This guide is written to explain the Positive Deviance (PD) approach, which seeks to identify and optimise existing successful solutions or strategies within a community or organisation in order to solve problems that require behaviour and social change.

From the Guide: "This short basic guide is intended to orient newcomers to the PD approach by providing a brief description of the guiding principles, methodology and process that has made PD informed projects successful.

Its brevity and simplicity is meant to invite curious and intrepid implementers who face complex problems requiring behavior and social change, to venture out to help the community seek solutions that exist right now in the community and leverage them to the benefit of all members of the community."

Among its topics are the following:

• When to Use Positive Deviance
• Guiding Principles of Positive Deviance Approach
• Characteristics of the PD Process
• Tips for PD Facilitation
• “Let go of control - You go fast by going slow”
• PD Facilitation: the Art of Asking Questions
• Useful Definitions for the Positive Deviance Course for Practitioners
• Basic Steps Carried Out by the Community
• Sample PD Inquiry Tools

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The Positive Deviance Initiative website, accessed on October 27 2009.