HK KMS Knowledge Cafe 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. The Knowledge Café The Knowledge Café Gurteen Knowledge

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

4. Business is a Conversation Business is a Conversation Gurteen Knowledge

5. 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! •

6. 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 •

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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 and KM tool Gurteen Knowledge

13. The Knowledge Cafe The Knowledge Cafe Gurteen Knowledge

14. What is a Knowledge Café? What is a Knowledge Café? • A 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

15. Different forms of Knowledge Café Different forms of Knowledge Café • Many forms of café adapted to different purposes • Gurteen Knowledge Café & World Café – Learning, inspiring action • Gurteen Innovation or Action Café – Surfacing issues – Refining issues and problems – Developing responses • AARs, peer-assists, retrospects can be considered forms of Café Gurteen Knowledge

16. The Gurteen Knowledge Café Process The Gurteen Knowledge Café 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

17. 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

18. 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 formal & less controlled Gurteen Knowledge

19. 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

20. Where might you use the Café? Where might you use the Café? • Surface hidden problems & opportunities • Encourage knowledge sharing & informal learning • Spark action • Address disengagement and lack of voice • Help people to make sense of things • Help people to feel ownership of things • Improve decision making and innovation Gurteen Knowledge

21. Coffee break Coffee break

22. The Knowledge Cafe The Knowledge Cafe Gurteen Knowledge

23. Today’s Knowledge Café is different Today’s Knowledge Café is different to my normal format to my normal format

24. The Process The Process • We have 8 speakers each representing a MAKE Award winner • Each will speak for 2 - 3 minutes and briefly describe their talk • They will then join the tables where you can have conversations with them Gurteen Knowledge

25. The Speakers The Speakers

26. 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

27. The Conversation The Conversation • 8 speakers, 8 tables, 6-7 people per table • One speaker will join each table – And have a conversation for 40 mins • Speakers + 3 people move tables – You have a second conversation for 40 mins • Final sharing of insights as a whole group Gurteen Knowledge

28. 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

29. Share Insights Share Insights

30. 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

31. 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