KAI Foundation

Everyone has a preferred way of going about doing things – from how we like to organise our space, through to how we solve complex problems. Some people like rules and routines to follow, others like to be more free-spirited, vary routines and don’t like too many constraints. However, the majority of us like being in a balance somewhere between “highly organised & structured” and “being totally fluid and boundary-free” – where that balance lies for you, is your natural innate inherent preference. This preference is measured by Kirton’s Adaption Innovation Inventory (the KAI). What is problem-solving style (KAI)? So, KAI measures this preference: how much you like structure in your life – whether at work, rest or play. Your KAI score affects everything you do, from how you cook a meal to how you deal with other people in your life. It is on a scale from ‘most Adaptive’ (wanting lots of structure, rules and detail) through to ‘most Innovative’ (wanting little structure, few constraints and prefer to take a big-picture view). The majority of us like a moderate amount of structure and information – how much defines your individual, personal style of thinking. KAI measures your thinking (or problem-solving) style.