We claim to be rational. So are we. Only we, humans, can find solutions to our problems via procedures we conjure. Only we, humans, can use analytical problem solving to transcend our realities and make our dreams happen. But in most instances in our lives, we fall short of applying the steps of problem solving in our struggles. Organizational theorists then claim that perhaps, the rational or analytical model is just the ideal problem solving model; the normative method. Though we have this method, we resort to trial and error, coalitional model, and garbage can model. Good thing the world cafe was invented. With it we can prove that we humans can be rational and analytical in solving our problems.
World Cafe is an ODI process invented by Juanita Brown and David Isaacs. It is a discussion where people develop a set of integrated principles for their organizations. Unlike the trial and error, coalitional, and garbage can model that do not have clear goals and procedures to follow, World Cafe is an organized process. World Cafe approximates the rational or analytical problem solving in such a way that World Cafe never happens without a purpose. In every World Cafe, the purpose, topic, and participants are decided first up; the organizational problem is defined right away. Those to solve the problem are defined right away. Then, people explore questions that matter to generate more ideas on the set topic. Everyone is encouraged to speak, and everyone speaks to generate all possible alternatives to the issue that matters. People even move around tables (World Cafe is done in groups in tables) and share what they have in mind about the issue. Afterwards, people look for patterns and develop coherence among the alternatives they have created. We can see here that people do not just take every alternative they generate from the discussions and try them all as in the trial and error method. Nor do people huddle among smaller groups in an “under the table” manner to dominate the decision making process as in the coalitional model. Nor do people just pick alternatives to apply in their organizations as in garbage can model. People in the World Cafe rationalize. They evaluate alternatives if they can be combined, streamlined, and be made coherent not discounting individual contributions. Then people apply what they have agreed upon.
To top things off, we can be truly rational if we want to. The World Cafe would be a useful method to help us define our problems, generate alternatives, and evaluate what we can use to solve our problems. Then we use our chosen alternatives and experience organizational success.
References:
World Cafe report and discussion
http://www.theworldcafe.com/know-how.htm#context
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