View in EDS

Organizational Learning and Change through the World Café: An Integrative Literature Review

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Title: Organizational Learning and Change through the World Café: An Integrative Literature Review
Language: English
Authors: Hyerim Cho
Source: Learning Organization. 2026 33(4):639-656.
Availability: Emerald Publishing Limited. Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA, UK. Tel: +44-1274-777700; Fax: +44-1274-785201; e-mail: emerald@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emerald.com/insight
Peer Reviewed: Y
Page Count: 18
Publication Date: 2026
Document Type: Journal Articles
Reports - Research
Descriptors: Organizational Learning, Educational Research, Organizational Change, Workplace Learning, Methods, Intervention
DOI: 10.1108/TLO-03-2025-0059
ISSN: 0969-6474
1758-7905
Abstract: Purpose: This paper aims to provide a comprehensive synthesis of empirical research on the World Café method, with particular attention to its role in promoting organizational learning and change. The paper also highlights gaps in the existing literature and suggests future research to enhance understanding of the World Café's contributions to organizational development and transformation. Design/methodology/approach: This paper adopts an integrative literature review method to synthesize and analyze 79 empirical studies on the World Café method in organizational settings. Findings: The review highlights the diverse applications of the World Café across organizational contexts, positively impacting both participants and organizers. The World Café method facilitates collaborative learning, trust-building, and collective problem-solving. The roles of café hosts and table hosts are critical to its success, which emphasizes the need for effective facilitation. Strategies for conducting virtual World Cafés are explored, though challenges remain, particularly around participant engagement and maintaining the core elements of the intervention in virtual settings. The review also acknowledges limitations and offers suggestions for overcoming these challenges to improve future applications. Originality/value: This paper makes an original contribution by synthesizing empirical studies on the World Café method to clarify its strengths, limitations, and areas for improvement for organizational learning and change. It offers actionable recommendations, particularly for virtual implementations, and identifies key research gaps to inform future research and practice.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: EJ1508329
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
Header DbId: eric
DbLabel: ERIC
An: EJ1508329
AccessLevel: 3
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Title
  Label: Title
  Group: Ti
  Data: Organizational Learning and Change through the World Café: An Integrative Literature Review
– Name: Language
  Label: Language
  Group: Lang
  Data: English
– Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Hyerim+Cho%22">Hyerim Cho</searchLink>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="SO" term="%22Learning+Organization%22"><i>Learning Organization</i></searchLink>. 2026 33(4):639-656.
– Name: Avail
  Label: Availability
  Group: Avail
  Data: Emerald Publishing Limited. Howard House, Wagon Lane, Bingley, West Yorkshire, BD16 1WA, UK. Tel: +44-1274-777700; Fax: +44-1274-785201; e-mail: emerald@emeraldinsight.com; Web site: http://www.emerald.com/insight
– Name: PeerReviewed
  Label: Peer Reviewed
  Group: SrcInfo
  Data: Y
– Name: Pages
  Label: Page Count
  Group: Src
  Data: 18
– Name: DatePubCY
  Label: Publication Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: TypeDocument
  Label: Document Type
  Group: TypDoc
  Data: Journal Articles<br />Reports - Research
– Name: Subject
  Label: Descriptors
  Group: Su
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Organizational+Learning%22">Organizational Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Educational+Research%22">Educational Research</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Organizational+Change%22">Organizational Change</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Workplace+Learning%22">Workplace Learning</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Methods%22">Methods</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Intervention%22">Intervention</searchLink>
– Name: DOI
  Label: DOI
  Group: ID
  Data: 10.1108/TLO-03-2025-0059
– Name: ISSN
  Label: ISSN
  Group: ISSN
  Data: 0969-6474<br />1758-7905
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: Purpose: This paper aims to provide a comprehensive synthesis of empirical research on the World Café method, with particular attention to its role in promoting organizational learning and change. The paper also highlights gaps in the existing literature and suggests future research to enhance understanding of the World Café's contributions to organizational development and transformation. Design/methodology/approach: This paper adopts an integrative literature review method to synthesize and analyze 79 empirical studies on the World Café method in organizational settings. Findings: The review highlights the diverse applications of the World Café across organizational contexts, positively impacting both participants and organizers. The World Café method facilitates collaborative learning, trust-building, and collective problem-solving. The roles of café hosts and table hosts are critical to its success, which emphasizes the need for effective facilitation. Strategies for conducting virtual World Cafés are explored, though challenges remain, particularly around participant engagement and maintaining the core elements of the intervention in virtual settings. The review also acknowledges limitations and offers suggestions for overcoming these challenges to improve future applications. Originality/value: This paper makes an original contribution by synthesizing empirical studies on the World Café method to clarify its strengths, limitations, and areas for improvement for organizational learning and change. It offers actionable recommendations, particularly for virtual implementations, and identifies key research gaps to inform future research and practice.
– Name: AbstractInfo
  Label: Abstractor
  Group: Ab
  Data: As Provided
– Name: DateEntry
  Label: Entry Date
  Group: Date
  Data: 2026
– Name: AN
  Label: Accession Number
  Group: ID
  Data: EJ1508329
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=EJ1508329
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1108/TLO-03-2025-0059
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 18
        StartPage: 639
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Organizational Learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Research
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Organizational Change
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Workplace Learning
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Methods
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Intervention
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Organizational Learning and Change through the World Café: An Integrative Literature Review
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Hyerim Cho
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 01
              M: 05
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 0969-6474
            – Type: issn-electronic
              Value: 1758-7905
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 33
            – Type: issue
              Value: 4
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Learning Organization
              Type: main
ResultId 1