are two aspects to PI for it to be successful: • Critique • Domestication of our vision of a world where people are seen as inherently valuable and where humanly created systems are designed to benefit humanity • Energize • By creating a vision of a time or place that we can move towards where these values are upheld Brueggeman - traces of these two aspects in contemporary Christian actions: • Liberal/progressive – some provide good critique on social matters, but little promise of alternative to work towards • Politics of social justice, focus in human courage and good intentions. Limited future promise • Conservative/fundamental - provide the alternative picture, but do not offer valid criticism of current state • Inadvertently using God for social reason, leading to oppression • Both alternatives is needed in equal measure • There is no ‘freedom of God’ without politics of justice and compassion • There is no justice and compassion without the ‘freedom of God’

Prophetic imagination as critical appreciate process • My study is orientated towards the problem of humanly created suffering in organisational setting • PI as CAP allows for: • The development of an alternative view of social reality (energise) • Provocative proposition as starting point for AI • Consideration of influence of ‘the system’ on humanity (criticize) • Unmasking the ‘taken for granted’ relationships of domination • A step in the direction of emancipation from humanly created suffering, towards human flourishing • Application to organisational studies • Positioning PI as a worthy companion in organisational studies • PI is a bridge between secular and religious thought • Social purpose businesses, through civil society, are suggested as potential ‘vehicles’ for PI

Common ground… All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood. (Article 1 – Universal declaration of human rights) God created human beings; He created them godlike, reflecting God’s nature. He created them male and female. (Gen 1: 27) Clean up your act. Sweep your lives clean of your evildoings so I don’t have to look at them any longer. Say no to wrong. Learn to do good. Work for justice. Help the downand-out. Stand up for the homeless. Go to bat for the defenceless. (Isaiah 1: 16 -17)