Effective Implementation of Appreciative Inquiry in Nonprofit and Not-for-Profit Organizations: A Scoping Review

Abstract: The purpose of this study is to describe the effective implementation of Appreciative Inquiry (AI) in Nonprofit and Not-for-Profit Organizations through a scoping review. The relationship of Nonprofit, Not-for-Profit Organizations, AI and Human Resource Development (HRD) are of interest because of the scoping of applying the transformative theoretical framework (AI) to an organization with challenges for the workers, including limited career opportunities, relatively low salaries, and lack of technology resources. The main objectives guiding this study are to: (a) Understand the concepts and definitions of AI; (b) Comprehend the relationship between AI and Nonprofit and Not-for-Profit Organizations; (c) Analyze the Case Studies of AI in Nonprofit and Not-for-Profit Organizations; and (d) Recognize the implications of an AI approach for Nonprofit and Not-for-Profit Organizations. To guide this scoping review and logically synthesize the study, the search included examining the Guide by Subject during July to August of 2023 in the Educational and Human Resource Development (EHRD) database section provided by the Texas A&M University Library, 28 full text were assessed for eligibility and included in the study. These articles were selected from 1991 to 2022, with 13 published in the journal AI Practitioner. The findings of this investigation indicated that AI is a process with many forms of engagement that require appropriate planning to implement. Additionally, this study provides a comprehensive and visual representation of the key steps that HRD practitioners need to consider while developing an AI plan for Nonprofit and Not-for-Profit organizations.

Keywords: appreciative inquiry, nonprofit organizations, not-for-profit organizations