How to run a Knowledge cafe

Knowledge Cafe Information GovernanceDealing with challenges in the information space

David Williams & Vladimir VidenovicInstitute of Information Management

19 November 2013

IIM’s Information Governance Community of Practice

A self-directed forum, which continuously provides our members and partners with an informal and interactive exchange of ideas, concepts and views about better practice in information governance.

We discuss the challenges, opportunities, leading practices and roles required to address Information Governance issues in organisations today.

Objective for today

1. Experience how a knowledge café works2. Explore some IM and data governance issues3. Take the opportunity to meet some people

you have not met before

Café ConversationWhat is the role of conversation in our organisations?

Is it important and how do we encourage more of it?

What is a Knowledge Café?A 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 business outcomes.

Why a cafe?• Unstructured• Informal• Fun• Relaxing• Creative• Social• Collaborative• Non threatening• Time-bounded

Knowledge

“A body of understanding and skills that is constructed by people and increased through interaction with other people and with information.”

AS 5037 - 2005

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Different forms of Knowledge Cafés

Many forms of café adapted to different purposes:• World Café (Elizabeth Lank, early 90s)– global World Café community of practice.

• Gurteen Knowledge Café • Innovation Café• After Action Reviews (AARs)• Post Implementation Reviews• Peer-assists

What’s in it for me?• The Café can tease out a greater level of insight of

ourselves than we are conscious of• You hear yourself say things in Café conversations that

you did not know that you knew • It crystallises our knowledge– New ideas are sparked– Fresh perspectives emerge ...

• With increased observation and reflection comes understanding – this paves the way for change

• The opportunity to ‘emerge a slightly different person’ Theodore Zeldin

What's the process?1. introduce the Knowledge Café and the theme2. Purpose of the Knowledge Café is made clear3. Pose the challenge and table topics 4. Form into small groups of 4 or 5 to discuss the

subject for 10 mins for each round.5. Change tables 1,2 or 3 times 6. The group re-assembles for an exchange of

ideas

Principles• Clarify the purpose• Create a hospitable space• Explore questions that matter• Encourage everyone’s contribution• Connect diverse conversations• Listen for insights and share discoveries

Knowledge Café Etiquette• To listen more than speak• Contribute your thinking• Speak your mind and heart• Listen for insights and deeper questions• Link and connect ideas• Play, doodle, draw! Have fun!• See different views not as adversarial but as

perspectives from which we learn• Welcome differences and withhold judgment• To avoid being too politically correct

• All about relaxed, non-threatening, open conversation

• No one is forced to do anything• Everyone is equal• No table leaders• No reporting back• Sharing circle: individual summary at end• No overall summarization or attempt to reach

consensus• No capture on flip-charts• Outcome: what people take away in their heads

Gurteen K Café rules

How does it work1. Have a 5 min initial round of conversation2. Ask one person to remain at the table as the

"host“3. The others serve as travelers or "ambassadors of

meaning." The travelers carry key ideas, themes, and questions into their new conversations.

4. The table host welcomes the new guests to link and connect ideas coming from their previous table conversations

5. Listen and build on the previous contributions. 6. Rotate again

QuestionCan good Information Governance help us deal with complexity?

Red TeamWhy is data quality management (incl MDM) an unsustainable strategy?

Blue Team

How could we (should we) involve our suppliers and customers in the governance of our IM?

Where are the differences in how we manage our structured and non-structured information?

Green Team

Table Topics

What did you get most out of the conference today?

Yellow Team

ObservationsConversationsQuestions

Where can I learn more about Knowledge Cafés?

• David Gurteen www.gurteen.com

• The World Café Website: www.theworldcafe.com

• Book - The World Café: Shaping our futures through conversations that matter

• The Society for Philosophical Inquirywww.philosopher.org

Summary

• Knowledge Café is a simple process– But a lot to learn to run them well

• Powerful learning & creativity tool• Can be adapted to varying situations• Low cost to run• Focus on dialogue not debate• Business is a conversation

Attribution• Many of these slides are attributed to David

Gurteen and Keith De la Rue • Published under Creative Commons Licence

“The future is not some place we are going, but one we are creating. The paths to it are not found but made, and the activity of making them changes both the maker and the destination”

John Schaar

Questions?