Appreciative Inquiry: A Positive Revolution in Change Paperback – Illustrated, October 31, 2005

What can we accomplish with Appreciative Inquiry philosophy and methodologies for managing change?Appreciative Inquiry (AI) founder David Cooperrider and long-time AI consultant Diana Whitney answer this question with engaging stories about AI change initiatives in many types of organizations, including British Airways Customer Service, Roadway Express, the City of Denver, Colorado, Office of Finance, and Hunter Douglas Window Fashions Division.In their sixty-eight page book they contrast a problem-solving approach to change with AI and describe how an affirmative topic guides the change process.The affirmative topic comes from transforming awareness of a problem - something you want less of - into an affirmative topic which you want more of. They present the logic of AI: people and organizations grow toward and become more of what we inquire and talk about. AI operates on the assumption that all organizations have strengths that provide a foundation for addressing their problems. The AI methodology is to transform problems by linking them to an organization's positive core, its strengths that define it when it is at its best.AI's 4-D model of change (Discover, Dream, Design, Destiny) comes alive with their stories of change. One-on-one interviews enable organizational members to Discover the organization's positive core and their own contributions to the organization at its best.From Discovery interviews and reports workshop participants move to the Dream phase. In it they imagine how their best past and present strengths can help them shape a new organizational future. Dream turns into Design as stakeholders draft their image of the ideal organization that will make their dreams come to life. The Destiny phase offers organizational space and time to begin to build long-term supports to sustain work to make their dreams a reality.Cooperrider and Whitney conclude with key AI principles and the freedoms and power that energize people and organizations who use AI. They highlight accomplishments of AI's first 20 years (1985 to 2005), create an excellent introduction for people new to AI and a great summary of the heart of AI for people who already know AI.

This book has changed my whole outlook on change management. I'm in emergency management and we focus too much on where we failed, never realizing how great we are. This book has helped me reframe my thinking to stay more positive and grow in that direction.

I have been bumping into descriptions and demonstartions of appreciative inquiry in so many places in congregational ministry and in workshops and other CE settings realted to it that I had to do some further reading on my own to see what it is all about. This book served that purpose well.

I like this book as it clearly fames the AI spirit and grounds, giving lve examples of the methodology applied in different projects.Is a very good starting point to learn about Appreciative Inquiry and build the background for other books.

I like the positive revolution that this book presents to change. Rather than assessing problems, start with the solution and what is best and then move forward. However, it was difficult for me to see how AI would be applicable in other businesses such as a financial institution that wants to improve its account opening process? I wish the book used examples from all kinds of businesses but it is a good start and presents a concept worth thinking about and using. I haven't finished reading the book yet and may need to read others as this is just like an introduction to AI.

I gave a copy to my mom after I read it because of work requirements

This is a great introduction to Appreciative Inquiry. It is short and easy to read. Good place to start if you are just learning about this fabulous process.

This made it on my list because it was a text for a course. After reading it I’ll keep it handy as a recommendation as well as a toolkit piece. The examples and simple explanations of AI were very helpful to gain introductory understanding of these concepts.