Dedicated to advancing a scholarship of the positive, this program is based upon the premise that human systems move in the direction of what they most deeply and persistently ask questions about. The discovery and connection to a universe of infinite capacity of positive change may be the single most important thing human beings can do to participate in our current societal transition and global awakening. Today's change agenda is at a magnitude that surpasses the capacities of our deficit-based theories of intervention, restoration, problem analysis, therapy, disease containment, antibiotic treatment, and the like. Much needed is a major shift in the western diagnostic tradition, one that moves beyond the machine metaphor and medical model of change. The purpose of this research program is to instill exploration of the positive in order to help move scholarship toward the creation of a unifying theory of positive change-a change theory that moves across disciplines and one that can explain anomalies and open new options. Ideas for future scholarship include a plethora of interesting avenues of appreciative investigation. It is essential that we ask questions that will generate understanding and contribute to a more positive reality as we evolve, create, and move forward. This program is a call to researchers to formulate questions that will extend our shared positive futures. For example, how does joy contribute to more joy and happiness? How do positive emotions-hope, inspiration, and gratitude-contribute to human system change? Why are organizations more humanly energized environments when people shift from a deficit-based approach to an appreciative approach, the latter focusing on extraordinary moments of courage, change, and solidarity with others? How do we move from positive images to positive action in the process of change? How do our everyday thoughts, shaped in a positive light, shift our direction toward new dimensions in positive possibilities? To advance theoretical development, positive change can be forwarded by examining dimensions such as positive affect and human system change; positive language and narrative in human system change; positive images of the future and their relationship to positive action; positive reinforcement and modeling in social learning; appreciation and its cognitive power in human relationships; and positive questions and their generative capacity in human system inquiry. In summary, this program seeks to ignite academicians to ask the questions that will help shape and influence our future paradigms, theories, epistemologies, methods, and research motives. For more information, please contact: Leslie Sekerka Email: les10@po.cwru.edu |
- Sponsored by the Weatherhead
School of Management at Case
Western Reserve University -