Title: Positive approaches to enhance customer-focused knowledge sharing culture in a financial services organisation

Authors: Tuomas Holma; Hanna Lehtimäki; Tojo Thatchenkery

Addresses: Business School, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland ' Business School, University of Eastern Finland, P.O. Box 1627, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland ' Schar School of Policy and Government, George Mason University, 3351 Fairfax Dr., MS 3B1, Arlington, Virginia 22201, USA

Abstract: This case study demonstrates the use of appreciative sharing of knowledge (ASK) approach for creating and sustaining a customer-focused organisation development culture in one of the largest financial services company in Finland. The positive approach to creating a knowledge sharing culture effectively addressed the resistance to change process inherent in any organisational change intervention. The study extracted the core values and knowledge enablers that were the foundation for the growth of the organisation. Using individual and group interviews the authors collected and analysed data for generating actionable recommendations at the individual, group, and organisational level. At the individual level, the capacity to reframe to see the positive, a component of Appreciative Intelligence^®, was important. The case study is also a good example of using appreciative inquiry as a knowledge management tool.

Keywords: appreciative inquiry; appreciative knowledge sharing; financial services sector; services; organisational development; innovation culture.

DOI: 10.1504/IJHRDM.2017.085273

International Journal of Human Resources Development and Management, 2017 Vol.17 No.1/2, pp.21 - 36

Received: 02 Mar 2016
Accepted: 26 Feb 2017
Published online: 19 Jul 2017 *

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