The Relevance of Appreciative Inquiry In the context of Social Change, Social Research, Social Work and Social Entrepreneurship

:  While life majorly centers on problem solving, problem solving skills are honed and imbibed from the day one is born, so to say. Many a time, the solution is in the problem itself and the person facing the problem can solve the problem himself, if he is provided the right tools and equipped with the right skills. Appreciative Inquiry (AI) is another approach that seeks to solve the problem by motivating the participants (or, stakeholders) and affected parties themselves to introspect, seek change and solve it by self-analysis and correction in a positive way. This paper is a collation of the application of random thoughts based on preliminary observations and analysis of completed work in retrospect. It is application of the theory of Appreciative Inquiry to its actual practice in social work and social entrepreneurship, social research and social change. In developing countries and underdeveloped countries, AI is a useful tool that can motivate the rural poor to reform themselves and lift them out of poverty. Cohesiveness and cooperation among the villagers and harmony brings about positive impact towards sustainable development and growth. This is an add-on to the policies and injections and inducements that governments provide. The tool of appreciative inquiry is a tool that results in positive outcomes and learning. It has to be applied in various avenues, wherever the human element is an input, which is again why AI is required.