The Appreciative Inquiry Summit

A Practitioner’s Guide for Leading
Large-Group Change

James D. Ludema, Diana Whitney, Bernard J. Mohr, Thomas J. Griffin. Berrett-Koehler Publishers, Inc. (2003), ISBN 1576752488, Paperback (310 pages), $29.95 (publisher’s page)

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This book is the first comprehensive practitioner’s guide to the AI Summit – the preferred methodology when applying AI to whole-scale change and large groups.  Written by four of the leading experts on Appreciative Inquiry, The Appreciative Inquiry Summit explores the underlying theories of organization change and large-group process and walks the reader step-by-step through planning conducting, and following up on an AI Summit.  It does so by sharing numerous examples from organizations around the world, including John Deere, Verizon, British Airways, the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the Canadian Department of National Defence, the United Religions Initiative, World Vision, and many others.

Table of Contents:

Part I: Understanding the AI Summit

1. What is the Appreciative Inquiry Summit?
2. The Appreciative Inquiry Summit Process: Start to Finish
3. Ten Essential Conditions for AI Summit Success

Part II: Before the Summit

4. Sponsoring an Appreciative Inquiry Summit
5. Planning the AI Summit
6. Creating the AI Summit Design

Part III: During the Summit

7. Discovery
8. Dream
9. Design
10. Destiny
11. Facilitating an AI Summit

Part IV: After the Summit

12. Summit Follow-Up
13. The Promise of the Appreciative Organization

Part V: Appendices

14. Sample Participant Workbook
15. Other Books on Appreciative Inquiry

In Praise of The Appreciative Inquiry Summit:

If you want to involve your whole organization in a positive way to produce timely, sustainable, and measurable business results, read this book. It shows how the AI Summit methodology has had a large impact on U.S. Cellular and other organizations around the globe. And it provides everything you need to know about how to plan, conduct and follow up on a successful AI Summit.

John E. Rooney
President & CEO
U.S. Cellular

If transforming your organization into a vibrant, creative and productive place is what you want, The Appreciative Inquiry Summit is a superb guide to making it happen. This book is like having a seasoned consultant by your side.

Peggy Holman
Co-Editor, The Change Handbook