This method is a simplified and faster variation of the World Café method, which I have successfully implemented and tested. The goal is for each participant to contribute to the co-construction of ideas on given themes, leveraging collective intelligence.
How it works
Let’s take an example. Imagine a group of 27 people. It is divided into three teams of nine. Each team has 30 minutes to work in parallel on a given topic. For example: What are the qualities needed to effectively welcome young people in cultural and social structures within a city? In each group, one person is designated to take notes and synthesize the ideas to present them later.
Steps of the process
- Brainstorming (10 minutes): Each participant proposes ideas on the theme, either orally or in writing (markers and paper are provided). This step aims to gather as many ideas as possible.
- Structuring (5 minutes): The ideas are organized and structured, ideally visually (for example, in the form of a diagram). Tools like scissors, tape, or glue can be used to group or reorganize elements. This step lasts about 5 minutes.
- Sharing experiences (10 minutes): Participants exchange personal experiences related to the proposals. For example, on the theme of welcoming, they might discuss how to remain kind in difficult situations.
Once these steps are completed, the groups remain at their tables and work on a new theme following the same process.
The challenge is to move beyond a simple list of ideas, which might seem to immediately answer the question. What is enriching is to deepen the embodiment of the topic through the sharing of experiences.
Key points
- Groups should consist of fewer than 10 people to encourage rich and attentive exchanges.
- It is essential to mix participants to include individuals from different services or positions.
- The structured exchange during the experience-sharing phase goes beyond informal discussion and aligns with collectively defined objectives.
Expected outcomes
One of the main goals is to strengthen mutual understanding among participants and build trust within the group. Depending on the time available, two or three themes can be addressed (two often being sufficient).
Presentation of results
At the end of the session, time is dedicated to a collective presentation. For example, if two themes were addressed by three groups:
- For each theme, one person per group summarizes orally in two minutes what was developed.
- During this oral presentation, the documents produced are projected using a visualizer (a small camera that projects the content on a large screen). This allows for a complementary approach between written and oral content: the written support facilitates collective listening.
Audio recordings made during these presentations can be saved and shared via a collaborative space (such as a drive). These recordings, along with the written documents and possible transcriptions, are then used to produce a synthesis. This synthesis can lead to concrete recommendations or even a charter developed by the group.
