World Café
What is 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
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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
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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
World Café
Basic design principles
Intention
Have a clear purpose and issue an inspiring invitation.
Powerful
Questions
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.
Conditions
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.
Process
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.
Harvest
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.
World Café etiquette
• CONTRIBUTE your thinking and
experience.
• LISTEN to understand.
• CONNECT ideas.
• LISTEN TOGETHER for patterns, insights,
and deeper questions .
Thoughts to consider
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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