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Knowledge Cafe, Edinburgh, February 2011

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David Gurteen
David Gurteen

The document discusses the importance of conversation in organizations. Some key points made include: - Business is a conversation and conversation is central to sharing knowledge and understanding. - Conversation is a creative process that allows minds to meet and create new ideas. - Understanding is more important than just knowing more, and conversation and storytelling help create understanding. - Dialogue is key to quality conversations where different views can be shared. - Conversation is a powerful informal learning tool that spreads knowledge in an organization.

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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 in an Oxford Historian
Gurteen Knowledge Café
Speed Networking
The birth of the Gurteen Knowledge Cafe London, September 2002
Business is a Conversation
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 central to all that we do Its our job!
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 Theodore in an Oxford Historian Conversation is creative
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 Its about understanding & sense making Through conversation & storytelling
Conversation is 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 Theodore in an Oxford Historian
Argument Argument is meant to reveal the truth, not to create it. Edward de Bono Edward de Bono
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
Conversation is our most effective KM tool Our most effective KM tool is conversation. The words we choose, the questions we ask, and the metaphors we use to explain ourselves, are what determine our success in creating new knowledge as well as sharing that knowledge with each other. Nancy Dixon Nancy Dixon Common Knowledge Associates
Conversation is a learning technology Conversation is the most powerful learning technology ever invented. Conversations carry news, create meaning, foster cooperation, and spark innovation. Encouraging open, honest conversation through work space design, setting ground rules for conversing productively, and baking conversation into the corporate culture spread intellectual capital, improve cooperation, and strengthen personal relationships. Jay Cross, Informal Learning Jay Cross is a champion of Informal Learning
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
The Gurteen Knowledge Cafe
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. Ultimately leading to action in the form of better decision making and innovation and thus tangible outcomes.
The Process Set the context – normally a speaker An open-ended trigger question Small group conversations at tables Whole group conversation in a circle Share actionable insights
Sharing actionable insights Pass a talking-stick around the circle When you receive it - share an actionable-insight from the café A thought, an idea, an insight, something learnt – preferably an action OK to pass
Principles of the Gurteen Knowledge Cafe Relaxed, non-threatening, open conversation As close to a pub or dinner conversation as possible No manipulation of people; no hidden agendas Everyone is equal; no table leaders; no reporting back No one is forced to do anything – OK to just listen Trust people to talk about what is important to them OK to go off-topic – that’s what good conversations do No group summarization or attempt to reach consensus No capture of outcomes; no flip charts in the room Principal outcome: what people take away in their heads
What are the outcomes? Real outcomes are what you take away in your head A deeper understanding of the issues discussed A deeper insight into other people’s perspectives A better appreciation of your own point of view Engagement with the subject Better relationships Better position to make more informed decisions and to take action! Intangible outcomes but valuable nevertheless
Lets run a Knowledge Cafe
Café Conversation What is the role of conversation in our organizations; how important is it and how do we encourage more of it? What is your actionable insight that you will share at the end of 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/
Knowledge Circle
The Gurteen Knowledge Café is fundamentally different to other forms of knowledge café or the World café. No table hosts or leaders No reporting back No capture of outcomes No group summarisation Less controlled
Applications of the Café
What are the outcomes? Real outcomes are what you take away in your head A deeper understanding of the issues discussed A deeper insight into other people’s perspectives A better appreciation of your own point of view Better position to make more informed decisions and to take action! Improved relationships
Where might you use the Café? Surface hidden problems & opportunities Encourage knowledge sharing & informal learning Spark action Improve decision making and innovation Address disengagement and lack of voice Help people make sense of the world Help people feel ownership of things Retain talent Reduce dependence on external facilitators
Generic Applications As part of any presentation To glean feedback on say a policy document Replace a series of one-on-one interviews Collaborative writing effort knowledge café Individual blogging Wiki document creation Part of a meeting say to present future plans or strategy
Some real Café applications
ISN Knowledge Café The knowledge café has led to a dramatic improvement in terms of inter-team dialog, collaboration and knowledge sharing. Many internal work processes are now being overhauled for the better as a result of these knowledge cafes and we have seen an explosion of new ideas and 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
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 an action plan
Canal Boat Café On canals in Amsterdam At end of week of workshops & visits To help summarise the week And develop plan for action
Trinidad & Tobago Oil and Gas Expert talks
StatoilHydro To surface issues as a result of a merger Series of Cafes to bring retiring experts together with younger members to transfer knowledge In a café on an allotment Geophysicists Discussion of preferred technologies Exchange views on experiences Management Training But not called a Knowledge Cafe

More Related Content

Knowledge Cafe, Edinburgh, February 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 in an Oxford Historian
  • 4. The birth of the Gurteen Knowledge Cafe London, September 2002
  • 5. Business is a Conversation
  • 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 Conversation is central to all that we do Its our job!
  • 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 Theodore in an Oxford Historian Conversation is creative
  • 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 Its about understanding & sense making Through conversation & storytelling
  • 9. Conversation is 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 Theodore in an Oxford Historian
  • 10. Argument Argument is meant to reveal the truth, not to create it. Edward de Bono Edward de Bono
  • 11. 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
  • 12. Conversation is our most effective KM tool Our most effective KM tool is conversation. The words we choose, the questions we ask, and the metaphors we use to explain ourselves, are what determine our success in creating new knowledge as well as sharing that knowledge with each other. Nancy Dixon Nancy Dixon Common Knowledge Associates
  • 13. Conversation is a learning technology Conversation is the most powerful learning technology ever invented. Conversations carry news, create meaning, foster cooperation, and spark innovation. Encouraging open, honest conversation through work space design, setting ground rules for conversing productively, and baking conversation into the corporate culture spread intellectual capital, improve cooperation, and strengthen personal relationships. Jay Cross, Informal Learning Jay Cross is a champion of Informal Learning
  • 14. 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
  • 16. 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. Ultimately leading to action in the form of better decision making and innovation and thus tangible outcomes.
  • 17. The Process Set the context – normally a speaker An open-ended trigger question Small group conversations at tables Whole group conversation in a circle Share actionable insights
  • 18. Sharing actionable insights Pass a talking-stick around the circle When you receive it - share an actionable-insight from the café A thought, an idea, an insight, something learnt – preferably an action OK to pass
  • 19. Principles of the Gurteen Knowledge Cafe Relaxed, non-threatening, open conversation As close to a pub or dinner conversation as possible No manipulation of people; no hidden agendas Everyone is equal; no table leaders; no reporting back No one is forced to do anything – OK to just listen Trust people to talk about what is important to them OK to go off-topic – that’s what good conversations do No group summarization or attempt to reach consensus No capture of outcomes; no flip charts in the room Principal outcome: what people take away in their heads
  • 20. What are the outcomes? Real outcomes are what you take away in your head A deeper understanding of the issues discussed A deeper insight into other people’s perspectives A better appreciation of your own point of view Engagement with the subject Better relationships Better position to make more informed decisions and to take action! Intangible outcomes but valuable nevertheless
  • 21. Lets run a Knowledge Cafe
  • 22. Café Conversation What is the role of conversation in our organizations; how important is it and how do we encourage more of it? What is your actionable insight that you will share at the end of the Café?
  • 23. www.gurteen.com David GURTEEN Gurteen Knowledge Fleet, United Kingdom Tel: +44 7774 178 650 Email: david.gurteen@gurteen.com
  • 24. 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/
  • 26. The Gurteen Knowledge Café is fundamentally different to other forms of knowledge café or the World café. No table hosts or leaders No reporting back No capture of outcomes No group summarisation Less controlled
  • 28. What are the outcomes? Real outcomes are what you take away in your head A deeper understanding of the issues discussed A deeper insight into other people’s perspectives A better appreciation of your own point of view Better position to make more informed decisions and to take action! Improved relationships
  • 29. Where might you use the Café? Surface hidden problems & opportunities Encourage knowledge sharing & informal learning Spark action Improve decision making and innovation Address disengagement and lack of voice Help people make sense of the world Help people feel ownership of things Retain talent Reduce dependence on external facilitators
  • 30. Generic Applications As part of any presentation To glean feedback on say a policy document Replace a series of one-on-one interviews Collaborative writing effort knowledge café Individual blogging Wiki document creation Part of a meeting say to present future plans or strategy
  • 31. Some real Café applications
  • 32. ISN Knowledge Café The knowledge café has led to a dramatic improvement in terms of inter-team dialog, collaboration and knowledge sharing. Many internal work processes are now being overhauled for the better as a result of these knowledge cafes and we have seen an explosion of new ideas and 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
  • 33. 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 an action plan
  • 34. Canal Boat Café On canals in Amsterdam At end of week of workshops & visits To help summarise the week And develop plan for action
  • 35. Trinidad & Tobago Oil and Gas Expert talks
  • 36. StatoilHydro To surface issues as a result of a merger Series of Cafes to bring retiring experts together with younger members to transfer knowledge In a café on an allotment Geophysicists Discussion of preferred technologies Exchange views on experiences Management Training But not called a Knowledge Cafe