Appreciative Inquiry


We apply the principles of Appreciative Inquiry in all areas of our practice. While we don't always use it in its purest form, it informs all we do.

Developed in 1987 by two professors, David Cooperrider and Suresh Srivastva, Appreciative Inquiry is a process that begins by inquiring into what is already working well in the organisation (DISCOVERY), dreaming what could be in the future (DREAMING), planning and prioritising what processes could work well (DESIGNING) and the execution of a process to get there (DELIVERY).


Appreciative Inquiry can be used to:

  • Develop strategic direction
  • Consult with people
  • Learn from past experience
  • Involve a whole or part of an organisation or community in change
  • Build a vision for the future that everyone can share and help put into practice


 Appreciative Inquiry

Principles of Appreciative Inquiry:

  1. Appreciative Inquiry includes knowledge sharing, story telling, relationship building and self organising. The best of what exists, hopes for the future.
  2. What we appreciate (positive image) leads to positive action. Knowledge of what works and what's possible.
  3. Our language matters - how we describe things not only impacts how we see them but also what they will become.
  4. People, organisations and communities move in the direction of what we most frequently and systematically ask questions about.
  5. The genius lies in creating the question.
  6. If we look for problems, we will see problems. If we look for opportunities we will see opportunities.