The Quality Caf?: developing the World Caf? method for organisational learning by including quality management tools

The purpose of this study was to examine the possibility of integrating the World Caf? method with the affinity diagram tool from quality management. The proposed combination is called the Quality Caf?. Quality Caf?s were carried out at seven spa hotels, one municipality and two student organisations. The caf?s were assessed with feedback seminars and questionnaires. The findings show that the method was appreciated by the participants. It contributed to profound dialogues with deepening insights, which stimulated creativity, increased understanding for quality issues and allowed a more holistic view. In addition, the method was experienced as enjoyable and in itself creating coherence. The findings were related to organisational learning theory and several connections were found. The Quality Caf? should be a useful method for researchers in social science as well as for practitioners. A limitation is that determining the specific effects of the Quality Caf? method compared to the original World Caf? is difficult.