Appreciative Inquiry and Public Dialogue: An Approach to Community Change

Content Provider	Semantic Scholar
Author	Finegold, Muriel A. Holland, Bea Mah Lingham, Tony
Copyright Year	2002
Abstract	This paper will demonstrate the contribution of Appreciative Inquiry (AI) to whole system change in the public and non-profit sectors through elucidation of the theory, method, and examples of the successful application of this approach. Developed in the mid 1980s by David Cooperrider and his colleagues at Case Western Reserve University, AI begins with the discovery of the highest achievements, core values, and aspirations embedded in all human systems. It is a methodology that begins a dialogue between individuals, expands to groups and builds to embrace and declare community wide intentions and actions. The theory of social constructionism informs this work asserting that individuals in relationship with one another can and will co-create an effective future when a positive inquiry into the heart and soul of a system, its greatest accomplishments and deepest values, generates new meaning and inspires new possibilities. Deceptively simple, the system is based on a reversal of the expectations, practices, and limitations found in traditional problem solving methodologies and thus represents a significant shift in attitude and language.
Starting Page	235
Ending Page	252
Page Count	18
File Format	PDF HTM / HTML
DOI	10.1023/A:1020292413486
Volume Number	2
Alternate Webpage(s)	http://www.colorado.edu/communication/comm3000002/AI-PublicDialogue.pdf
Alternate Webpage(s)	https://doi.org/10.1023/A%3A1020292413486
Language	English
Access Restriction	Open
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article