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Copenhagen Knowledge Cafe Masterclass June 2011

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David Gurteen
David Gurteen

The document discusses knowledge cafés, which are informal conversations aimed at sharing knowledge and gaining understanding. A knowledge café involves bringing a group together to discuss a topic of mutual interest in small group and whole group discussions. The goal is for participants to emerge with new insights and perspectives rather than reach consensus. Facilitators ensure all voices are heard but do not direct the discussion. Knowledge cafés can address a variety of topics and help organizations encourage knowledge sharing and informed decision making.

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The kind of conversation I’m interested in is one in which you start with a willingness to emerge a slightly different person. Theodore Zeldin Conversation Theodore is an Oxford Historian
Gurteen Knowledge Café
Agenda 16:00 – 16:20 Business is a Conversation (20 mins) 16:20 – 16:40 Knowledge Café Process (20 mins) 16:40 – 17:00 Conversation + Q&A (20 mins) 17:00 – 18:00 Knowledge Cafe (60 mins) 18:00 – 18:30 Types of Café & Applications (30 mins) 18:30 – 19:00 Action Circle (30 mins)
The birth of the Gurteen Knowledge Cafe London, September 2002
Our job is to have interesting conversations
Business is a conversation Business is a conversation because the defining work of business is conversation - literally. And 'knowledge workers' are simply those people whose job consists of having interesting conversations. David Weinberger The Cluetrain Manifesto
Conversation is a meeting of minds Conversation is a meeting of minds with different memories and habits. When minds meet, they don't just exchange facts: they transform them, reshape them, draw different implications from them, engage in new trains of thought. Conversation doesn't just reshuffle the cards: it creates new cards. Theodore Zeldin Conversation
KM is about understanding For all our knowledge, we have no idea what we're talking about. We don't understand what's going on in our business, our market, and our world. KM shouldn’t be about helping us to know more. It should be about helping us to understand. So, how do we understand things? It's through stories that we understand how the world works. David Weinberger, The Cluetrain Manifesto
Dialogue The kind of conversation I’m interested in is one in which you start with a willingness to emerge a slightly different person. Theodore Zeldin Conversation
Principles of Dialogue Suspend assumptions, do not judge Observe & listen to one another Welcome differences & explore them Allow taboo subjects to be raised safely Listen to your inner voice Slow the discussion Search for the underlying meaning Dialogue is based on the work of the physicist David Bohm
Summary Business is a conversation Conversation is creative Understanding is more important than knowing more Dialogue is the key to quality conversations Conversation is a powerful learning tool
Conversation and Q&A
Gurteen Knowledge Café Process
What is a Gurteen Knowledge Café? A Gurteen Knowledge Café brings a group of people together to have an open, creative conversation on a topic of mutual interest. To surface their collective knowledge, to share ideas and to gain a deeper understanding of the issues involved. Leading to action in the form of better decision making & innovation & thus tangible outcomes.
What resources are needed? Not a lot! A group of 20 – 30 people A speaker and a facilitator A room or other venue Tables & chairs to seat 4 or 5 people per table
What do you need in the room? Unthreatening and hospitable environment Good ambience, small cosy, good acoustics Small round tables and 4 – 5 chairs Optional: paper table cloths, felt tip pens, toys NO flip charts Refreshments
What’s the process? Speaker makes a short presentation 5 – 10 mins Poses a trigger question Small group conversations at tables Three rounds 10 – 15 mins Whole group conversation in a circle 15 mins Share actionable insights 15 mins 1.5 to 2.0 hours in total
What subjects are covered? Any subject can be addressed Explore questions that matter to the participants Explore only one theme & question
What’s the role of the facilitator? Need not be a specialist Should not take a lead in the discussions Wander around and listen into the groups Resolve any issues
What’s the role of the participants? To be prepared to emerge a slightly different person To listen more than speak To welcome differences To withhold judgment To avoid position taking
How do things work in small groups? No leader or chairperson No reporting back Everyone is equal No group note taker Can make own notes
How does the large group sit? In a circle Takes 2 minutes to move chairs Facilitator & speaker sit in circle Everyone can see & hear each other & are equal
How does the circle work? Group talks, minimal intervention from facilitator No reporting back Facilitator may need to encourage participation Facilitator gently ensures that no one person or group dominates the discussion Connects diverse perspectives
Sharing actionable insights Facilitator goes around the circle Each person in turn shares something A thought, an idea, an insight, something learnt Preferably an action OK to pass
What are the outcomes? Outcomes are what you take away in your head Deeper understanding of the issues discussed Deeper insight into other people’s perspectives Better appreciation of your own point of view Position to make more informed decisions Improved relationships
Café Principles Relaxed, non-threatening, open conversation Close to a pub conversation as possible No manipulation of people; no hidden agendas Everyone equal; no table leaders; no reporting back No one forced to do anything – OK to just listen Trust people to talk about what is important to them OK to go off-topic No summarization or attempt to reach consensus No capture of outcomes; no flip charts in the room
The Café is NOT about Making decisions Gaining consensus Capturing stuff Making plans Manipulating people in some way
Café Magic No explicit or hidden agendas No command and control No desired outcomes No push for consensus OK to go off topic Freedom to speak your mind
Questions and Discussion
Lets run a Knowledge Cafe
Café Conversation How do we convince senior management of the value of conversational tools like knowledge cafes and pro-active reviews?
Café Conversation What is the role of conversation in organisational life and how do we encourage more of it?
Café Applications
Forms of Café Traditional Knowledge Café World Café Gurteen Knowledge Café Gurteen Action Café Other conversational tools
How is the Gurteen Knowledge Cafe different from the World Cafe? World Café 1995; Knowledge Café 2002 More business oriented Usually shorter For smaller numbers of people No table leaders No reporting back No capture Less preparation required Paper & pens on tables optional Possibly less controlling
Conversational tools Knowledge Cafes Knowledge Jams Peer Assists, After Action Reviews, Retrospects (Learn before, learn during, learn after) Anecdote Circles Ritual Dissent Reverse Brainstorm Open Space Technology Unconference, unworkshop and Barcamps Conversation Dinners and Walks
Applying the Café Pure conversational Cafés Cafés can be adapted for specific purposes Café techniques can be used in other activities Café style talks Knowledge Café + Open Space
Where might you use the Café? Surface hidden problems & opportunities Encourage knowledge sharing & informal learning Improve decision making and innovation Address disengagement and lack of voice Help people make sense of the world Help people feel ownership of things
Some actual Café applications
Trinidad & Tobago Oil and Gas
Canal Boat Café On canals in Amsterdam At end of week of workshops & visits To help summarise the week Develop plan for action
Café for a UK government body Day long workshop 3 presentations on social tools A knowledge Café Future leaders in the group Future leaders determine action plan
ISN Knowledge Café The knowledge café has led to a dramatic improvement in terms of inter-team dialog, collaboration & knowledge sharing. Many internal work processes are now being overhauled for the better as a result of these knowledge cafes & we have seen an explosion of new ideas & initiatives on the part of staff at all levels of the organization. Simply put, the knowledge cafe format has empowered all our staff to speak up and take the initiative in ensuring the successful development of the ISN. Chris Pallaris, Chief Editor ISN, Zurich
Statoil To surface issues as a result of a merger Series of Cafés to bring retiring experts together with younger members to transfer knowledge In a community hall on an allotment Geophysicists Discussion of preferred technologies Exchange views on experiences Management Training But not called a Knowledge Café
Questions and Discussion
Action Circle What is your one actionable insight from the Café?
www.gurteen.com David GURTEEN Gurteen Knowledge Fleet, United Kingdom Tel: +44 7774 178 650 Email: david.gurteen@gurteen.com
Licence You may use these slides under the following Creative Commons Licence Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/uk/

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Copenhagen Knowledge Cafe Masterclass June 2011

  • 1. The kind of conversation I’m interested in is one in which you start with a willingness to emerge a slightly different person. Theodore Zeldin Conversation Theodore is an Oxford Historian
  • 3. Agenda 16:00 – 16:20 Business is a Conversation (20 mins) 16:20 – 16:40 Knowledge Café Process (20 mins) 16:40 – 17:00 Conversation + Q&A (20 mins) 17:00 – 18:00 Knowledge Cafe (60 mins) 18:00 – 18:30 Types of Café & Applications (30 mins) 18:30 – 19:00 Action Circle (30 mins)
  • 4. The birth of the Gurteen Knowledge Cafe London, September 2002
  • 5. Our job is to have interesting conversations
  • 6. Business is a conversation Business is a conversation because the defining work of business is conversation - literally. And 'knowledge workers' are simply those people whose job consists of having interesting conversations. David Weinberger The Cluetrain Manifesto
  • 7. Conversation is a meeting of minds Conversation is a meeting of minds with different memories and habits. When minds meet, they don't just exchange facts: they transform them, reshape them, draw different implications from them, engage in new trains of thought. Conversation doesn't just reshuffle the cards: it creates new cards. Theodore Zeldin Conversation
  • 8. KM is about understanding For all our knowledge, we have no idea what we're talking about. We don't understand what's going on in our business, our market, and our world. KM shouldn’t be about helping us to know more. It should be about helping us to understand. So, how do we understand things? It's through stories that we understand how the world works. David Weinberger, The Cluetrain Manifesto
  • 9. Dialogue The kind of conversation I’m interested in is one in which you start with a willingness to emerge a slightly different person. Theodore Zeldin Conversation
  • 10. Principles of Dialogue Suspend assumptions, do not judge Observe & listen to one another Welcome differences & explore them Allow taboo subjects to be raised safely Listen to your inner voice Slow the discussion Search for the underlying meaning Dialogue is based on the work of the physicist David Bohm
  • 11. Summary Business is a conversation Conversation is creative Understanding is more important than knowing more Dialogue is the key to quality conversations Conversation is a powerful learning tool
  • 14. What is a Gurteen Knowledge Café? A Gurteen Knowledge Café brings a group of people together to have an open, creative conversation on a topic of mutual interest. To surface their collective knowledge, to share ideas and to gain a deeper understanding of the issues involved. Leading to action in the form of better decision making & innovation & thus tangible outcomes.
  • 15. What resources are needed? Not a lot! A group of 20 – 30 people A speaker and a facilitator A room or other venue Tables & chairs to seat 4 or 5 people per table
  • 16. What do you need in the room? Unthreatening and hospitable environment Good ambience, small cosy, good acoustics Small round tables and 4 – 5 chairs Optional: paper table cloths, felt tip pens, toys NO flip charts Refreshments
  • 17. What’s the process? Speaker makes a short presentation 5 – 10 mins Poses a trigger question Small group conversations at tables Three rounds 10 – 15 mins Whole group conversation in a circle 15 mins Share actionable insights 15 mins 1.5 to 2.0 hours in total
  • 18. What subjects are covered? Any subject can be addressed Explore questions that matter to the participants Explore only one theme & question
  • 19. What’s the role of the facilitator? Need not be a specialist Should not take a lead in the discussions Wander around and listen into the groups Resolve any issues
  • 20. What’s the role of the participants? To be prepared to emerge a slightly different person To listen more than speak To welcome differences To withhold judgment To avoid position taking
  • 21. How do things work in small groups? No leader or chairperson No reporting back Everyone is equal No group note taker Can make own notes
  • 22. How does the large group sit? In a circle Takes 2 minutes to move chairs Facilitator & speaker sit in circle Everyone can see & hear each other & are equal
  • 23. How does the circle work? Group talks, minimal intervention from facilitator No reporting back Facilitator may need to encourage participation Facilitator gently ensures that no one person or group dominates the discussion Connects diverse perspectives
  • 24. Sharing actionable insights Facilitator goes around the circle Each person in turn shares something A thought, an idea, an insight, something learnt Preferably an action OK to pass
  • 25. What are the outcomes? Outcomes are what you take away in your head Deeper understanding of the issues discussed Deeper insight into other people’s perspectives Better appreciation of your own point of view Position to make more informed decisions Improved relationships
  • 26. Café Principles Relaxed, non-threatening, open conversation Close to a pub conversation as possible No manipulation of people; no hidden agendas Everyone equal; no table leaders; no reporting back No one forced to do anything – OK to just listen Trust people to talk about what is important to them OK to go off-topic No summarization or attempt to reach consensus No capture of outcomes; no flip charts in the room
  • 27. The Café is NOT about Making decisions Gaining consensus Capturing stuff Making plans Manipulating people in some way
  • 28. Café Magic No explicit or hidden agendas No command and control No desired outcomes No push for consensus OK to go off topic Freedom to speak your mind
  • 30. Lets run a Knowledge Cafe
  • 31. Café Conversation How do we convince senior management of the value of conversational tools like knowledge cafes and pro-active reviews?
  • 32. Café Conversation What is the role of conversation in organisational life and how do we encourage more of it?
  • 34. Forms of Café Traditional Knowledge Café World Café Gurteen Knowledge Café Gurteen Action Café Other conversational tools
  • 35. How is the Gurteen Knowledge Cafe different from the World Cafe? World Café 1995; Knowledge Café 2002 More business oriented Usually shorter For smaller numbers of people No table leaders No reporting back No capture Less preparation required Paper & pens on tables optional Possibly less controlling
  • 36. Conversational tools Knowledge Cafes Knowledge Jams Peer Assists, After Action Reviews, Retrospects (Learn before, learn during, learn after) Anecdote Circles Ritual Dissent Reverse Brainstorm Open Space Technology Unconference, unworkshop and Barcamps Conversation Dinners and Walks
  • 37. Applying the Café Pure conversational Cafés Cafés can be adapted for specific purposes Café techniques can be used in other activities Café style talks Knowledge Café + Open Space
  • 38. Where might you use the Café? Surface hidden problems & opportunities Encourage knowledge sharing & informal learning Improve decision making and innovation Address disengagement and lack of voice Help people make sense of the world Help people feel ownership of things
  • 39. Some actual Café applications
  • 40. Trinidad & Tobago Oil and Gas
  • 41. Canal Boat Café On canals in Amsterdam At end of week of workshops & visits To help summarise the week Develop plan for action
  • 42. Café for a UK government body Day long workshop 3 presentations on social tools A knowledge Café Future leaders in the group Future leaders determine action plan
  • 43. ISN Knowledge Café The knowledge café has led to a dramatic improvement in terms of inter-team dialog, collaboration & knowledge sharing. Many internal work processes are now being overhauled for the better as a result of these knowledge cafes & we have seen an explosion of new ideas & initiatives on the part of staff at all levels of the organization. Simply put, the knowledge cafe format has empowered all our staff to speak up and take the initiative in ensuring the successful development of the ISN. Chris Pallaris, Chief Editor ISN, Zurich
  • 44. Statoil To surface issues as a result of a merger Series of Cafés to bring retiring experts together with younger members to transfer knowledge In a community hall on an allotment Geophysicists Discussion of preferred technologies Exchange views on experiences Management Training But not called a Knowledge Café
  • 46. Action Circle What is your one actionable insight from the Café?
  • 47. www.gurteen.com David GURTEEN Gurteen Knowledge Fleet, United Kingdom Tel: +44 7774 178 650 Email: david.gurteen@gurteen.com
  • 48. Licence You may use these slides under the following Creative Commons Licence Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/uk/