Appreciative Inquiry
from A Positive Revolution in Change: Appreciative Inquiry by David L. Cooperrider and Diana Whitney.
Ap-pre’ci-ate, v., 1. valuing; the act of recognizing the best in people or the world around us; affirming past and present strengths, successes, and potentials; to perceive those things that give life (health, vitality, excellence) to living systems 2. to increase in value, e.g. the economy has appreciated in value. Synonyms: VALUING, PRIZING, ESTEEMING, and HONORING.
In-quire’ (kwir), v., 1. the act of exploration and discovery. 2. To ask questions; to be open to seeing new potentials and possibilities. Synonyms: DISCOVERY, SEARCH, and SYSTEMATIC EXPLORATION, STUDY.
Appreciative Inquiry is about the search for the best in people, their organizations, and the relevant world around them. It involves systematic discovery of what gives “life” to a living system when it is most alive, most effective, and most constructively capable in economic, ecological, and human terms. AI involves the art and practice of asking questions that strengthen a system’s capacity to apprehend, anticipate, and heighten positive potential. It centrally involves the mobilization of inquiry through the crafting of the “unconditional positive question”.
Instead of negation, criticism, and spiraling diagnosis, there is discovery, dream, and design.
· Discover – what is. In the Discovery phase participants dig for what is right and good, rather than focusing primarily on deficits.
· Dream – what could be. This is brainstorming unlimited, where participants speak up about every idea that might possibly work. No idea is discouraged.
· Design – what should be. Out of the list if ideas generated in the Dream stage, participants start to choose the best ideas to work with in order to determine their potential.
· Delivery or Destiny – what will be. In this final stage, the most useful and practical ideas are selected for development and implementation
The Appreciative Inquiry Commons
Ap-pre’ci-ate, v., 1. valuing; the act of recognizing the best in people or the world around us; affirming past and present strengths, successes, and potentials; to perceive those things that give life (health, vitality, excellence) to living systems 2. to increase in value, e.g. the economy has appreciated in value. Synonyms: VALUING, PRIZING, ESTEEMING, and HONORING.
In-quire’ (kwir), v., 1. the act of exploration and discovery. 2. To ask questions; to be open to seeing new potentials and possibilities. Synonyms: DISCOVERY, SEARCH, and SYSTEMATIC EXPLORATION, STUDY.
Appreciative Inquiry is about the search for the best in people, their organizations, and the relevant world around them. It involves systematic discovery of what gives “life” to a living system when it is most alive, most effective, and most constructively capable in economic, ecological, and human terms. AI involves the art and practice of asking questions that strengthen a system’s capacity to apprehend, anticipate, and heighten positive potential. It centrally involves the mobilization of inquiry through the crafting of the “unconditional positive question”.
Instead of negation, criticism, and spiraling diagnosis, there is discovery, dream, and design.
· Discover – what is. In the Discovery phase participants dig for what is right and good, rather than focusing primarily on deficits.
· Dream – what could be. This is brainstorming unlimited, where participants speak up about every idea that might possibly work. No idea is discouraged.
· Design – what should be. Out of the list if ideas generated in the Dream stage, participants start to choose the best ideas to work with in order to determine their potential.
· Delivery or Destiny – what will be. In this final stage, the most useful and practical ideas are selected for development and implementation
The Appreciative Inquiry Commons