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World Café

Reflect on a theme or problem as a group in a friendly way

Pratique

Aim

World Café connects people and ideas by exploring questions using a framework. The exercise encourages each person to contribute. The conversations that are generated give participants a global view of the topic and make it possible to find meaningful solutions that individuals can identify and engage with.

Instructions

Time needed: 75 à 120 minutes

Before the session, prepare a framework of three questions. This set of questions can take different forms:

• a “funnel” format, meaning a set of questions that goes from broader to more specific (with a final “how” question for the harvesting phase)
• based on time (yesterday, tomorrow, today)
• based on scope (in the world, in my company, in my team, for me)

You can also repeat the same question three times if the aim is to take the reflection as far as possible

^{Download examples of question frames}

Key Steps

The participants sit around the different tables. As facilitator, you explain to them that they will be discussing different questions together and that they are invited to draw and/or take notes of the discussion directly on the table coverings.

1. Round 1
   You ask the participants the first question in the pre-prepared framework and invite them to discuss it for 15 to 20 minutes. Once the time is up, each table appoints a “table host” who will stay there for the rest of the session.

Participants then have 5 minutes to move around and change tables, except for the hosts who remain at their table.

2. Round 2
   The table host shares the key points of the discussion that has just happened with the new people who have arrived.

You then ask the second question. As the tables are discussing, sharing, and drawing, you can move among them to keep up the energy, make sure they are marking the paper and that each individual can express themselves.

After 15 to 20 minutes, the participants move around again and change tables (5 minutes).

3. Round 3
   The table host shares the key points of the previous discussion with the new arrivals.

You then ask the third so-called “harvesting” question. Most of the time this is a convergence question, meaning that it is based on the previous two and is oriented towards concrete action. Each table has 20 minutes to exchange, discuss and organise their answers while continuing to take notes and draw on the table covering.

10 minutes before the end of the round, you give each table an A3 sheet for harvesting so that tables can summarise and finalise their response to question 3.

4. Plenary session
   Each table gives a three-minute presentation on the outcome of their reflection to the rest of the participants.

Tips and advice

• Make sure your questions are stimulating enough to generate high-quality discussion at your World Café.
• Encourage participants to listen carefully, have fun and use the table covering as a shared space for reflection: drawing, making diagrams, writing down key words, etc. is part of the exercise.
• Remind participants of the importance of being non-judgmental and aware of their impact on the group (making sure everyone has a chance to speak, differences of opinion, etc.).