what happens when you mix OS and world cafe

Zelle Nelson zelle at knowplacelikehome.com
Fri Mar 19 10:24:00 PST 2004


Hi Chris,

I have done both Open Space and World Cafe, but never both together.

My questions are: What is your client trying to do? What is the problem
or issue being addressed? How much time do you have? Who's invited?

Whatever the answer is will dictate which way to go.

I use World Cafe when there is greater specificity/parameters about what
the group is trying to share ideas on; i.e. feedback on a specific
product, marketing plan/materials; reactions to a specific book or idea;
reflections.

I use Open Space when working with complex issues; multiple
stakeholders; need for creative solutions/ideas; action to be taken by
those most passionate vs. collecting ideas to be implemented by the
existing organizational hierarchy.

Hope this helps...if you have answers to the above questions, I'd be
happy to give an opinion.

With Grace and Love,

Zelle

************
Zelle Nelson
Know Place Like Home/State of Grace Document

zelle at knowplacelikehome.com
office - 828.693.0398
mobile - 847.951.7030

Isle of Skye
2021 Greenville Hwy
Flat Rock, NC 28731


Chris Macrae wrote:

>I am trying to understand what the difference in outcome is between a day spent in open space and a day that mixes open space and cafe -latter case here http://www.theworldcafe.com/storyconversing.html
>
>Worse I am coming from a situation where I would have been happy with open space but the powers that choose sound like they will go for the mixture. (And yes the one day feels like another cramping factor)
>
>I am taking a first guess that Open Space is better where there is conflict resolution on all sides and indeed the normal powers that be are part of the communal problem. OS and cafe may have an advantage if like the charette there are some expert parameters that are going to need to be built (eg if an architect is designing something in a town at the end of the day the co-creation has to stand up to being architecturally stable)
>
>Is that a correct first guess? And what other major differences are there/ eg is there something about Open Space being better if you want the people to reconcile with each other and continually network around their shared situation whereas the OS & Cafe may be more about one product development decision where neither of these issues (there may not be people-based hidden agendas to start with and the need for people to continuously reconcile viewpoints from that day on may not be as primary as it would be in peacemaking context) may be so big?
>
>Help!
>chris macrae
>
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