Customer Reviews
A significant contribution to conversational practice - By: Geof Cox, 19 May 2008 
This book adds significantly to the growing library of books devoted to the process & practice of Appreciative Inquiry. The sub-title of `Using AI to Facilitate Organizational Development' is a very clear summary of the book's content, & it will be particularly valuable to those who know the fundamentals of AI & wish to take their practice to a new level. It is not a `how-to' for AI itself, although it does include excellent chapters on its history & process - so it does not compete with the excellent titles by Watkins & Mohr or Whitney & Trosten-Bloom. Instead it focuses on exploring conversational approaches to organisation development, of which Appreciative Inquiry is at the forefront.
As a starting point, the book focuses on making the difference between conversational & mechanistic approaches, with comparisons between the two approaches & reflecting on the historical strands of theory & practice from which the view of organisation as an living human systems emerges. The history & practice of Ai is then coveredin two summary chapters.
Part 2 explores the skills & practice guidance that support being a practitioner who is using conversational practice as a key toolin their interventions. Chapters lookin depth at the power & form of questions; conversation & how to promote & use itin organisation development; working with story; & some practices other than Appreciative Inquiry that centre on conversational practice - such as World Café, Open Space, The Circle & Future Search. To end off this section, there is a discussion on being an appreciative conversational practitioner, & the challenges that arise from adopting this approach.
Part 3 is devoted to case studies, not just written by consultants who focus just on the highlights, butin collaboration with the case study line managers & thus identify & reflect the greater complexity & the ups & downs of the experience. They thus provide some meaningful insights into the real difficulties & real benefits of the approaches. The case studies do focus on Appreciative Inquiry interventions as one might expect, but also includes a World Café case study with the American Society for Quality.
Taken as a whole, this is one of the most significant contributions to the practice of conversational interventions to be publishedin recent years. The book is clearly written with relevant underpinning of theory & experience & successfully advocates for the expansion of appreciative conversational practicein organisation development. It will help facilitators & line managers to analyse situations more effectively, & also develop & improve their understanding & skills so that they - & the organisations with whom they interact - can benefit from adopting conversational & appreciative techniquesin their practice & development.
a useful book and good read - By: A reader, 26 Mar 2008 This is a great book & would be very useful to people interestedin conversational & strengths based approaches to change. Although the title focuses on Appreciative Inquiryin fact the book covers much more ground than this.
I particularly liked how the authors managed to give useful practical guidance as well as clearly explaining the theory underpinning the approaches. I found the first three chapters particularly helpful, & they've already influenced how I've explained my approach to new clients.
The book felt very familiar somehow, a bit like a new friend that you discover you have lotsin common with, but also stretches you a bit. I have really enjoyed discovering it, returning many times to my favourite parts for ideas & inspiration. It's full of both.
Very practical and extremly useful guidebook! - By: D. Shaked, 18 Mar 2008 As a beginnerin this rich world of positive change management (or an 'AI child' as referred toin the book), I found the book to be an incredibly enriching & useful collection of best practices shared by those who have been there, done that & even bought the t-shirt!
The rich experience of the authors & their practical knowledge of applying AI to various situations is very evident. The book includes both theory & practical application of AI as well as excellent case studies which help connect the knowledge of AI with the 'real world'. The book is writtenin a very open way & the authors seem keen to share their 'secrets of the trade' with others. Thank you!
My only challenge with the book was that it is so packed with great ideas & useful tips that I will probably have to refer back to it as I can't possibly absorb all at once. Trying to take itin as much as possible may slow down the pace of reading. Either way, you will learn a lot!
Great book! - By: Karena Gomez, 05 Jan 2008 This is a great book, whether your interest isin Appreciative Inquiry, orin change management generally- the book has something to offer. The writing style is very energetic, & gives you the enthusiasm to think about how you can use this method within your own client organisations. I felt a lot of resonance of some of the case studies described with situations I am working through, & the processes described give a very 'real' feeling to how this method can be used.
After reading the book, I had more confidencein offering a different perspective on change to both fellow consultants, & those from my client organisation. Tapping into the collective wisdom contained within the book shows you a whole world of change that isn't built on the usual process, or machine based model.
I would recommend this book to practitioners from all disciplines working on or within change management projects, whetherin their own organisations, orin client organisations.
Buy it - you won't be disappointed!
