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Abstract
In this article, we review and compare two major approaches to Organization Development, one of French origin, the Socio Economic Approach to Management (SEAM); the second of U.S. origin - Appreciative Inquiry (AI). Both of these change approaches have significant global and international applications. The article reviews their origins, processes, the role of research, and discusses major differences and contributions to the field of OD.
Introduction
This article presents a review and discussion of two major organizational change approaches, one approach developed in Europe, more specifically at the University of Lyon in France, the second in the United States at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland. The comparison and discussion is summarized in Figure 1. Appreciative Inquiry is well known in the U.S. and has an established and growing presence internationally. For example, Appreciative Inquiry sessions are included on a regular basis at both academic and professional meeting such as the Academy of Management, Linkage, and the OD Network, and in several journals. There are entire issues dedicated to AI in the OD Practitioner. SEAM on the other hand is well established in Europe and internationally, but until recently has had limited visibility in the United States. Recently, SEAM has been receiving more attention - SEAM was the topic in several sessions at a recent meeting of the Academy of Management, has appeared in several volumes in Research in Management Consulting edited by Anthony Buono of Bentley University. SEAM has also been featured in a recent article by David Boje and Grace Ann Rosile (2003) which compares SEAM with 15 large system change methods. The Boje and Rosile article identifies SEAM as an important approach in transformational change along with other established approaches to Organization Development such as Weisbord's Future Search, Action Research, Appreciative Inquiry and the work of Senge and Schein. The visibility of SEAM and the work at the University of Lyon, and the link to Organization Development has been further enhanced over the last 10 years through the hosting of international doctoral conferences at the University of Lyon Colloque et Seminaire Doctoral International along with the Organization Development and Change Division of the Academy of Management.
Origins and History
The concept of SEAM is more than 30 years old; Appreciative...