In this groundbreaking book, Tom Wolff spells out six proven principles for creating collabo- rative solutions for healthy communities. The Power of Collaborative Solutions addresses contemporary social problems by helping people of diverse circumstances and backgrounds work together to solve community challenges. Filled with clear principles, illustrative stories, and practical tools, this book shows how to make lasting change really happen. Praise for The Power of Collaborative Solutions "This is a truly transformative book and a must-read. Tom Wolff crafts a path to change that is at once visionary and achievable." MEREDITH MINKLER, professor of health and social behavior, University of California, Berkeley, and coauthor, Community-Based Participatory Research for Health (Jossey-Bass, 2008) "If you want to bring about sustained positive change in your community, read this book. The stories will inspire you, and the lessons will shine a light on your leadership path." TYLER NORRIS, founding president, Community Initiatives "Here you'll find not just theory, but also the hard-won, down-to-earth detail on how to make collaboration work where you live and act." BILL BERKOWITZ, professor emeritus of psychology, University of Massachusetts Lowell "Tom has a tremendous fount of knowledge, and he knows just what to do with it and how to help others use it. His kind and commonsensical manner means that his intellect is accessible." LINDA BOWEN, executive director, Institute for Community Peace, Washington, D.C.

In this groundbreaking book, Tom Wolff spells out six proven principles for creating collabo- rative solutions for healthy communities. The Power of Collaborative Solutions addresses contemporary social problems by helping people of diverse circumstances and backgrounds work together to solve community challenges. Filled with clear principles, illustrative stories, and practical tools, this book shows how to make lasting change really happen. Praise for The Power of Collaborative Solutions "This is a truly transformative book and a must-read. Tom Wolff crafts a path to change that is at once visionary and achievable." MEREDITH MINKLER, professor of health and social behavior, University of California, Berkeley, and coauthor, Community-Based Participatory Research for Health (Jossey-Bass, 2008) "If you want to bring about sustained positive change in your community, read this book. The stories will inspire you, and the lessons will shine a light on your leadership path." TYLER NORRIS, founding president, Community Initiatives "Here you'll find not just theory, but also the hard-won, down-to-earth detail on how to make collaboration work where you live and act." BILL BERKOWITZ, professor emeritus of psychology, University of Massachusetts Lowell "Tom has a tremendous fount of knowledge, and he knows just what to do with it and how to help others use it. His kind and commonsensical manner means that his intellect is accessible." LINDA BOWEN, executive director, Institute for Community Peace, Washington, D.C.

A practical resource for facilitators who want to introduce positive, strength-based perspectives into their work and trainings, this book provides an overview of Appreciative Inquiry's positive psychology and strength-based change methods. Author Robyn Stratton-Berkessel explores basic principles and practices, shows you how to incorporate AI into existing work, and offers practical advice for designing new trainings. She provides a variety of ready-to-deliver workshops on topics such as leadership, diversity, technology, creativity, change, innovation, learning, collaboration, coaching, and team-building. In addition, she suggests how to make the outcomes of an Appreciative Inquiry session stick and what it takes to make these valuable approaches self-sustaining. A first in the field of Appreciative Inquiry, this important resource provides twenty one ready-to-use workshops for facilitators, leaders, consultants, and trainers who want to empower others in creating collaborative solutions. "What you learn in a single book can change everything. Appreciative Inquiry for Collaborative Solutions is Robyn Stratton-Berkessel at her very best?helping all of us open ourselves to our best selves, envision possibilities, and get in touch with our own and other's strengths. A brilliantly applied book?with over 21 workshops ready for prime time delivery?helping leaders tap the revolutionary power of appreciative inquiry or "AI" for creating value for customers, suppliers, team members, shareholders, and families. Are you ready to walk on the strengths-based side of organization development and leadership? This inspiring volume will propel you upward step by step?it takes AI from concept to reality in an eloquent, empowering, and utterly engaging way." ?David Cooperrider, Fairmount Minerals Professor at Case Western Reserve University's Weatherhead School of Management "Both inspiring and highly practical, this book will be an invaluable and no doubt well-thumbed addition to your library of Appreciative Inquiry resources, whether you are a novice or an experienced practitioner!" ?Sue James, partner, BJ Seminars "Ms. Stratton-Berkessel's work leaves the reader with a clear understanding of why Appreciative Inquiry is such a powerful change model. Those new to Appreciative Inquiry will marvel at her unique explanation of the 'phases' of Appreciative Inquiry. Those more familiar with Appreciative Inquiry will enjoy her explanations and examples." ?Timothy Germany, commissioner, Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service "A practical approach grounded in personal experience...[this book] shows that Appreciative Inquiry is not a luxury but a necessity for organizational success." ?Annalie Killian, catalyst for magic AMP, producer of the AMPLIFY Innovation & Thought Leadership Festival, Sydney, Australia

In this groundbreaking book, Tom Wolff spells out six proven principles for creating collabo- rative solutions for healthy communities. The Power of Collaborative Solutions addresses contemporary social problems by helping people of diverse circumstances and backgrounds work together to solve community challenges. Filled with clear principles, illustrative stories, and practical tools, this book shows how to make lasting change really happen. Praise for The Power of Collaborative Solutions "This is a truly transformative book and a must-read. Tom Wolff crafts a path to change that is at once visionary and achievable." MEREDITH MINKLER, professor of health and social behavior, University of California, Berkeley, and coauthor, Community-Based Participatory Research for Health (Jossey-Bass, 2008) "If you want to bring about sustained positive change in your community, read this book. The stories will inspire you, and the lessons will shine a light on your leadership path." TYLER NORRIS, founding president, Community Initiatives "Here you'll find not just theory, but also the hard-won, down-to-earth detail on how to make collaboration work where you live and act." BILL BERKOWITZ, professor emeritus of psychology, University of Massachusetts Lowell "Tom has a tremendous fount of knowledge, and he knows just what to do with it and how to help others use it. His kind and commonsensical manner means that his intellect is accessible." LINDA BOWEN, executive director, Institute for Community Peace, Washington, D.C.

This book disrupts the way practitioners and academic scholars think about crowds, crowdsourcing, innovation, and new organizational forms in this emerging period of ubiquitous access to the internet. The authors argue that the current approach to crowdsourcing unnecessarily limits the crowd to offering ideas, locking out those of us with knowledge about a problem. They use data from 25 case studies of flash crowds — anonymous strangers answering online announcements to participate in a 7-10 day innovation challenge — half of whom were unleashed from the limitations of focusing on ideas. Yet, these crowds were able to develop new business models, new product lines, and offer useful solutions to global problems in fields as diverse as health care insurance, software development, and societal change. This book, which offers a theory of collective production of innovative solutions explaining the practices that the crowds organically followed, will revolutionize current assumptions about how innovation and crowdsourcing should be managed for commercial as well as societal purposes.

This book provides real evidence of the benefits of collaboration as well as a theoretical framework on which to build the capacity of organisations and individuals to collaborate more often and more effectively to address dilemmas and find solutions that stick. Collaborative Governance demands the sharing of both power and trust. It also requires a belief in people and their strengths, clear leadership and inclusive processes. This book introduces and explains a five-step process for finding enduring solutions to complex dilemmas. If you have to work with people on complex dilemmas The Power of 'Co' is for you. Collaborative Governance is, in essence, appreciative, informative, deliberative and iterative.

Michael Fullan and Mark Edwards capture a powerful way forward Today’s challenges have led to a loss of hope at all levels of education leadership. Spirit Work and the Science of Collaboration advocates for the development of two qualities that will bring back hope: "spirit work" and the “science of collaboration”. Built on eight school district cases of success spirit work inspires leaders and community members to join to create a positive powerful culture. The authors delve into new developments in neuroscience to show how spirit and collaboration represent revolutionary potential for education. Readers will find: A lifeline amid overwhelming and exhausting conditions Hope for themselves and the future of education Ideas for building cohesion throughout school communities