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Building capacity in the healthcare sector: A strengths-based approach for increasing employees' well-being and organisational resilience

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 July 2019

Yvonne Brunetto Open the ORCID record for Yvonne Brunetto [Opens in a new window] ,
Tom Dick Open the ORCID record for Tom Dick [Opens in a new window] ,
Matthew Xerri  and
Ashley Cully
Yvonne Brunetto*
Affiliation:
Southern Cross University, Queensland, Australia
Tom Dick
Affiliation:
Southern Cross University, Queensland, Australia
Matthew Xerri
Affiliation:
Griffith University, Queensland, Australia
Ashley Cully
Affiliation:
Griffith University, Queensland, Australia
*
*Corresponding author. Email: [email protected]
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Abstract

This study uses Appreciative Inquiry (AI) as a lens for informing the process for building on employees' existing wellbeing within one Australian organisation, using the ‘discovery, dreaming, designing, and achieving destiny’ process. Using POSH as a theoretical framework, we worked with a large Not-For-Profit healthcare organisation as part of the ‘discovery’ phase to identify elements of what was positive, flourishing, and life-giving in the practices of their employees. During the ‘dreaming’ process, employees' wellbeing was identified as a strength. During the ‘designing’ phase, a training program was co-designed to build on employees' existing levels of wellbeing. This paper reports outcomes as part of the ‘achieving destiny component’ of the AI process. In particular, the outcomes show that employees' knowledge of, and ability to use positive emotions increased, which is a positive first step for increasing employees' wellbeing and organisational resilience.

Keywords

Australiawellbeing and psychosocial risk factorsAppreciative InquiryPositive Organisational Scholarship (POS)healthcare management
Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Management & Organization , Volume 26 , Special Issue 3: Positive Organisational Scholarship in Healthcare (POSH) , May 2020 , pp. 309 - 323
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and Australian and New Zealand Academy of Management 2019

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