Since its launch in November 2005, ai consulting has helped transform the working ethos and performance of a wide range of organisations, including current clients the Audit Commission, National Housing Federation and Liverpool City Council.
Here are a few case studies illustrating the type of services we provide and the results we are helping to deliver.
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| Large northern metropolitan council, Supporting People Team Following a poor Audit Commission report, the council needed to redesign its strategy for its supporting people service. A key part of this was involving service users across the city. We worked with the council to develop an appreciative inquiry-based workshop that enabled them to engage effectively with a large range of service users from across the city. Our team lead and facilitated five large events with service users ranging from the elderly, refugees, ex-offenders to people with special needs. Strategic partners and service providers were also actively involved in the sessions. During the highly interactive and energising sessions, we enabled the council to engage fully with their customers and gather over 200 ideas for services improvements and suggestions for strategic change. We loved working not only with the council team but also the thoughtful, funny and friendly service users! Thanks to every single one of them for all their incredible enthusiasm and brilliant ideas. |
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| Multinational pharmaceutical company, Berlin Our client was redesigning its training for sales managers across Europe, and was keen to use cutting edge methodology to engage with European sales directors and training managers during a conference on the issue. We designed and ran a two-day workshop with one day dedicated to using AI techniques to elicit best practice examples of current training and development approaches. We then developed these into a strategy to deliver inclusive, culturally relevant and cost-effective training across 10 European countries. The delegates loved the approach – and it also enabled managers whose English wasn’t so good to get their points across fully. |
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| Housing association, Manchester This client approached us to run their annual conference, but wanted a day that would be unusual and fun, as well as highly business-focused. During discussions prior to the event, we agreed with the client that they wanted to focus the event on improving internal and external customer service. We designed and then facilitated a whole day of AI with 100 key staff, helping them celebrate positive examples of excellent customer service, and explore their visions for the future. This resulted in delegates developing more than 50 new ideas of how customer service could be improved – both in the short term and over time. The day was incredibly successful, and we received some great feedback. So too did the board! |
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| Large metropolitan council, south of England The council was undergoing major organisational change and uncertainty, and was keen to use AI to tackle poor levels of communication and cooperation, a blame culture and lack of strategic thinking across the council. The client was also keen for delegates to appreciate their successes and challenge them to think more positively. We worked closely with the council to develop two bespoke half-day workshops – Appreciative Inquiry Skills and Coaching Skills using Appreciative Inquiry. Both courses used experiential learning techniques to help delegates appreciate their strengths, think about their goals, and positively address real issues back in the workplace. After successful piloting, we then delivered the training to around 400 managers within the council, including a large number of the executive team. Not only was the feedback fantastic, we then worked with the council to help them embed the culture change. A truly, exciting and rewarding project – which is ongoing (genuine culture change takes a while) – so watch this space! |
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| Metropolitan council, Midlands This client was keen to improve governance arrangements following a poor Audit Commission report. We delivered a half-day AI session focused on ‘Achieving Positive Governance and Partnerships’, with help from colleagues from the Audit Commission and the Department for Communities and Local Government. The session was very successful and produced several SMART actions and quick wins, plus many energised and newly-focused delegates! |
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Our many and varied clients also include:
Business Development Groups- 2005 Closed 3 Day AI Workshop with Anne Radford, Manchester University
- 2006 North West Business NLP & Emotional Intelligence Group - Positive Engagement & AI in Action Video Presentation
- 2006 Audit Commission HR Strategy and Change Management Conference 15 March
- 2006 Liverpool City Council - Supporting People Positive Engagement Events - Service User Involvement
- 2006 Access Liverpool - Appreciative Team Building Workshop
- 2007 Liverpool City Council - Supporting People Positive Engagement Events - Service User Involvement -
- 2007 Lincolnshire County Council - Positive Governance Training - Supporting People
- 2007 Warwickshire County Council - Positive Governance Training - Supporting People
- 2007 Herefordshire County Council - Mixed Methods Needs Analysis - Supporting People
- 2007-08 Southampton City Council - Management Development Programme - Appreciative Inquiry Training and Coaching Skills training
- 2007 Contribution to the book by Professor Jan Reed (2007) Appreciative Inquiry. Research for Change. London: Sage
- 2007 Publication of Academic Article: Luckcock, T. (2007) The Soul of Teaching and Professional Learning. An Appreciative Inquiry into the Enneagram of Reflective Practice. Educational Action Research Vol 15.1 March 2007
- 2007 Appreciative Inquiry and Spiritual Practice. Paper given to the Religion and Education Research Group at Liverpool Hope University
- 2006 National Housing Federation North - Inspection Learning Circle Event
- 2006 Carr-Gomm - Northern Region Senior Managers - Appreciative Team Building Workshop
- 2007 Equity Housing Group, Cheadle Hulme - Appreciative Team Building Workshop
- 2006 Cobbs Infants & Nursery School - Thinking Skills and Pupil Voice via AI