Single question format more forgiving for a first time cafe hoster?????

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Permalink Reply by Amanda Fenton on June 5, 2012 at 11:33pm

Hello Maurice,

Always exciting to introduce World Cafe to a group for the first time. By a single question, do you mean one single question repeated over three rounds? I might have misunderstood what you are asking... or do you mean each round could have a question with little sub questions versus one single question?

I've done both; used a question that had one or two little sub questions (so it's kind of like one big question with little probes with it). Then in the other sense I've repeated a question over two rounds to help with the cross-pollinating and mixing/sparking insights.

The decision on which way to go (for me) would be less around the 'first time-ness' and more about the purpose of the World Cafe and how the questions can facilitate that journey.

Cheers,

Amanda

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Permalink Reply by Maurice Young on June 6, 2012 at 8:30am

Amanda,

Thanks for the reply! Yes i mean a single question, but i do like your idea of "branch off questions" to propel the conversation deeper... i guess i just have difficulty envisioning a smooth and effective transition between questions if they are predetermined questions (and thus not reflective of the flow of the presently happening convo)...

our organization was looking to gather the 'water cooler talk' behind the various perspectives on quality of work life (or lack there of)...

Thanks again for your reply its definitly given me something to think about, if you have any other pointers, id love to hear them.

regards from seattle

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Permalink Reply by Amanda Fenton on June 6, 2012 at 11:02pm

Ah - thanks for the clarification. Having different questions for different rounds can be very smooth and effective, and just one question can be juicy too! The key is in the 'finding and framing' of the questions (whether it's one or more). Here's a little except from the World Cafe to Go that describes it better than I:

Explore Questions that Matter
Finding and framing questions that matter to those who are participating in your Café
is an area where thought and attention can produce profound results. Your Café
may only explore a single question, or several questions may be developed to
support a logical progression of discovery throughout several rounds of dialogue. In
many cases, Café conversations are as much about discovering and exploring
powerful questions as they are about finding effective solutions.

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