World coffee
Domain of activity
- Animation of group
- Training
Objective of the tool/method
Imported from the United States, the world café is a methodology for discussion between participants enabling, through collective intelligence, the emergence of a group of concrete proposals which are shared by all.
In order to establish a constructive dialogue, this method is based on the reproduction of the ambience around a coffee machine where the participants come and exchange on precise themes.
The principle is to create a climate of trust and conviviality in order to stimulate interaction. The space is organised in tables around which participants are invited to discuss, debate and put forward proposals. Several sessions are held in order to enable participants to :
- Change table regularly
- Exchange ideas from one table to another
- Come and add to their ideas with ideas from others (principle of cross-pollination towards collective intelligence).
Description of the tool
__Preparation__
//Roles// :
**Facilitator animator** : a person in charge of present the world café format and supervising the debates. He or she must welcome the participants, ensure the rules are understood and respected and above all be capable of recognising the presence of an important or key line of thought.
Alongside this organising role, the world café relies heavily on the participants :
**Table host or rapporteur** : this role is given to a participant willing to stay at the table during the different discussion times in a single session. The role is to explain and summarise all previous points to new arrivals. This enables the latter to react, create associations between ideas and to develop them. The table host often also plays the role of rapporteur, centralising the proposals put forward by the participants.
**Travellers or “idea ambassadors”** : these are all the other participants. They go from table to table to contribute key ideas, questions, subjects... each participant is invited to participate and share their questions, thoughts and ideas. The exchanges between participants are based on listening, equality (debate and proposal presentation times), creativity and sharing ideas.
//Preparing the room//
The atmosphere of the chosen location is important. It must stimulate exchange and be comfortable for the participants. The organisation is generally around small round tables (4-5 persons per table) with equipment made available (paper and pens, poster space on the wall to record group proposals).
//Definition of the subject//
In order to ensure that interesting results and concrete proposals are produced, it is essential to prepare the question or issue ahead of the debate. Once the subject has been defined by the organisers it is divided into questions treated at the round tables. The world café can include one or several questions. The formulation of the question must be simple and clear in order invite the participants to think and explore different possibilities. During the first session participants can think about their requirements with regards to a given issue whereas during the second session they can start to build concrete proposals in response to the previously defined requirements.
//Invitations//
The persons invited are predefined and as diversified as possible. They must have a shared interest for the subject in question though. The world café is adapted for exchange between 20 and 100 persons.
__Procedure__
**1. Presentation of the world café procedure and rules by the animator**
The world café begins by the organisers welcoming the participants. Then, the first phase is a presentation of the procedure and instructions are given to the participants. The instructions are not restrictive and are aimed at ensuring a climate of trust (cf. section on the world café rules)
WORLD CAFÉ RULES
Concentrate on the essentials
Share your thoughts
Say what you have in your mind and your heart
Listen in order to understand
Link and connect ideas
Listen to even the deepest points of view and questions
Play, draw, doodle
Writing on the sheets on the tables is encouraged
Enjoy yourselves
Source: Fondation Roi Baudoin 2006, Participative methods, a user guide.
**2. Organisation of group discussion sessions**
The participants get together in groups of 4 or 5 (maximum number recommended in order to ensure interaction between the participants while allowing for sufficient speaking time for everyone) around small tables in order to debate the theme and develop ideas and proposals. The participants have materials with which they can write down their proposals (paper, pens...). Each idea/proposal mentioned around the table should be noted down (e.g.: on a different sheet). During the discussion session, the participants are invited to share their points of view.
After a given period (15 to 30 minutes maximum), all the participants are invited to change table, except the table host. The aim of this is to take the ideas and add to them through exchange of different ideas. The said ideas will develop and become richer through cross pollination between tables which should take each idea further and nurture innovative positions.
In general, 3 discussion sessions of 15 to 30 minutes are held in order to enable this cross-pollination to take place. During the last discussion session, a little extra time is allocated to the preparation of a summary of the proposals. At each table the participants summarise all the proposals put forward and select those which are considered to be the most pertinent or best adapted to the theme.
**3. Final phase : plenary session**
A plenary phase of exchange around all the proposals is held in order to enable the participants to listen to the final proposals selected. Each table presents a report of the proposals retained further to the discussion phases.
This can be taken even further, for example by a vote to organise a ranking of the proposals, as was used for the responsible group catering meeting (cf. report below).
The proposals are then summarised in writing by the organisers and sent on to all the participants.
Contact
Marie-Laure Girault
Contact email
marie-laure.girault@supagro.fr
Address
9 rue Célestin Freinet
Town
FLORAC
Author of the index card
Marie-Laure Girault
Author structure
Institut d'éducation à l'agro-environnement de Florac
Author email
marie-laure.girault@supagro.fr