Acknowledgements & Credits

Malimbeconnect is a living workspace. 

Intellectual & Practice Foundations

I acknowledge the scholars, practitioners, researchers, and bodies of knowledge in Appreciative Inquiry (see acknowledgements) that have influenced my thinking and contributed to the development of my Appreciation-Based AI-5D Human-Centered Practice™, including work in:

• Appreciation-Based Practices
• Appreciative Intelligence
• Adaptive Organizational Change
• Adult learning and human development
• Leadership and professional development
• Organizational change and transformation
• Human-centered learning design
• Coaching and experiential learning
• AI and digital transformation

I am actively exploring AI applications, tools, and emerging technologies as part of this living practice. AI supports research, exploration, brainstorming, writing, design, and experimentation. Human judgment, reflection, experience, and accountability remain central to how ideas are evaluated and applied.

Where ideas, research, frameworks, images, quotations, or other materials are drawn from external sources, appropriate attribution and credits will be provided. I am committed to distinguishing my original contributions from ideas and resources that have informed or supported this work.

This site is intentionally a work in progress. The Appreciation-Based AI-5D Human-Centered Practice™ will continue to develop as I learn, test, question, reflect, and explore new possibilities at the intersection of human potential, organizational change, and AI-enabled transformation.

With appreciation for the many people, ideas, experiences, and technologies that continue to shape the journey.  

This site builds upon concepts and insights developed through my doctoral dissertation research, which examined the application of an Appreciative Inquiry model within educational environments. That research provides an important foundation for the development of the Appreciation-Based AI-5D Human-Centered Framework™.

AI-5D extends appreciative principles into broader contexts of organizational change, human capability, adaptation, and AI-enabled transformation. The framework continues to evolve as I explore how appreciation-based approaches can help individuals and organizations recognize strengths, envision possibilities, and intentionally navigate an increasingly complex and technology-enabled world.

The Appreciation-Based AI-5D Human-Centered Framework™ is grounded in the foundational scholarship of David Cooperrider, PhD, and Appreciative Inquiry (AI)—a strengths-based approach to organizational development and change that focuses on what gives life to people, teams, and systems and what enables them to thrive.

AI-5D extends this foundation by bringing together appreciative inquiry, adaptive practice, human-centered design, systems thinking, and AI-enabled insight in a cyclical approach to change.

At its core is the belief that sustainable transformation begins by recognizing and engaging the strengths, experiences, relationships, knowledge, and potential already present within people and systems. The framework moves from appreciating what is and what is possible toward intentionally designing, adapting, and delivering what could be—while keeping human judgment, purpose, relationships, and meaning at the center.

*Cooperrider, D. L., & Srivastva, S. (1987). Appreciative inquiry in organizational life. In Research in Organizational Change and Development.

*Cooperrider, D. L., Whitney, D., & Stavros, J. M. (2008). Appreciative inquiry handbook: For leaders of change (2nd ed.). Berrett-Koehler.

Lewis, S. E., Passmore, J., & Cantore, S. (2016). Appreciative inquiry for change management: Using AI to facilitate organizational development. Kogan Page.

Thatchenkery, T. J., & Metzker, C. (2006). Appreciative intelligence: Seeing the mighty oak in the acorn. Berrett-Koehler.

Watkins, J. M., Mohr, B. J., & Kelly, R. (2011). Appreciative inquiry: Change at the speed of imagination (2nd ed.). Pfeiffer.

Bushe, G. R. (2012). Appreciative inquiry: Theory and critique. In D. Boje, B. Burnes, & J. Hassard (Eds.), The Routledge companion to organizational change (pp. 87–103). Routledge.

*David L. Cooperrider, PhD, served as a Distinguished University Professor at Case Western Reserve University and held the Covia–David L. Cooperrider Professorship in Appreciative Inquiry at the Weatherhead School of Management.

Educator. Organizational Change Practitioner. Leadership & Learning Professional.
Exploring the intersection of human potential, organizational change, and AI-enabled transformation.