World Café

World Café is a method for creating a network of collaborative conversations around questions that matter. The Café is built on the assumption that people already have within them the wisdom and creativity to solve even the most difficult challenges. And given the right context and focus, it is possible to use this deeper knowledge about what’s important.

What is World Café Good For?

World Café is a great way to foster collaborative dialogue, active engagement and constructive possibilities with large or small groups. The café format is flexible and may be adapted to many different purposes including information sharing, relationship building, deep reflection, exploration and action planning.

Assumptions of World Café

• The knowledge and wisdom we need is present and accessible

• Collective insight evolves from honouring unique contribution; connecting ideas; listening into the middle; noticing deeper themes and questions

• The intelligence emerges as the system connects to itself in diverse and creative ways

Design Principles of World Café

• Create a hospitable place• Explore questions that matter• Encourage each person’s contribution• Connect diverse people and ideas• Listen together for patterns, insights and

deeper questions• Make collective knowledge visible

What is World Café?

Basic design principles

Have a clear purpose and issue an inspiring invitation.

The world café conversations evolve over three rounds. The same question can be used for more than one round to go deeper or questions that build on each other can be used to focus the conversation or guide its direction.

Create an inviting environment preferably seating 4-5 people at café style tables or in clusters, display the World Café Etiquette on tables, with paper and coloured markers that allow for all people to record.

World Café usually involves three 20-30 minute rounds of conversation. At the end of the first round one participant stays as ‘table host’, while others move to a new table. The next round then begins with the process host announcing the question, and the table host sharing previous discussions before moving into a new round of conversation.

In final round (or in between rounds if needed) allow time for the small groups to share insights from their conversations and share with the wider group. These can be recorded and reflected back to the group in a variety of ways including visual recording. If there is specific information needed from the harvest, ensure you build this into the process.

• CONTRIBUTE your thinking and experience.

• LISTEN to understand.• CONNECT ideas.• LISTENTOGETHER for patterns, insights,

and deeper questions .

• Never skimp on time for each round i.e. no less than 20 minutes.

• Remember to allow for time for people moving between groups and some type of whole group harvest after the final round. This may occur at the tables or in circle.

• Inclusion of World Café early in your workshop allows plenty of time to further explore good ideas harvested.

• Know what you need to harvest from the process before you plan your design.

To learn more visit World Café website www.theworldcafe.com

World Café etiquette Thoughts to consider

Intention

PowerfulQuestions

Conditions

Process

Harvest

World Café