How can inclusive strategic planning proceed in intellectual disability organisations?

Background Recent changes in Irish government policy towards people with intellectual disabilities (ID) is informed by the United Nations convention for people with disabilities (United Nations, 2006). This research is a response to the need for change in ID organisations in order to comply with these recent developments. Aims and focus of the research The aim of the research was the creation of a strategic plan, using Appreciative Inquiry (AI), in an intellectual disability organisation involving all of its members including the core stakeholders, equally with all other groups. The research question was: How can inclusive strategic planning proceed in ID organisations? A strategic planning document was produced by the participants, put into practice and the process evaluated towards the end of the strategic planning cycle. Approach and method The research was driven by Social Constructionism which facilitated the cultivation of multiple ideas for the organisation’s future to come to light (Burr, 2015). Appreciative Inquiry (AI) was used as the method to develop the Strategic Planning (SP) process (Reed, 2007). Data was collected over a one-year period through focus groups and workshops which were recorded, transcribed and thematic analysis applied (Burnard,1991). An evaluation, combining AI with Fourth Generation Evaluation (Guber & Lincoln, 1989), using fourteen group interviews, was completed three years later. Findings, Conclusions and Implications By creating a strategic plan using AI, the ID organisation was able to engage in organisational change significantly enough to transition towards delivering greater personalised care for the people with ID involved in the service. Aspects of the strategic plan that addressed the research question are discussed. Developing a SP using AI has the potential to contribute to both the literatures in organisational change in ID and other public sector settings, a need called for by Linehan (2015) in ID and by Bruña-García and MareyPérez (2014) in the public sector. Future recommendations for research and practice are made. The research is also discussed in the light of communication planning theory (Innes, 1995)