{"id":{"repo_id":"vt","oai_identifier":"oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/23254"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/vt/oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/23254","repository":{"repo_id":"vt","name":"Virginia Tech","base_url":"https://vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"A Mixed Methods Study Evaluating Strategies used in Organizational Visioning","abstract":"The purpose of this case study is to evaluate two methods of strategic planning within organizational visioning: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) analysis and Appreciative inquiry (Ai). SWOT analysis is a method of strategic planning that is popular within companies and organizations due to its simple, yet thorough, approach. Ai has recently emerged as an approach to strategic visioning and planning within organizational development. However, little research has been conducted to evaluate either approach to organizational visioning, and there is a growing need to compare the two techniques. In this case study, participants within one organization were divided, with half of the staff participating in Ai and the other half participating in SWOT. Data for this mixed methods study was gathered through observation, focus group interviews, and pre-test, post-test, and delayed post assessments tests. Through the explanatory sequential design, quantitative data evaluated the change in organizational commitment and vision clarity as a result of the interventions; while, qualitative data further explored participants\\' perception of the intervention process and resulting effects. The study found a statistically significant interaction between intervention treatments and the pre-test and post-test scores within the organizational commitment construct. Seven themes emerged from the qualitative data; however, only two themes were specifically associated with an intervention treatment. Participants in the SWOT intervention described the visioning process to be frustrating and negative; while, Ai participants found that the visioning process confirmed many of their beliefs and values about the department. Recommendations for future practice suggest the use of Strengths, Opportunities, Aspiration, Results (SOAR) as an approach that combines and maximizes Ai and SWOT. Suggestions for future research are to explore SWOT as a precursor to di-visioning within the Visioning Process Model.","abstract_html":"The purpose of this case study is to evaluate two methods of strategic planning within organizational visioning: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) analysis and Appreciative inquiry (Ai). SWOT analysis is a method of strategic planning that is popular within companies and organizations due to its simple, yet thorough, approach. Ai has recently emerged as an approach to strategic visioning and planning within organizational development. However, little research has been conducted to evaluate either approach to organizational visioning, and there is a growing need to compare the two techniques. In this case study, participants within one organization were divided, with half of the staff participating in Ai and the other half participating in SWOT. Data for this mixed methods study was gathered through observation, focus group interviews, and pre-test, post-test, and delayed post assessments tests. Through the explanatory sequential design, quantitative data evaluated the change in organizational commitment and vision clarity as a result of the interventions; while, qualitative data further explored participants\\' perception of the intervention process and resulting effects. The study found a statistically significant interaction between intervention treatments and the pre-test and post-test scores within the organizational commitment construct. Seven themes emerged from the qualitative data; however, only two themes were specifically associated with an intervention treatment. Participants in the SWOT intervention described the visioning process to be frustrating and negative; while, Ai participants found that the visioning process confirmed many of their beliefs and values about the department. Recommendations for future practice suggest the use of Strengths, Opportunities, Aspiration, Results (SOAR) as an approach that combines and maximizes Ai and SWOT. Suggestions for future research are to explore SWOT as a precursor to di-visioning within the Visioning Process Model.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Brunton, Kelsey Church"],"institution":"Virginia Tech","degree_name":"Master of Science in Life Sciences","degree_level":"masters","degree_discipline":"Agricultural and Extension Education","degree_department":"Agricultural and Extension Education","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":["Kaufman, Eric K."],"committee_members":["Friedel, Curtis R.","Westfall-Rudd, Donna M."],"year":2013,"date_issued":"2013-06-20","date_published":"2013-06-20","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:19:59Z","subjects":["Organizational Visioning","Appreciative Inquiry","SWOT Analysis","Organizational Commitment","Vision Clarity"],"languages":[],"rights":["In Copyright"],"rights_urls":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"identifier_entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["vt_gsexam:949"],"render_values":[{"text":"vt_gsexam:949","href":null,"code":true}]}]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/10919/23254","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.committeechair","label":"Committee Chair","values":["Kaufman, Eric K."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.committeemember","label":"Committee Member","values":["Friedel, Curtis R.","Westfall-Rudd, Donna M."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.department","label":"Department","values":["Agricultural and Extension Education"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Brunton, Kelsey Church"]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.accessioned","label":"Dc Date Accessioned","values":["2013-06-21T08:00:33Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2013-06-21T08:00:33Z"]},{"key":"dc:date.issued","label":"Date","values":["2013-06-20"]},{"key":"dc:publisher","label":"Institution","values":["Virginia Tech"]},{"key":"dc:type","label":"Dc Type","values":["Thesis"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Agricultural and Extension Education"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["masters"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science in Life Sciences"]},{"key":"thesis:institution_name","label":"Thesis Institution Name","values":["Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["Organizational Visioning","Appreciative Inquiry","SWOT Analysis","Organizational Commitment","Vision Clarity"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["In Copyright"]},{"key":"dc:rights.uri","label":"Rights URI","values":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier.other","label":"Dc Identifier Other","values":["vt_gsexam:949"]},{"key":"dc:identifier.uri","label":"Identifier URI","values":["http://hdl.handle.net/10919/23254"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["The purpose of this case study is to evaluate two methods of strategic planning within organizational visioning: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) analysis and Appreciative inquiry (Ai). SWOT analysis is a method of strategic planning that is popular within companies and organizations due to its simple, yet thorough, approach. Ai has recently emerged as an approach to strategic visioning and planning within organizational development. However, little research has been conducted to evaluate either approach to organizational visioning, and there is a growing need to compare the two techniques. In this case study, participants within one organization were divided, with half of the staff participating in Ai and the other half participating in SWOT. Data for this mixed methods study was gathered through observation, focus group interviews, and pre-test, post-test, and delayed post assessments tests. Through the explanatory sequential design, quantitative data evaluated the change in organizational commitment and vision clarity as a result of the interventions; while, qualitative data further explored participants\\' perception of the intervention process and resulting effects. The study found a statistically significant interaction between intervention treatments and the pre-test and post-test scores within the organizational commitment construct. Seven themes emerged from the qualitative data; however, only two themes were specifically associated with an intervention treatment. Participants in the SWOT intervention described the visioning process to be frustrating and negative; while, Ai participants found that the visioning process confirmed many of their beliefs and values about the department. Recommendations for future practice suggest the use of Strengths, Opportunities, Aspiration, Results (SOAR) as an approach that combines and maximizes Ai and SWOT. Suggestions for future research are to explore SWOT as a precursor to di-visioning within the Visioning Process Model."]},{"key":"dc:description.degree","label":"Dc Description Degree","values":["Master of Science in Life Sciences"]},{"key":"dc:format.medium","label":"Dc Format Medium","values":["ETD"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["A Mixed Methods Study Evaluating Strategies used in Organizational Visioning"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.committeechair":["Kaufman, Eric K."],"dc:contributor.committeemember":["Friedel, Curtis R.","Westfall-Rudd, Donna M."],"dc:contributor.department":["Agricultural and Extension Education"],"dc:creator":["Brunton, Kelsey Church"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2013-06-21T08:00:33Z"],"dc:date.available":["2013-06-21T08:00:33Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2013-06-20"],"dc:description.abstract":["The purpose of this case study is to evaluate two methods of strategic planning within organizational visioning: Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, Threats (SWOT) analysis and Appreciative inquiry (Ai). 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Through the explanatory sequential design, quantitative data evaluated the change in organizational commitment and vision clarity as a result of the interventions; while, qualitative data further explored participants\\' perception of the intervention process and resulting effects. The study found a statistically significant interaction between intervention treatments and the pre-test and post-test scores within the organizational commitment construct. Seven themes emerged from the qualitative data; however, only two themes were specifically associated with an intervention treatment. Participants in the SWOT intervention described the visioning process to be frustrating and negative; while, Ai participants found that the visioning process confirmed many of their beliefs and values about the department. Recommendations for future practice suggest the use of Strengths, Opportunities, Aspiration, Results (SOAR) as an approach that combines and maximizes Ai and SWOT. Suggestions for future research are to explore SWOT as a precursor to di-visioning within the Visioning Process Model."],"dc:description.degree":["Master of Science in Life Sciences"],"dc:format.medium":["ETD"],"dc:identifier.other":["vt_gsexam:949"],"dc:identifier.uri":["http://hdl.handle.net/10919/23254"],"dc:publisher":["Virginia Tech"],"dc:rights":["In Copyright"],"dc:rights.uri":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"dc:subject":["Organizational Visioning","Appreciative Inquiry","SWOT Analysis","Organizational Commitment","Vision Clarity"],"dc:title":["A Mixed Methods Study Evaluating Strategies used in Organizational Visioning"],"dc:type":["Thesis"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Agricultural and Extension Education"],"thesis:degree_level":["masters"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science in Life Sciences"],"thesis:institution_name":["Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:19:59Z"}