World café

Primary Purpose

Hosting large group dialogue that stimulates conversation about questions that matter to participants and allows for collaborative learning.

Description

The World Café methodology is designed to enable large group dialogue about a particular issue or topic. World Cafés are based around small group conversations that allow stakeholders to build relationships and learn together.

While the World Café methodology can be modified to fit a variety of purposes, there are five basic components that comprise the model:

  1. Create a space that feels safe and inviting, i.e. a cafe setting with small tables, colorful table cloths, flowers, butcher paper, pens, and four-five chairs at each table.
  2. Provide a welcome and introduce the process, including an explanation of the context and the ground rules for discussion.
  3. Create questions with the aim of eliciting lively discussion and insights
  4. Allow the groups seated at each table to discuss the question for at least 20 minutes. They can record answers on the paper provided or have a designated recorder taking notes at each table. Encourage all group members to participate in the discussion. After the discussion, all group members move on to a new table to discuss a different question.
  5. Share the results from the small groups with the large group.

Outcomes

World Cafés promote discussion among diverse stakeholders. They can help generate ideas and creative solutions to challenging problems, while also building relationships and understanding between different groups. Linking together ideas from different small group conversations helps identify common themes and new insights.

Time considerations

One World Café Session may last between ninety minutes and several hours. Planning the event and recruiting participants can take several weeks.

Staffing

A single individual can effectively plan a World Café, but developing the questions and recruiting participants will often be more effective if done by a team. The number of staff required to set up and run the event itself will depend on the number of attendees and whether or not each table will have a designated facilitator and/or notetaker or not.

Materials

  • Venue
  • Catering (optional)
  • Stationery or butcher paper
  • Pens, markers, pens
  • Hosts for each table (optional)
  • Lead facilitator/host
To what level(s) on the spectrum does this technique apply?
Involve
Collaborate
This technique is good for ...
Bringing people together
Collecting and compiling input
Audience Size
Moderate number of people can be involved
Skill level required to lead
Moderately difficult
Source
The World Cafe Website
World Cafe - Scottish Health Council