The Power of Appreciative Inquiry: A Practical Guide to Positive Change

The Power of Appreciative Inquiry describes a wildly popular approach to organizational change that dramatically improves performance by encouraging people to study, discuss, learn from, and build on what's working, rather than simply trying to fix what's not. Whitney and Trosten-Bloom use examples from many different types of organizations to illustrate Appreciative Inquiry (AI) in action. A how-to book but not a manual, The Power of Appreciative Inquiry describes the newest ideas and practices in the field of Appreciative Inquiry since its inception in 1985. In updating the second edition, the authors conducted an appreciative inquiry with first edition readers, focusing especially on users in markets and universities.  At the urging of these readers, the authors have included a new chapter on the community applications of Appreciative Inquiry, as well as a host of new examples and other enhancements.

The Authoritative Guide to Strength-Based Change

The Power of Appreciative Inquiry describes the internationally embraced approach to organizational change that dramatically improves performance by engaging people to study, discuss, and build upon what’s working – strengths – rather than trying to fix what’s not. Diana Whitney and Amanda Trosten-Bloom, pioneers in the development and practice of Appreciative Inquiry (AI), provide a menu of eight results-oriented applications, along with case examples from a wide range of organizations to illustrate Appreciative Inquiry in action. A how-to book, this is the most authoritative and accessible guide to the newest ideas and practices in the field of Appreciative Inquiry since its inception in 1985.

The second edition includes new examples, tools, and tips for using AI to create an enduring capacity for positive change, along with a totally new chapter on award-winning community applications of Appreciative Inquiry.

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.

Diana Whitney, Ph.D. is the president and founder, along with David Cooperrider, of the Corporation for Positive Change—an international center for Appreciative Inquiry education and consultation. Her clients have included British Airways, Cap Gemini Ernst and Young, the Department of Labor, Hunter-Douglas Window Fashions, GE Capital, GlaxoSmithKline, GTE (now Verizon), Johnson & Johnson, NY Power Authority, PECO, and Sandia National Labs.

Amanda Trosten-Bloom is Director of Consulting Services for Corporation for Positive Change. She is a member of the Global Council for Appreciative Inquiry Consulting. Her clients have included Accenture, Front Range Community College, Hunter-Douglas Window Fashions, the Iliff School of Theology, McDATA Corporation, Providian Financial Services, SmithKline Beecham Clinical Laboratories, and the University of California at Berkeley.