Collaborative Methodologies 

Appreciative Inquiry 
Open Space 
World Café 
Lean 
Agile 
Design Thinking
Scrum 

Open Space 

​Open Space Technology (OST) is a type of participatory meeting or gathering that is designed to facilitate creative self-organizing among participants. Unlike traditional top-down meetings, OST does not have a predetermined agenda. It relies on the self-organizing power of participants to create their own agenda, goals, and activities. The goal of OST is to bring together a group of people to explore a shared topic or challenge in a way that is open, self-directed, and productive.

An Open Space Forum is a type of meeting or conference that allows participants to create and manage their own agenda, rather than having a pre-determined schedule. Here are the typical steps of an Open Space Forum:

Opening Circle: The facilitator welcomes participants and explains the purpose and principles of the Open Space Forum. The group then comes together in a circle to introduce themselves and set the tone for the meeting.

Creating the Marketplace: Participants are invited to come up with topics or issues that they would like to discuss, and write them on a piece of paper or a card. They then post their topics on a bulletin board, which is referred to as the "marketplace."

Choosing Sessions: Participants walk around the marketplace and decide which topics they would like to attend. They then sign up for the sessions they are interested in, and gather in the designated location for that session.

Holding Sessions: Participants engage in conversations, debates, and other activities related to the topics they have chosen. They may take notes or document their discussions in some way, such as through photos or videos.

Closing Circle: Participants come together in a closing circle to reflect on their experiences and share what they learned. The facilitator may also invite participants to make commitments or take actions based on the conversations that took place.

In an Open Space Forum, the participants are responsible for creating the agenda and deciding what topics to discuss. The facilitator's role is to provide guidance and support, rather than to lead the discussions. This allows for a highly collaborative and participant-driven approach to problem-solving and decision-making.

Pro Action Café 

A Pro Action Café is a facilitated meeting where participants come together to collectively explore a challenging issue. The purpose of a Pro Action Café is to encourage everyone to participate in the conversation and to reach a collective agreement on potential solutions to the issue. The discussion is structured around a series of questions that challenge participants to think beyond the immediate problem and to consider more systemic solutions.
A Pro Action Café is a facilitated meeting where participants come together to collectively explore a challenging issue. The purpose of a Pro Action Café is to encourage everyone to participate in the conversation and to reach a collective agreement on potential solutions to the issue. The discussion is structured around a series of questions that challenge participants to think beyond the immediate problem and to consider more systemic solutions.

World Café 

A World Café is a facilitated conversational process that is used to engage large groups of people in exploring a particular topic or issue. It is based on the idea that everyone has something to offer in terms of knowledge, experience, and perspective, and that when an atmosphere of hospitality and safety is created, people can engage in meaningful dialogue and collective intelligence can emerge. The process is designed to allow participants to explore their ideas and perspectives in depth, often leading to unexpected insights and potential for action.​

A World Café is a structured conversational process that helps people share their perspectives and ideas on a particular topic or issue. Here are the typical steps of a World Café:

Setting up the Space: The facilitators set up a room or space that is conducive to conversation and reflection, with tables or small groups of chairs arranged in a café-style setting. Each table has a tablecloth and writing utensils.

Introduction: The facilitators welcome participants and explain the purpose and process of the World Café. The participants are encouraged to engage in meaningful conversations, ask questions, and share their experiences.

First Round of Conversations: The participants are seated at their tables, and a topic or question related to the main theme is presented. They are given a set amount of time to discuss the topic and record their ideas or insights on the tablecloth or paper.

Rotation: After the first round, one or two people from each table remain at their table while the others move to a different table. The remaining people explain the discussion so far to the new participants, and the conversation continues.

Second Round of Conversations: The participants are given a new question related to the main theme, and they continue the conversation at their new table. They can review the notes from the previous round and build on them.

Harvesting: The facilitators ask the participants to come together as a large group and share the main insights and ideas that emerged from the conversations. The facilitators may create a visual display of the ideas or use other methods to synthesize the information.

Closing: The facilitators thank the participants for their participation and encourage them to take action based on the insights and ideas generated during the World Café.

In a World Café, the emphasis is on generating collective wisdom and discovering common themes and insights. The process is designed to be engaging, participatory, and inclusive, and to foster a sense of community and collaboration.