Chapter: The Knowledge Café


Café conversation

Conversation doesn’t have to lead to consensus about anything especially not values; it’s enough that it helps people get used to one another.

Credit: Kwame Anthony Appiah

In this chapter, I look broadly at the Knowledge Café, its principles, how it can be applied, and some stories of how various organizations are using it.

If you are already familiar with the Café and wish to learn about the basic Knowledge Café process, go straight to the Knowledge Café Process chapter.

If you would like to find out how to design a Café, go to the Knowledge Café Design chapter.

If you are looking for specific ways to adapt the Knowledge Café for various purposes, then go to the Knowledge Café Applications chapter.

If you wish to read some stories of how organizations have used or adapted the primary Café process to their own ends, go to the Conversational Stories chapter.

And if you want to get started quickly, then go here: Knowledge Café: Getting started


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Introduction: Knowledge Café Improving decision-making, innovation, and collaboration

Knowledge Café: Getting Started The Knowledge Café Metaphor Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter The Knowledge Café is a conversational method that gathers a group of people to share knowledge and experiences, learn from one another, build relationships, and make better sense of a rapidly changing, complex, less predictable world. The aim is to … Continue reading Introduction: Knowledge Café Improving decision-making, innovation, and collaboration

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The Knowledge Café Metaphor A metaphor for the type of conversation you have in a Café

Introduction: Knowledge Café A Knowledge Café Is a Gathering Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter “Knowledge Café” is not just a name for a conversational method that brings people together in conversation but a metaphor for the process. The term “café,” frequently written as “cafe” without the e-acute accent, comes from the French and … Continue reading The Knowledge Café Metaphor A metaphor for the type of conversation you have in a Café

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What’s New About the Knowledge Café? In some ways it is not new but in others it isn't

A Knowledge Café Is a Gathering Knowledge Café History Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter There is nothing new about the Knowledge Café, or is there? When people say that something is not new, they usually mean that they are familiar with the concept and it’s in everyday practice. To my mind, when this … Continue reading What’s New About the Knowledge Café? In some ways it is not new but in others it isn’t

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Knowledge Café History It began on September 5th, 2002 at the Strand Palace Hotel in London

What’s New About the Knowledge Café? Knowledge Café Outcomes Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter It all began on September 5th, 2002, at the Strand Palace Hotel on the Strand in central London. Not far from Trafalgar Square. Eighteen people attended my very first Knowledge Café. The idea for the Café had started to … Continue reading Knowledge Café History It began on September 5th, 2002 at the Strand Palace Hotel in London

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Knowledge Café Outcomes The outcomes are what you take away in your head

Knowledge Café History Knowledge Café Applications Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter The outcomes of a Knowledge Café are not tangible outcomes such as decisions, plans, or consensus. The outcomes are what the participants take away in their heads.  In its unadapted form, the Knowledge Café is not about traditional tangible outcomes. It is … Continue reading Knowledge Café Outcomes The outcomes are what you take away in your head

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Knowledge Café Applications The Knowledge Café is a highly adaptable tool

Knowledge Café Outcomes Knowledge Cafés and Communities of Practice ** Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter The Knowledge Café is a highly adaptable conversational tool that has a broad spectrum of applications. At one end of the spectrum, the Café is an easy way to bring people together to share their knowledge, learn from … Continue reading Knowledge Café Applications The Knowledge Café is a highly adaptable tool

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Knowledge Cafés and Communities of Practice ** There is a difference

Knowledge Café Applications The Differences Between the Knowledge Café and the World Café Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter What is the difference between a Knowledge Café and a Community of Practice (CoP)? Etienne Wenger defines a Community of Practice as a group of people who share a concern or a passion for something … Continue reading Knowledge Cafés and Communities of Practice ** There is a difference

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The Differences Between the Knowledge Café and the World Café There are some significant differences

Knowledge Cafés and Communities of Practice ** Videos: Knowledge Cafés Close Pop-up all posts in this chapter Although the World Café and the Knowledge Café may seem similar at first glance, they have several significant differences.  Although the World Café and the Knowledge Café are different, there is so much variation in practice in the … Continue reading The Differences Between the Knowledge Café and the World Café There are some significant differences