World Café Conversation Method

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Explanation of the method
According to the information from The World Café (2008), the process of Café conversation starts at small café-style tables with four to five people each. Individuals will switch to another table on each round of conversation which takes approximately 20-30 minutes. After completing the first round of conversation, one person will remain at the table and become the “host” for the explanation of the main ideas, themes and questions from the previous conversations. While the others, which carry key ideas, themes and questions to link and connect into their new conversations. Both table hosts and members are encouraged to write key ideas on the tablecloths. At the end of several rounds of conversation, discoveries will be shared in a whole group conversation.
Juanita & David (2005) describe the seven world café design principles to nurture actionable knowledge and mutual intelligence. The first principle is set the context. There are three key elements of context setting which are purpose, participants and parameters. In setting the context, it should understand the purpose of bringing people together and clarify the possible outcomes in the conversation. Choose the right participants are important to achieve the purpose and to obtain additional perspectives. Post-event activities and follow-up have to be considered in designing the parameters.
Principle two is to create hospitable space. The nature of the café providing fun is the important elements to be added to reduce the natural tensions created by a post-merger situation. Mind-mapping practices and other visual elements enable the right-brain processing which is bringing the creativity into the conversation (Juanita & David, 2005).
Principle thr...

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...ed Conversational Processes: Lessons from the World Café. The Journal of Applied Behavioral Science. [Online] 49 (3) Available from: http://jab.sagepub.com.ezproxy.usq.edu.au/content/49/3/388.full.pdf [Accessed: 17 May 2014]

5) SAMANTHA TAN & JUANITA BROWN (2005) The World Café in Singapore: Creating a Learning Culture Through Dialogue. The Journal of Applied Behavoiral Science. [Online] 41(1) p. 83-90 Available from: http://jab.sagepub.com.ezproxy.usq.edu.au/content/41/1/83.full.pdf [Accessed: 17 May 2014]

6) COMMUNITY & RECREATION SERVICES (2008) Maitland Women’s Café Community Consultation March 2008 [Online]. Maitland: Maitland Social Compass. Available from: http://116.240.203.224/UserFiles/File/a2Socia%20lReportCafe%20IWD%20308.pdf [Accessed: 25 May 2014]

7) CAROLYN UYEDA (2010) Australia Master Environment Guide. Australia: McPherson’s Printing Group

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