Abstract
A week-long intensive process of staff development and induction called Rapid Institutional Appraisal (RIA) was conducted in November 2000 in the Systems Discipline, Centre for Complexity and Change (CCC), at the Open University. We report the systemic roots and characteristics of the RIA as designed from traditions of soft systems methodology and rapid rural appraisal. Our experiences arising from our own use of RIA are described and the wider implications for organizational learning in a complex organization discussed. While acknowledging limitations with this RIA event, we argue that RIA offers a potential model for staff development for adaptive use in different contexts and on varying scales. The process builds on principles of "conversation" and "multiple perspectives" as the touchstone for establishing a purposeful community of practice.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
REFERENCES
Chambers, R. (1992). Rural Appraisal: Rapid, Relaxed and Participatory, IDS Discussion Paper 311.
Chambers, R., et al. (eds.) (1989). Farmer First: Farmer Innovation and Agricultural Research, Intermediate Technology, London.
Churchman, W. C. (1968). Challenge to Reason, McGraw-Hill, New York.
Collinson, M. (1981). A low cost approach to understanding small farmers. Agr. Admin. 8(6), 433-450.
Farrington, J., and Martin, A. (1987). Farmer Participatory Research: A Review of Concepts and Practices, ODI Network Discussion Papers, Agricultural Administration Research and Extension 19.
Ison, R. (1993a). Changing community attitudes. Rangeland J. 15(1), 154-166.
Ison, R. L. (1993b). Soft systems: A non-computer view of decision support. In Stuth, J. W., and Lyons, B. G. (eds.), Decision Support Systems for the Management of Grazing Lands: Emerging Issues, UNESCO—Man and the Biosphere Book Series, Vol. 11, Parthenon, Carnforth, UK, pp. 82-115.
Ison, R. L., and Ampt, P. R. (1992). Rapid rural appraisal: A participatory problem formulation method relevant to Australian agriculture. Agr. Syst. 38, 363-386.
Ison, R. L., and Russell, D. B. (eds.) (2000). Agricultural Extension and Rural Development: Breaking Out of Traditions, Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK.
Kersten, S., and Ison, R. L. (1998). Listening, interpretative cycles and dialogue: Process design for collaborative research and development. J. Agr. Educ. Ext. 5, 163-178.
Khon Kaen (1987). Proceedings of the 1985 International Conference on Rapid Rural Appraisal, Khon Kaen University, Thailand.
Scoones, I., and Thompson, J. (eds.) (1994). Beyond Farmer First: Rural People's Knowledge, Agricultural Research and Extension Practise, Intermediate Technology, London.
Shaner, W. W., Philip, P. F., and Schmehly, W. R. (eds.) (1982). Readings in Farming Systems Research and Development (Westview Special Studies in Agriculture, Agricultural Science and Policy), Westview Press, Boulder, CO.
Thompson, J. (1995). Participatory approaches in government bureaucracies: Facilitating the process of institutional change. World Dev. 23(9), 1521-1554.
Webber, L., and Ison, R. (1995). Participatory rural appraisal design: Conceptual and process issues. Agr. Syst. 47(1), 107-131.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Armson, R., Ison, R.L., Short, L. et al. Rapid Institutional Appraisal. Systemic Practice and Action Research 14, 763–777 (2001). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013182429327
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1013182429327