Customer Reviews

Appreciative Inquiry Handbook: The First in a Series of AI Workbooks for Leaders of Change (Book & CD) (Tools in Appreciative Inquiry, 1)

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Co-owner of AIC Consulting, L.L.P. and Principal of Dynamic Communication

Most of us struggle with handling change. Our organizations are continually shifting, changing, and pulling us along with them. Both internal and external Consultants, and most executives, are trying to learn how to manage these changes. Many of us professional practioners are now using Appreciative Inquiry (AI) as a method of dealing with change. AI reframes our traditional problem-solving structure into identifying and celebrating our healthiest and most effective practices. We discover our cores, based on both individual and corporate values, which make our organization unique and powerful. AI also encourages us to bring our organization together to dream what is possible and collaboratively design what we must do to make that dream happen.

Now, Cooperidder, Whitney, and Stravros have written a handbook that includes a solid background about the theory, practice and effectiveness of AI, and sets the stage for launching one's own AI initiatives. They have crafted a guide, which has many specific worksheets and other materials to help us actually do our work using AI methodology and philosophy. They make Appreciative Inquiry look deceptively simple. The 4-D process includes:

1. Discover (and Define) what you are doing well that is working and you wish to study through an inquiry
2. Dream what is possible
3. Design a way to get there and
4. Destiny (implement) this process.

No book will replace the necessary experience a professional consultant needs to work in AI or any other methodology. AI allows the practioner and core team members to collaboratively probe deeply into the organizational systems. This action unleashes amazing excitement and power experienced by the entire organization, all members of which are invited to participate. We use this energy to move the organization forward toward a desired future. Like any other professionals, Organization Development Practioners must have a solid background of theory, practice, and professional experiences to be effective.

The value of this book is that anyone can look it over and gain an understanding of the whole AI process. This includes what needs to be considered at each step and others' experiences using AI. In addition to these marvelous case studies, which amplify exactly how experienced practioners of AI approached each of the 4-D cycle processes; the authors have included the materials they created for these client systems. The authors' stated intent is "to help people and their organizations take a long-term view of current activities and to achieve results by involving stakeholders".

AI has been in use since the mid-1980's when David Cooperidder explored the effectiveness of social constructivism at Case-Western Reserve University. You can learn about the development and progress made in AI over the years in the first section of this book. Many practioners have already experienced these effects mentioned by the authors such as:

· "AI is an engaging participative process that, once begun, moves quickly to remarkable results."
· .... "The outcome of an AI initiative is a long-term, positive change in the organization...
· AI has proven to be a positive experience of a new way of living and organizing at work.
· AI is applicable to any profit, non-profit or governmental organization."

The book has three major sections:
· Part 1: Essential Elements of Appreciative Inquiry - theory, process, how it works and beginning an AI initiative
· Part 2: Application of the 4-D cycle of AI - Discovery, Dream, Design, and Destiny
· Part 3: Learning Applications and Resources - interview guides, detailed project plans, overheads, worksheets and selected articles.

Perhaps what gives this book great additional value is the accompanying CD, which contains the specific case studies, beautifully designed slides, guidelines, questions, protocols, worksheets, and other documents which have been used with specific clients. After looking over these materials, the reader (assuming he/she is an experienced OD professional) can see how other professionals did it and perhaps will be able to design their own treatment of an AI initiative.

The true importance of this book is that it answers the questions, `what do I do next?' and `what does the whole process look like when being implemented with a client system?' This is a good book to have on your shelf when you need a ready source of ideas and ways of working.

Helene

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.

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!

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!

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!

This book covers all the bases needed to understand appreciative inquiry and apply it in your own organization. The sample interview guides, worksheets and resources provided are very helpful and big time-savers. Appreciative Inquiry is a paradigm shift toward a mindset of helpful and constructive dialogue that seeks to get at the heart of issues and work towards creating an environment that is built on trust, hope, and collaboration. I highly recommend this approach as well as this book!

The handbook is clearly written and introduces not only a new paradigm in thinking about orgaisational change work it also supports change agents in their endeavour to create sustainable and learning organisations. Great practical materials and tools across the spectrum of AI are designed with a lot of ideas how to apply any AI initiative.
This book is well organized and readable and a must for every OD practicioner and change agent.

I think this book is an essential first book on the theory and practical application of the positve appreciative process.It defines the terms, provides the research and background of the process and gives first hand stories of its application in the real world.

Superbly written. If you want to manage successful change and grow your company at the same time, I believe this is the book to start with.