Choosing Appreciative Conversations For Nonprofit Board Development

This action research project explored how sharingstories of board excellence through an appreciativeinquiry process could strengthen a nonprofit board.By participating in the Appreciative Inquiry cycleboard members shared stories identified themes thatcontributed to higher board efficacy constructed ashared vision and developed an action plan. Throughnarrative inquiry interviews the researcher assessedparticipants' perceptions regarding the effect of theprocess on individual and team learning commitmentto action and group effectiveness. The research alsorevealed themes related to teams group developmentleadership board structure and processes andthe social construction of meaning. The AppreciativeInquiry process resulted in tangible changes in groupdynamics and inspired commitment to actions whichenhanced the nonprofit board's ability to achieve theorganization's strategic objectives.