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Center for Applied Appreciative Inquiry (CAAI)

The Center for Applied Appreciative Inquiry (CAAI) at Rutgers University-Newark School of Public Affairs and Administration assists community organizations and groups with strategic planning, reorganization, and community engagement initiatives toward facilitating positive change. Through the use of positively constructed questions and a structured dialogue process, Appreciative Inquiry (Ai) seeks to discover the conditions, factors, and strengths that contribute to success and how they can be replicated to create new possibilities for greater future success. The center has provided technical assistance to colleges and universities, nonprofit and public sector organizations.

The center facilitates customized Ai summits for:

  • Organizational strategic planning
  • Organizational culture change
  • Redesign/reorganization of structures, systems, and processes
  • Mergers, consolidations and shared services
  • Community engagement and visioning
  • Creative solutions to public policy issues

In addition to customized organizational programs for:

  • 'Appreciative' Leadership and Team Development
  • Development of Positive Communications

Certificate Program
The non-credit Certificate in Appreciative Inquiry for Strengths-based Leadership and Innovation in the Public and Nonprofit Sectors provides students with an opportunity to learn how to apply Appreciative Inquiry (Ai) and the SOAR methodology (Strengths, Opportunities, Aspirations, and Results) for positive organizational change and innovation and strategic planning. Through coursework and fieldwork, student apply what they learn by designing an Appreciative Inquiry-based project unique to their organization or community.

Contact Information
James Davy, PhD
Distinguished Practitioner in Residence
School of Public Affairs and Administration (SPAA)
Rutgers University–Newark
jdavy@newark.rutgers.edu
732-754-8969

CAAI Projects