Appreciative inquiry: The why: The what? The how?

Abstract ‘Appreciative inquiry’ is the study and exploration of what gives life to human systems when they function at their best. This approach to personal change and organizational change is based on the assumption that questions and dialogue about strengths, successes, values, hope, and dreams are in themselves transformational. It is based on the belief that people, individually and collectively, have unique gifts, skills and contributions and that the organizations in which they work are human social systems where, through inquiry and dialogue, people can shift their attention and action away from problem analysis to identify worthy ideals and possibilities for the future.