Positive Deviance
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It will no longer be updated by ICVET.
In every community there are certain individuals (the Positive Deviants) whose special practices/strategies/behaviours enable them to find better solutions to problems than their neighbours who have access to the same resources.
According to Jerry Sternin, who coined the term Positive Deviance, ‘the traditional approach for social and organizational change doesn’t work. It never has.’ He explains why it is not possible to import change from the outside in but instead, real change begins from the inside.
Publications
DORSEY, David, 2000 Positive Deviant Fast Company, Issue 41, December 2000, p284 accessed 6 January 2006
Jerry Sternin’s radical approach to making change is outlined, describing the history of the term Positive Deviance and provides seven steps toward adopting positive deviance as a change program.
SPREITZER, Gretchen 2004 Understanding the Impact of Positive Deviance in Work Organizations University of Michigan, accessed 6 January 2006
Deviance in the workplace can actually be a good thing, as long as it’s positive, say University of Michigan School researchers. They define positive deviance as ‘intentional behaviours that significantly depart from the norms of a referent group in honourable ways’. Breaking free from normal constraints to conduct honourable behaviours can have a profound effect on individuals and organisations.
See also
Designing PD for the Knowledge Era project
Positive Deviance is a strength based process being incorporated into the Designing PD for the Knowledge Era project.