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 Gurteen Knowledge

2. Gurteen Knowledge Café Gurteen Knowledge Café Gurteen Knowledge

3. Speed Networking Speed Networking Gurteen Knowledge

4. The birth of the The birth of the Gurteen Knowledge Cafe Gurteen Knowledge Cafe London, September 2002

5. Business is a Conversation Business is a Conversation Gurteen Knowledge

6. 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! •

7. Conversation is a meeting of minds 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 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. • Its about understanding & sense making Through conversation & storytelling • David Weinberger, The Cluetrain Manifesto

9. Conversation is dialogue 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 Gurteen Knowledge

10. Argument Argument Argument is meant to reveal the truth, not to create it. Edward de Bono Edward de Bono Gurteen Knowledge

11. Principles of Dialogue 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 Gurteen Knowledge

12. Conversation is our Conversation is our most effective KM tool 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 Common Knowledge Associates Nancy Dixon Gurteen Knowledge

13. Conversation is a learning technology 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 is a champion of Informal Learning Jay Cross, Informal Learning Gurteen Knowledge

14. Summary 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 Gurteen Knowledge

15. The Gurteen Knowledge Cafe The Gurteen Knowledge Cafe Gurteen Knowledge

16. What is a Gurteen Knowledge Café? 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. Gurteen Knowledge

17. The Process 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 Gurteen Knowledge

18. Sharing 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 Gurteen Knowledge

19. Principles of the Gurteen Knowledge Principles of the Gurteen Knowledge Cafe 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 Gurteen Knowledge

20. What are the outcomes? 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 Gurteen Knowledge

21. Lets run a Knowledge Cafe Lets run a Knowledge Cafe Gurteen Knowledge

22. Café Conversation 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? Gurteen Knowledge

23. www.gurteen.com www.gurteen.com David GURTEEN Gurteen Knowledge Fleet, United Kingdom Tel: +44 7774 178 650 Email: david.gurteen@gurteen.com Gurteen Knowledge

24. Licence 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/ Gurteen Knowledge

25. Knowledge Circle Knowledge Circle Gurteen Knowledge

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 Gurteen Knowledge

27. Applications of the Café Applications of the Café

28. What are the outcomes? 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 Gurteen Knowledge

29. Where might you use the Café? 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 Gurteen Knowledge

30. Generic Applications 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 Gurteen Knowledge

31. Some real Café applications Some real Café applications

32. ISN Knowledge Café 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 Gurteen Knowledge

33. Café for a UK government body 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 Gurteen Knowledge

34. Canal Boat Café Canal Boat Café • On canals in Amsterdam • At end of week of workshops & visits • To help summarise the week • And develop plan for action Gurteen Knowledge

35. Trinidad & Tobago Trinidad & Tobago Oil and Gas Oil and Gas • Expert talks Gurteen Knowledge

36. StatoilHydro 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 Gurteen Knowledge