Facilitation · Usually 90 minutes to half a day; can run over multiple days for large events.

World Café

A large-group conversation format in which people talk in small groups at café-style tables over several rounds, moving to new tables between rounds while a host stays behind to connect ideas. It lets dozens or hundreds of people build on each other's thinking around questions that matter to them.

When to use World Café

Exploring a shared question with a large group, surfacing ideas across silos, or building collective understanding before decisions are made.

How World Café works

Rotation-based activities cross-pollinate ideas across groups.

Phases of World Café

  1. Set Context: Clearly introduce the topic and the 'World Café' process to participants, explaining the purpose of the discussion and the expected outcomes; this ensures everyone understands the goals and can contribute effectively.
  2. Small Group Rounds: Participants engage in focused discussions in small groups, rotating between tables with different questions or themes; this allows for diverse perspectives and cross-pollination of ideas.
  3. Harvest: Each table summarizes key insights and learnings from their discussions, often visually capturing them on a tablecloth or flip chart; this makes the collective knowledge visible and accessible.
  4. Share Insights: The entire group shares the key insights harvested from each table, identifying common themes and actionable steps; this ensures everyone benefits from the collective intelligence and builds shared understanding.

Key principles

  • Set the context
  • Create hospitable space
  • Explore questions that matter
  • Encourage everyone's contribution
  • Connect diverse perspectives, listen together for patterns, share collective discoveries

Best for

  • Large groups (12 to hundreds)
  • Stakeholder and community engagement
  • Strategy exploration
  • Conferences and kick-offs

Considerations

  • Weak or closed questions produce shallow conversations; invest in question design.
  • It generates insight and connection, not decisions; plan a follow-up step if decisions are needed.
  • The harvest is easily rushed; reserve enough time and a clear capture method.

Attribution & sources

Developed by Juanita Brown and David Isaacs, 1995

Primary source

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