What is Appreciative Inquiry?

Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is a strength-based approach to facilitating positive change.  The foundational premise of AI is that by engaging people in dialogue and sharing stories that focus on their experiences of success, they unleash creativity and energy for envisioning the potential of the organization and implementing changes that help bring that potential into reality.

AI is especially effective where there are diverse stakeholders and there is a sincere desire to engage many, if not all, of them in an open and collaborative process, where the objective is innovation and change that achieves transformational results, and in complex situations where there are "no easy answers."

The Appreciative Inquiry process starts with an affirmative topic choice (Definition) and engages participants in an exploration of the positive core of the group or organization through interviews and inquiry (Discovery).  With a clear picture of what gives life to the group, they imagine what would be possible if the potential of the positive core were fully realized and they create a vision for the future (Dream).  Then they go on to develop a strategic and pragmatic plan (Design) and to implement the plan (Destiny) for results.

Appreciative Inquiry is scientifically and theoretically rooted in social constructionism, positive psychology, complexity theory, whole systems theory and theories of self-organizing systems.  In accordance with these principles, AI seeks to elicit stories and expressions of meaning through the use of questions focused on positive experiences and meanings (root causes of success) as a basis or model for future action.

Corporations, non-profits, governments and aid organizations, including Avon, GTE Telecommunications, NASA, Roadway Express, Save the Children, USAID, the US Navy and World Vision, have used AI successfully for such diverse applications as:

For more information about Appreciative Inquiry, send an email to nwca@NewWorldCoaching.net or call us at (703)739-2900.

You may also visit Appreciative Inquiry Consulting, LLC and Appreciative Inquiry Commons.

Print this page.