Appreciative Inquiry Handbook

2nd Edition (Book & CD)

David L. Cooperrider, Diana Whitney, Jacqueline Stavros. Crown Publishing, Inc. (2003), ISBN 1893435-17-2, Paperback (423 pages), $59.00

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The Appreciative Inquiry Handbook contains everything needed to launch any kind of AI initiative, from a one-hour introduction to AI to a complete two-day program. In the first edition, the editors provided background information on what AI is and how it works, offering sample project plans, designs, agendas, course outlines, interview guidelines, participant worksheets, a complete slide presentation, a list of resources and more.

This second edition has been extensively revised, updated and expanded throughout with new material, new tools and an entirely new chapter on case applications. An optional CD contains reproducible masters of slides, agendas, interview guide samples, and worksheets.

Table of Contents:

Essential Elements of Appreciative Inquiry

1. The Theoretical Basis of Appreciative Inquiry
2. Appreciative Inquiry Process: How It Works
3. Introducing, Defining and Planning an Appreciative Inquiry Initiative

Application of the 4-D Cycle of Appreciative Inquiry

4. Discovery: What Gives Life?
5. Dream: What Might Be?
6. Design: How Can It Be?
7. Destiny: What Will Be?

Learning Applications and Resources

8. Sample Interview Guides and Summary Report
9. AI Case Applications
10. AI Worksheets
11. The AI Classics: Selected Articles
12. Appreciative Inquiry Bibliography
13. Glossary of terms

In Praise of Appreciative Inquiry Handbook:

I’m quite impressed with this new edition of the AI Handbook. This is the world’s best source on AI – short of living with Cooperrider, Whitney and Stavros. It contains enough information, applications, and resources to satisfy the most dedicated AI learner/follower/consultant/teacher/groupie. Yes, it is pricey. And yes, it is worth it!

Geoff Bellman
Author, The Consultant’s Calling

This is a truly capstone work, integrating theory and practice in a highly detailed and immediately useful way. It will be a rich companion to anyone engaged in Appreciative Inquiry for years to come. And from this companionship we may anticipate a better world.

Ken Gergen
Director, The Taos Institute

The resources brought forth in this book are truly a bounty. I expect the reader, no matter his or her prior experience with AI ideas and processes, will want to reference it again and again. The authors have amassed in one place, for the first time, all of the Foundation.

Ron Fry
Professor, Weatherhead School of Management
Case Western Reserve University