Change Management through Appreciative Inquiry explains the theory and practice of AI, World Cafe, Open Space and other conversational approaches for facilitating organizational development (OD).

Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is one of the most exciting and increasingly recognized concepts in facilitating organizational change.

This book studies AI in depth, illustrating the method of asking particular questions and envisioning the future, encouraging staff to consider both the positive and negative systems in place and to recognize the need to implement change. It demonstrates how AI can be practically applied by combining the skills, perspectives and approaches you will learn from this book into a practical conversational approach to your organizational challenges.

It also takes a look at other techniques used to create change through conversation.

Case studies from organizations that have already integrated conversational methods into their change management practice show you why the processes are valuable, why they are effective and how to promote, create and generate such conversations yourself.

Written in jargon-free language, this is an excellent resource for you to discover the benefits that conversational techniques can have on your organization and its performance.

REVIEWS : "This is an excellent book. It provides a practical and evidenced-based approach to successful change which puts people at the centre of the process." Professor Bernard Burnes, Chair of Organisational Change, Manchester Business School University of Manchester

“A refreshing view of organisations as human communities, which affirms the need for us to create positive, inspiring and supportive environments for people at work.” Professor Michael West, Executive Dean of Aston Business School, Head of Research and Professor of Organisational Psychology , Aston Business School, Birmingham UK

“I have seldom encountered a book packed with as much insight, clarity, practical advice and encouragement as this one. You’ll be wiser, more skilled, more helpful and more effective after digesting its remarkable ideas and approaches.” Margaret J. Wheatley, Author Leadership and the New Science and most recently Finding Our Way: Leadership for an Uncertain Time .

“Lewis, an occupational psychologist, offers a practical approach to change within organisations, focussing on the contribution made by individuals and how to turn that contribution into mo e effective business performance.” Book News, Library Publication – USA, Spring 2008

“This book has much to offer coaches and facilitators who are searching for another tool to augment their armoury. Those who are keen to ensure they get recruitment and succession planning correct should find much to help them in this book. This informed guide to remuneration strategy and practice could be a useful reference work for any private sector HR department anxious to prove its worth to the organisation. Whether or not we work in global organisations, the issue of talent management will… affect us all, and when it does it might be useful to have the benefit of this book’s perspective in order to plot strategy. HCM – Human Capital Management

CONTENTS INCLUDE :

Organisations as machines, workers as cogs and management as a control process;

 An alternative approach: organizations as living human systems;

The development of conversational approaches to organizational change;

Appreciative Inquiry: How do you do it?;

The power of the question;

The power of conversation;

Extending practice: working with story in organizations;

Developing your conversational practice;

Becoming an appreciative conversational practitioner;

How to introduce appreciative inquiry and related approaches to your organization