Positive Deviance 

MassBayODLG has invited Randa Wilkinson, Director of Training at the Positive Deviance Initiative, to share the theoretical foundations and practical implications of Positive Deviance as it relates to Organization Development.

What is Positive Deviance?

Positive Deviance is based on the observation that in every community there are certain individuals or groups whose uncommon behaviors and strategies enable them to find better solutions to problems than their peers, while having access to the same resources and facing similar or worse challenges.

The Positive Deviance approach is an asset-based, problem-solving, and community-driven approach that enables the community to discover these successful behaviors and strategies and develop a plan of action to promote their adoption by all concerned.