The Power Of Appreciative Inquiry

NEW EDITION, REVISED AND UPDATED The Power of Appreciative Inquiry describes the internationally embraced approach to organizational change that dramatically improves performance by engaging people to study, discuss, and build upon what’s working – strengths – rather than trying to fix what’s not. Diana Whitney and Amanda Trosten-Bloom, pioneers in the development and practice of Appreciative Inquiry (AI), provide a menu of eight results-oriented applications, along with case examples from a wide range of organizations to illustrate Appreciative Inquiry in action. A how-to book, this is the most authoritative and accessible guide to the newest ideas and practices in the field of Appreciative Inquiry since its inception in 1985. The second edition includes new examples, tools, and tips for using AI to create an enduring capacity for positive change, along with a totally new chapter on award-winning community applications of Appreciative Inquiry.

Dynamic Relationships invites us to step into the appreciative paradigm where the principles governing our actions and relationships offer a means for increased value and meaning in our lives and communities of work and play.They empower us to become a force for creating and sustaining life-affirming relationships and success in daily living.

Written by the two most recognized Appreciative Inquiry thought leaders A quick, accessible introduction to one of the most popular change methods today--proven effective in organizations ranging from Roadway Express and British Airways to the United Nations and the United States Navy Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a model of change management uniquely suited to the values, beliefs, and challenges of organizations today. AI is a process that emphasizes identifying and building on strengths, rather than focusing exclusively on fixing weaknesses as most other change processes do. As the stories in this book illustrate, it results in dramatic improvements in the triple bottom line: people, profits, and planet. AI has been used to significantly enhance customer satisfaction, cost competitiveness, revenues, profits, and employee engagement, retention, and morale, as well as organizations' abilities to meet the needs of society. This book is a concise introduction to Appreciative Inquiry. It provides a basic overview of the process and principles of AI along with exciting stories illustrating how organizations have applied AI and the benefits they have gained as a result. It has been specifically designed to be accessible to a wide audience so that it can be handed out in organizations where AI is either being contemplated or being implemented. Written by two of the key figures in the development of Appreciative Inquiry, this is the most authoritative guide available to a change method that systematically taps the potential of human beings to make themselves, their organizations, and their communities more adaptive and more effective.

Thoroughly revised and updated, the second edition of Appreciative Inquiry offers OD and HR professionals a user-friendly resource for discovering how they can tap into the power of the Appreciative Inquiry (AI) process. An innovative process, AI is an effective way to work with a company as an organic system whose success depends on a holistic approach to connect that organization's human, technical, and organizational functions. This new edition meets the challenge of making the AI process accessible and updates three key areas of the process: the theoretical basis, fundamental assumptions and beliefs, and the basic processes. It includes step-by-step guidelines on how to apply AI in a variety of organizational situations and shows how it can be used with a wide range of initiatives, such as coaching, leadership development, strategic planning, and teambuilding. "If there's one book to read on AI, this is it. It provides the context and rationale for this paradigm changing approach to change at any level of system. Buy it, read it, use it and enjoy achieving great results and renewed energy and enthusiasm." —Barbara Sloan, director, Organizational Development and Learning, New York University, Langone Medical Center "Appreciative Inquiry brings the freedom and creativity of AI together with the 'nuts and bolts' of how to actually do it all. It contains everything I would want to have as a fresh practitioner, from potential designs to sample questions and excellent Case Stories." —David Shaked, founder and CEO, Almond Insight, United Kingdom "This book serves as a complete roadmap for those interested in the philosophy and practice of Appreciative Inquiry. The Case Stories encourage readers to find their own way on the journey by providing examples of successful interventions." —Terry Egan, professor, Management Studies, Pepperdine University

APPRECIATIVE INQUIRY (AI) IN HIGHER EDUCATION is a powerful resource for use in a complex world. AI, with its focus on strengths and what is working well, fosters positive and generative change. This book is a practical guide to the theory and practice of appreciative inquiry. It is full of appreciative inquiry models and processes illustrated through case studies, agendas, and real life stories. This second edition offers an Afterword that adds reflections, appreciative questions, and tools.

Praise for Appreciative Inquiry in Higher Education "Cockell and McArthur-Blair have crafted a meaningful story for educational leaders by weaving their personal experiences as Appreciative Inquiry facilitators together with a wide range of strength-based practices and positive change theory. The result is a magical book for applying Appreciative Inquiry in higher education." Diana Whitney, Ph.D., author, Appreciative Leadership and The Power of Appreciative Inquiry "Combining the history, philosophy, and principles of Appreciative Inquiry with detailed guidance for how it can be used in planning, leading, and teaching, Jeanie Cockell and Joan McArthur-Blair have tapped the depth and breadth of their substantive knowledge and skills to write a must-read text for administrators, faculty, staff, and students in higher education. Here is a book grounded in hope and many years of experience with a process that begins by recognizing what works, rather than what's missing a refreshing and rather radical perspective." Dr. Shauna Butterwick, associate professor, Adult Education Program Coordinator, Department of Educational Studies, University of British Columbia "Cockell and McArthur-Blair have delightfully woven together how Appreciative Inquiry has been applied in all of higher education with stories of people and relationships illustrating how AI brings life to organizations. They provide guidance to AI practitioners in higher education on the depth and breadth of experiences that inspire those of us in this field." Kathy Becker, CEO, Company of Experts, Inc.; CEO, Center for Appreciative Inquiry "This book is an inspiring and expansive guide to developing appreciative practice in higher education. It will be an invaluable resource to anyone interested in leading their college into a 'positive' future." Judith Kamber, dean of professional development, Northern Essex Community College

A positive revolution in change: appreciative inquiry / David L. Cooperrider and Diana Whitney -- Positive image, positive action: the affirmative basis of organizing / David Cooperrider -- Appreciative inquiry in organizational life / David Cooperrider and Suresh Srivastva -- Five theories of change embedded in appreciative inquiry / Gervase Bushe -- Advances in appreciative inquiry as an organization development intervention / Gervase Bushe -- The "child" as agent of inquiry / David L. Cooperrider -- Resources for getting appreciative inquiry started: an example OD proposal / David L. Cooperrider -- An appreciative inquiry into the factors of culture continuity during leadership transactions: a case study of LeadShare, Canada / Mary Ann Rainey -- Survey guided appreciative inquiry: a case study / Rita F. Williams -- Initiating culture change in higher education through appreciative inquiry / Robert L. Head and Michele M. Young -- Saving tomorrow's workforce / Chrisopher Anne Easley, Therese Yaeger, and Peter Sorensen -- Appreciative inquiry with teams / Gervase R. Bushe -- A field experiment in appreciative inquiry / David A. Jones -- Appreciative inquiry meets the logical positivist / Peter F. Sorensen [and others] -- Is appreciative inquiry OD's philosopher's stone / Thomas C. Head [and others] -- Postmodern principles and practices for large scale organization change and global cooperation / Diana Whitney -- Organizational inquiry model for global social change organizations / Jane Magruder Watkins and David Cooperrider -- From deficit discourse to vocabularies of hope; the power of appreciation / James D. Ludema

In this thoroughly revised and updated edition of one of the most popular change methods in the world, Cooperrider et al. track the recent changes in the field and explain how AI can contribute to sustainability and the triple bottom line. One of today's most popular change methods, Appreciative Inquiry (AI) has been used to undertake transformational initiatives in dozens of organizations, ranging from McDonalds to the U.S. Navy to Save the Children. The assumption of AI is simple. Every organization has things that work right-things that give it life when it is vital, effective, and successful. AI begins by identifying this positive core and connecting organizational visions, plans, and structures to it in ways that heighten energy and inspire action for change. This book presents all of the concepts, examples, and aids necessary to engage groups of all sizes in Appreciative Inquiry. The authors provide background information on what AI is and how it works and offer sample project plans, designs, agendas, course outlines, interview guidelines, participant worksheets, a list of resources, and more. This second edition has been extensively revised, updated, and expanded, including new case studies, new tools and supplemental articles, an expanded bibliography and resource list, and an entirely new chapter on case applications. And throughout, the authors focus on how AI can support an organizational focus on sustainability and the triple bottom line of people, prosperity, and planet.