The Promise of Appreciative Inquiry in Library Organizations

Abstract

Appreciative Inquiry is a different approach to organizational development, one that calls for the deliberate search for what contributes to organizational effectiveness and excellence. Appreciative Inquiry is a practical philosophy that assumes the organization is a “mystery” and a “marvel” to be embraced, not a problem to be solved (Cooperrider & Srivastava, 1987, p. 131). The author’s experience with this different approach to organizational development reveals its power to unleash the creative energy within library organizations. This article describes the principles, process, and some of the practices of Appreciative Inquiry.

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