World Café Workshop Organizers:
Next steps:
Sandra Bos & Marie Morel from Fieldlabs Urban Management
One important conclusion is that the decision to start with the dominant stakeholder in the first place was not the best one to create a living lab where different stakeholders have an equal say. This is something the organisers will change in their approach in other living labs.
Aim: The main aim of the world cafe was to get input and answers to the organisers’ dilemma regarding living lab in the centre of Amsterdam. To hear experiences from other living labs and/or similar dilemma’s.
Outcome: The main outcomes were about the new insights on different methods used in engaging different stakeholders. There were suitable examples of other labs and processes that help the organisers in changing their current approach. Regarding the participants dynamic, the workshop cafe didn’t have enough participants to go round. Instead, people stayed at one group - table. In general, the exchange of experiences showed both successes and struggles.
Value for participant: Participants got a better understanding of the challenges and how to cope with them. An example case was shared with the participants to understand the struggle in creating a living lab with a dominant stakeholder and client (while being a university). Some of the challenges discussed were:1) the idea that equality is not a necessity per sé in a living lab, but it is always something to try to achieve (as an ideal). 2) Focus on the library as a place for more stakeholders than only the students. 3) Install a mediator / incubator who is the person in between the dominant stakeholders and the others 4) make a decision from which perspective you start: the dominant stakeholder or for example the neighborhood.
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