Bernard J. Mohr

Jane Magruder Watkins

Appreciative Inquiry--a book in The Practicing Organization Development Series--is for leaders and organizational consultants who are ready to abandon the familiar tyranny of complex change programs. Recognizing that human systems are constructions of the human imagination and therefore capable of change at the speed of imagination, the Appreciative Inquiry (AI) process frees organizations from the restrictive orthodoxy of "deficit based change" and allows them the freedom to mobilize strategic change and focus on the visible and tacit strengths of an organization. AI is capable of engaging whole systems at amazing scales--easily engaging hundreds or sometimes thousands of people, often in a matter of weeks or days, to leverage the positive core of the organization. Tap into the rich and inspiring "high point" accounts of personal or collective capacity and link this "positive core" to any change agenda. Once you have have determined what is really working, transformations never thought possible are rapidly and democratically mobilized. "This is a book about the future of organization development. It is a practical guide to appreciative inquiry for organization leaders and organization development professionals and it is a comprehensive explanation at the speed of imagination." --Peter Sorensen, professor and director of the Ph.D. program in organization development and master of science program in management and organization behavior, Benedictine University

Change at the Speed of Imagination

Appreciative Inquiry

Ralph Kelly

Thoroughly revised and updated, the second edition of AppreciativeInquiry offers OD and HR professionals a user-friendly resource fordiscovering how they can tap into the power of the AppreciativeInquiry (AI) process. An innovative process, AI is an effective wayto work with a company as an organic system whose success dependson a holistic approach to connect that organization's human,technical, and organizational functions. This new edition meets the challenge of making the AI processaccessible and updates three key areas of the process: thetheoretical basis, fundamental assumptions and beliefs, and thebasic processes. It includes step-by-step guidelines on how toapply AI in a variety of organizational situations and shows how itcan 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 thecontext and rationale for this paradigm changing approach to changeat any level of system. Buy it, read it, use it and enjoy achievinggreat results and renewed energy and enthusiasm." —Barbara Sloan, director, Organizational Developmentand Learning, New York University, Langone Medical Center "Appreciative Inquiry brings the freedom and creativity of AItogether with the 'nuts and bolts' of how to actually do it all. Itcontains everything I would want to have as a fresh practitioner,from potential designs to sample questions and excellent CaseStories." —David Shaked, founder and CEO, Almond Insight, UnitedKingdom "This book serves as a complete roadmap for those interested inthe philosophy and practice of Appreciative Inquiry. The CaseStories encourage readers to find their own way on the journey byproviding examples of successful interventions." —Terry Egan, professor, Management Studies, PepperdineUniversity

Jane Magruder Watkins

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