Appreciative Enquiry

Basic Assumption: An organization is a mystery to be embraced.

An exciting new paradigm for human development and social innovation.
By asking positive questions, we can generate new images of the future... images evoked by the best of the past and present.

These powerful images of ourselves, our organizations, and the world can inspire action and innovation.

Philanthropy, as the concrete expression of our "love of humanity," can provide an ideal vehicle.

Other assumptions

* In every community something works

* What we focus on becomes our reality

* Reality is created in the moment – there is more than one reality

* The act of asking questions influences the community in some way

* People have more confidence and comfort to journey into the future when they carry forward parts of the past

* If we carry forward parts of the past, they should be the best parts

* It is important to value differences

*The language we use creates our reality

 No problem can be solved from the same level of consciousness that created it

~ Albert Einstein