1. 'Win, Win, Win’: Can support for new academics be improved through collaborative appreciative enquiry? Valerie Anderson, University of Portsmouth Richard Atfield HEA BMAF Network Higher Education Academy Annual Conference 2010

2. Context Subject Centres have a remit which includes to support new career academics (NCAs). PGCert programmes “may not be adequate for business school purposes.” (Francis 2006) “Engagement with T&L is primarily through the disciplines.” (ALTC 2007) ‘Business’ subjects recruit 1000+ new academics each year Appreciative inquiry seen as a way forward in this context

3. Presentation aims and objectives To evaluate the use and contribution of appreciative inquiry to: –Explore existing support and development for New Business Academics (NBAs) –Evaluate the learning needs and priorities of NBAs –Enhance provision and practice at departmental, institutional and discipline levels

4. Appreciative Inquiry Premise –‘Deficit’ views constrain practice improvement and knowledge creation (Ludema, 2001) –Highlight the positive in order to achieve positive change (Rogers and Fraser, 2003) A collaborative approach that aims to: –Find the best of ‘what is’ –Establish what ‘might be’ –Enable consent about ‘what should be’ –Foster experience of ‘what can be’ (Cooperider and Srivastva, 1987) “A distinctive approach to Action Research” (Huang, 2010)

5. Why Appreciative Inquiry? Previous experience where a ‘problem-focused’ project had restricted access to HEIs. Previous experience of using AI in another setting (NHS). Positive interest by members of project steering group. Positive attitude attractive to HEIs at both pilot and main project stages

6. Data access and intended outputs Identify NBA characteristics through HESA Data Gain access to purposive sample of HEIs with: –Involvement of business school and academic / educational developers –Access for interviews with senior staff, PGCert lead and NBAs –Collaborative participation of ‘paired’ HEIs. Intended outputs –Encourage participating HEIs to share and enhance development opportunities for NBAs –Adjust BMAF activities to focus on aspects best provided nationally and across the subject disciplines –Disseminate in appropriate ways to encourage positive change in the sector

7. Project process Pilot study (2 HEIs) – April to November 2008 Selection of 6 (from 14) further HEIs HEI ‘pairs’ and data protocols agreed – January 2009 Data gathering and initial analysis; feedback to paired HEIs – Feb to May 2009 Knowledge sharing; further discussion / analysis and action planning involving all participating HEIs – June 2009

8. Participating HEIs InstitutionPre / post 1992 Business School academics Most academic staff background Pilot 1Pre 1992*71Research Pilot 2Pre 1992140Practice APre 1992100Research BPost 1992 ****75Practice CPre 1992 *118Research DPost 1992 ****180Practice EPost 1992 **100Practice FPre 1992 ***90Research * Russell Group; ** Million +; *** 1994 group; **** University Alliance

9. Questions and frameworks Data gathering –Contextual questions –What are the most useful / beneficial things about your experience / support processes etc? –What are the challenges / frustrations? –Describe your experiences Reporting –Context –Reflection on data gathering process –Assessment of the most useful features –Indication of the frustrations –Description of good practice

10. The Structure of Appreciative Inquiry Magruder Watkins and Mohr (2001:37) The Practice of Appreciative Inquiry The main activities, steps and applications of AI that are uniquely different in each situation The 5 Core Principles a)Constructionism b)Simultaneity c)Anticipatory d)Poetic e)Positive The 5 Generic Processes 1.Choose the positive as the focus of inquiry 2.Inquire into stories of life-giving forces 3.Locate themes that appear in stories and select topics for further inquiry 4.Create shared images for a preferred future 5.Find innovative ways to create that future The Soil of Appreciative Inquiry Sociology of Knowledge (Social Constructionism) New Sciences (Chaos Theory, Complexity Theory Self Organising Systems, and Quantum Physics) Research into the Power of Image

11. Critiques of AI Encouragement of excessive optimism and avoidance of dealing with known problem areas? Substantive problems remain unexamined? Descriptive rather than analytical outcomes? Another management fad?

12. Our reflections on the process HEIs –External yet supportive assessment of context and provision for NBAs –Other HEIs can access those reports online. New Business Academics –Raised awareness and changes of practice in project sites; increased awareness of BMAF resources etc. BMAF –Clearer identification of resources to develop and share, excellent value for money. –Similar issues highlighted in other comparable countries Participants –Dissemination and personal development opportunities