Appreciative Inquiry
http://appreciativeinquiry.case.edu/
An approach to group processes that focuses on discovering what gives “life” to a living system when it is most alive, most effective, and most constructively capable in economic, ecological, and human terms. It emphasizes the use of positive questions in order to achieve a strong vision for the future. (Cooperrider & Srivastva, 1987)

Harvesting/Harvest
The process or product of collecting the insights, ideas, or themes during a conversation or meeting. Harvesting may be conveyed verbally, in text, visually, or kinesthetically.

Divergence/Convergence
A three-phase pattern that shows up in any inquiry or multi-stakeholder engagement process of generative, goal-seeking conversation (divergence), ideas/needs integration (emergence) and action-oriented, decision-making (convergence). This pattern builds on the Diamond of Participation. (Kaner, 2007). For an example of this framework applied, see story by Karen Zentner Bacig.

Eight Breaths of Process Architecture
A planning tool that outlines the multiple different phases of divergence and convergence that each group or project goes through. For an example of this framework applied, see story by Jen Mein.

Community of Practitioners
A group focused on work, co-learning, and relationships to move to a deeper community. These domains generate conditions for a group to become more cohesive and to discover new learning and emergent solutions to issues. For an example of this framework applied, see Introduction.

Living Systems Paradigm
The idea that organizations and groups are self-organizing, living units that interact with and respond to their environments. For an example of this framework applied, see story by Karen Zentner Bacig.

Four-Fold Practice
The framework at the center of the Art of Hosting approach: being present or hosting yourself (pre-sensing), practicing conversations (participating), hosting conversations (contributing), and engaging in the community of practice (co-creating). For an example of this framework applied, see Introduction and story by Jen Mein.

Chaordic Path & Chaordic Stepping Stones
A process that follows the story of our natural world in which form arises out of nonlinear, complex, diverse systems. The Chaordic Path helps us discover innovative, new solutions to challenges in the place between chaos and order. In this place we access the collective intelligence and wisdom of everyone. The Chaordic Stepping Stones provide a planning tool with the strategic steps that can be taken to balance chaos and order in a group process. (Hock, 1999)

Cynefin Framework
A model used to describe problems, situations, and systems. The model provides a typology of contexts for description, which include: simple, complicated, complex, and chaotic. (Snowden, 2000; Snowden, 2007)

Powerful Questions
A foundational concept that stresses the power of questions to open up exploration. In all Art of Hosting techniques, a well crafted question attracts energy and focuses attention on what matters, they invite inquiry and curiosity, they surface good ideas and possibilities (Vogt, et al, 2003).