Appreciative inquiry : a positive revolution in change created by David L Cooperrider and Diana Whitney

Includes bibliographical references and index.

An invitation to the positive revolution in change -- What is appreciative inquiry? -- The appreciative inquiry 4-D cycle -- The 4-D cycle in action -- Applying the 4-D cycle -- Roles, responsibilities, and relationships -- Principles for a positive revolution -- Conditions for success: the liberation of power.

Written by the originators and leaders of the Appreciative Inquiry (AI) movement itself, this short, practical guide offers an approach to organizational change based on the possibility of a more desirable future, experience with the whole system, and activities that signal "something different is happening this time." That difference systematically taps the potential of human beings to make themselves, their organizations, and their communities more adaptive and more effective. AI, a theory of collaborative change, erases the winner/loser paradigm in favor of coordinated actions and closer relationships that lead to solutions at once simpler and more effective.

"A truly revolutionary method of change management, Appreciative Inquiry (AI) emphasizes inquiry into strengths, rather than focusing exclusively on fixing weaknesses. Written by the originators and leaders of the AI movement, this accessible guide offers a practical introduction to the method, which has been used to significantly enhance customer satisfaction, cost competitiveness, revenues, profits, and employee engagement, as well as organizations' abilities to meet the needs of society. Full of exciting stories that illustrate its many applications and benefits, this is the most authoritative guide to AI. By using this change method to systematically tap human potential, organizations, communities, and individuals become more effective."