The Appreciative Inquiry Handbook

This handbook guides you in applying appreciative inquiry methods in a variety of settings. We have had good results conducting two facilitation assignments with "Appreciative Intent". In our most recent assignment, our client was impressed with the quality and quantity of the information gathered. Additionally, members of the client's leadership were also impressed with the level of participation from some of the more "quiet" people in the organization. The one-on-one questionnaire technique levels the playing field for people with a more introverted personality. Also, if you like applying a "Theory of Constraints" approach to operations you will observe that using the interview/questionnaire approach creates a multi-channel process when brain storming. (i.e. more conversations can be carried on simultaneously, thereby creating a larger stream of information or ideas in less time)The CD alone is worth the investment!

The Appreciative Inquiry Handbook: The First in a Series of AI Workbooks for Leaders of Change is a "must have" guide for organizational development practitioners and facilitators. Whether you are a leading change at a Fortune 500 or creating transformation within a small community organization, this volume provides an excellent consolidation of AI tools. If new to the technique, this book is particularly helpful because the process is laid out in an easy to understand and easy to deliver format. The authors begin with a review and background of the process, and then introduce you to AI-step by step. The resource section is very generous, providing templates for course outlines, handouts, overheads, and exercises. For seasoned users, this book is a splendid reference tool you'll want on your practitioner shelf. Again, the resources provided can serve as a tool chest for stimulating new ideas. While the authors worked to clearly define and explain the process via cases and narrative, they also help the reader to understand why the process is more than typical organizational development techniques. The AI Handbook is clearly written and will help change agents on their journey to create, generate, and cultivate learning cultures within their organization.

For anyone interested in appreciative inquiry, this book has cases, worksheets and presentation materials that can be used right now. What a novel idea to give away the tools on the CD. Well organized and readable, I keep it handy at my desk. Excellent resource.

Given the growing awareness of how asking about successes is an equally valuable and valid way of change, this book addresses the issue at two levels. Firstly, everything you might want to know about "how to" do this approach is explained and illustrated with examples and complete notes in the book and on the CD. Secondly, in an easy invitational style of reading it creates the awareness that AI is more than just "a technique". AI is a way of thinking which has unlimited applications. In the range of examples, case studies, anecdotes, the point is made by the authors of the approach of AI, that "there is not place away from AI." This book represents a very credible paradigm with which to extend the thinking around positive psychology and strenght-based thinking about people. Peak performance is not random: people succeed by design as they fail by design. This book is both a journey and a map of how to get there.Highly recommended!