Revolutionizing Public Universities of Ethiopia through Appreciative Inquiry Approach: A Case Study of Jigjiga University, Ethiopia
Appreciative inquiry is a qualitative approach focusing on discovering and appreciating potential strengths and thecore value of organizations. This article has tried to explore the potential of appreciative inquiry to bring a positivechange in Jigjiga University of Ethiopia. The paper starts with the description of appreciative inquiry and the 4 “D”(Discovery, Dream, Design, and Destiny) model of appreciative inquiry. It has also tried to appraise the effectivenessof appreciative inquiry approach and design in bringing about change in the management system of JigjigaUniversity. The study is a case study of Jigjiga University within a context of higher education using appreciativeinquiry to assess the need for change and make recommendations on this basis. The author has four year experienceas academic staff, manager and lecturer in Jigjiga University. Hence, besides to the literature, the data have beendrawn from his own practical experience. Moreover, researches that have been done by Jigjiga UniversityAnticorruption Directorate and various annul reports of Jigjiga University have served as a main source of dataconcerning Jigjiga University management status. The author has tried to appraise the gaps of problem solvingapproach to transform Jigjiga University. The potential of the appreciative inquiry approach to bring sustainablechange in the University has also been highlighted. The purpose of this study is, therefore, to appraise the feasibilityand potential of appreciative inquiry approach to bring recommendable changes across several departments of JigjigaUniversity.