The power of appreciative inquiry : a practical guide to positive change / Diana Whitney and Amanda Trosten-Bloom.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

What is Appreciative Inquiry? -- A Menu of Approaches to Appreciative Inquiry -- Eight Principles of Appreciative Inquiry -- Appreciative Inquiry in Action: From Origins to Current Practice -- Getting Started with Appreciative Inquiry -- Affirmative Topic Choice -- Discovery: Appreciative Interviews and More -- Dream: Visions and Voices of the Future -- Design: Giving Form to Values and Ideals -- Destiny: Inspired Action and Improvisation -- Why Appreciative Inquiry Works.

The Power of Appreciative Inquiry describes a new strategy that inspires people and brings about a higher performance level in any organization. This method encourages people to study, discuss, learn from, and build on what works well when they are at their best, rather than focusing on what's going wrong. The theory, practice, and spirit of this approach to organizational change is described in plain language. The authors provide guidelines for defining the change agenda, initiative, or project; forming the "steering team"; and launching an organization-wide kick off. Case histories demonstrate how organizations can attain sustained positive change by studying their strengths.