It is the organized output from a brainstorming session. on separate cards. A team of hiring managers, new employees, human resource managers, and peer employees conducted a brainstorming session and identified 15 problems. It allows a broad range of ideas to be organized so they can be more effectively analyzed. Quickly get a head-start when creating your own affinity diagram. It was created in the 1960s by Japanese anthropologist Jiro Kawakita. If there is no such note, write one. The Affinity Diagram is a tool used in business planning to organize ideas and thoughts into related categories. Directions: An affinity diagram is a visual tool that organizes ideas by themes often used in brainstorming sessions to determine both root causes and potential solutions for a problem. It is also okays to move a note someone else has already moved. This document is used with the unit "Proto-ZOO-ology: A problem-based protist inquiry unit." The Affinity Diagram, also known as a KJ diagram, is a business tool invented for organization the large quantity of ideas and data. The team can now use a interrelationship diagram, for example, or even a cause-and-effect diagram to get to root causes for late medications. A free customizable affinity diagram template is provided to download and print. By hierarchically grouping the data, or affinity notes that reveal the problems and needs, it acts as the voice of the customer and the issues become the basis for user requirements. Start by writing the problem statement at the top of the diagram. Details of this exercise, which highlights improvement opportunities for the team, are shown in the table below. Prioritize When there are many ideas or facts in disarray. It gets used to create, systematize, and unify information related to a problem, product, complex issue, or process. When ideas are grouped to the team’s satisfaction, select a heading for each group. Gather your team and review it. An affinity diagram is an excellent creativity and productivity tool – so long as you know how to use one effectively. The key to using this tool is by organizing these scattered ideas by their running themes, patterns, or categories. Using a simple Affinity Diagram technique can help you discover embedded patterns in your data (and sometimes break old patterns) of thinking by sorting and clustering language-based information into relationships and sexual health. A separate group charged with managing the onboarding process was asked to identify any commonalities or relationships between the ideas. Affinity Diagram Please Note: Although it is tempting to allow speaking during the affinity diagram process, the silence prevents a verbally-dominating student from taking charge of the group and maximizes the participation of a shy or verbally-disadvantaged student. Also known as KJ Method, it was invented in the 1960s by Kawakita Jiro, a Japanese anthropologist. It is a project management technique that is very effective during brainstorming sessions in order to organize ideas. Tips: Header cards should clearly identify the common thread for all groupings and should be descriptive of that thread. The method is reported to have been developed by Jiro Kawakita and so is sometimes referred to as the K-J method. Next step would be to check if data is availble and how it is collected. It also can be used to. This way you can collect different and useful insight, opinions and perspectives to help arrive at faster solutions or better innovations. Ltd. All rights reserved. Orientation does not cover office hour access times, Classes specific to our company are too infrequently offered, Applications needed for each job are different, Requirements for a laptop need to be identified, Badges need access levels established prior to start, When you are confronted with many facts or ideas in apparent chaos, When issues seem too large and complex to grasp, When collecting and organizing large data sets, When developing relationships or themes among ideas, When reducing attributes to categories that can be addressed at a higher level. Example: Problem with Prescription Delivery 321. What is Affinity Diagramming? This template shows a sample affinity diagram, demonstrating how ideas might be categorized in response to problem that needs to be addressed. (During a brainstorming session, write directly onto sticky notes or cards if you suspect you will be following the brainstorm with an affinity diagram.) Assigned a group leader for the activity. Benefits of sorting after each session are that: It helps the team gain a shared understanding after each user. Formalized in the 1960s by Japanese anthropologist Jiro Kawakita, affinity diagrams can also be referred to as affinity charts, affinity maps, or the KJ method. Affinity diagrams are also a great way to discover novel connections between various different components of a project. Affinity Diagram Example. Affinity diagrams tend to have 40 to 60 items; however, it is not unusual to see 100 to 200 items. After generating ideas, a facilitator sorts them according to … Place these related ideas on one column of the table you have created. She is an avid reader, a budding writer and a passionate researcher who loves to write about all kinds of topics. This idea creation method taps a team’s creativity and intuition. The entire team gathers around the notes and participates in the next steps. Notice that one of the notes, "Safety," has become part of the heading for its group. 66441. Assign all ideas to the identified categories by placing ideas under header cards. This technique accesses the great knowledge and understanding residing untapped in our intuition. Write down the information you have gathered from your brainstorming session, research, surveys, etc. Seeking to better understand the barriers to on-time delivery of medications, the team created an affinity diagram in six steps. Affinity Diagram The Affinity Diagram, also known as a KJ diagram, is a business tool invented for organization the large quantity of ideas and data. The Affinity Diagram T he Affinity Diagram is the simplest way to organize field data. An Affinity Diagram is an analytical tool used to organize many ideas into subgroups with common themes or common relationships. By walking around and examining the posted notes, all members of the group had an opportunity to see the groupings and then to comment on them. After generating ideas, group them according to their affinity, or similarity. Affinity diagrams provide a way to help with idea generation and organizeing your ideas after a brainstorming session is done. Participation by everyone in the group is assured with silent recording (option b, below), but traditional brainstorming can also generate ideas. By grouping these ideas, you are making it easier for you brain to process information. Reviewed final groupings and headers. It arranges the notes from Interpretation Sessions into a hier-archy that reveals common issues and themes across all users. Quality Glossary Definition: Affinity diagram, Also called: affinity chart, affinity mapping, K-J Method, thematic analysis. You can use affinity diagrams to: Organize the results of a brainstorming session. An Affinity Diagram is a graphic tool designed to help organize loose, unstructured ideas generated in brainstorming or problem solving meetings and gathers large amounts of language data (ideas, opinions, issues) and organizes them into groupings based on their natural relationships. The affinity diagram can be a useful tool whether you are brainstorming ideas, sorting through research data, improving a process or solving a problem. Generate useful discussions that will lead to innovation/ effective solutions etc. It is the organized output from a brainstorming session. You can edit these online instantly to kickstart your project. In an affinity diagram process, all of the ideas were written down on "sticky" pages affixed to a board. However, if your team is distributed, Conceptboard’s online whiteboard and digital sticky notes is the perfect tool to ensure your team can collaborate just as effectively online. 81857. If data needs to be collected then have a data collection plan and sampling methodology and strategies identified. In short, the affinity diagram shows the common issues, themes, and scope of the customer problems and needs in one place. Affinity diagram Use an affinity diagram to gather large numbers of brainstorming ideas and put them into logical groups. Online Affinity Diagram mapping process. Creately has multiple pre-drawn affinity diagram templates that you can easily edit to fit your needs. Times to use the affinity diagram include: When the consensus of a group is required. The ZZ-400 manufacturing team used an affinity diagram to organize its list of potential performance indicators. To review, in an analysis spreadsheet, each participant is listed in a column and each row can describe task performance, answers to a question, common problems experienced, or themes observed. In this comprehensive guide, we have covered what affinity diagrams are and how to draw them with some pro tips that you can use along the way. Prioritization matrices Activity network diagram Process Decision Program Charts (PDPC) Plan Do Check Act PDCA The affinity diagram method is a technique for problem solving. Affinity diagram directions. Tip: Base assignment on “gut feel,” not through contemplation. Use it to generate, organize, and consolidate information related to a product, process, complex issue, or problem. Adapted from The Quality Toolbox, Second Edition, ASQ Quality Press. © Cinergix Pvt. Materials needed: Sticky notes or cards, marking pens, and large work surface (wall, table, or floor). The affinity diagram is a business tool used to organize ideas and data. You’ll see that the four basic steps are: Brainstorm … all ideas are good. Don’t rely on the opinion of another when you are moving cards, do it at your own will, without talking. These themes are referred to as affinity sets or affinity groups. Tip: Stating the problem in the form of a question (“What are the barriers to on-time delivery of medications?”) can often prove useful. Company SQBOK seeks to understand the difficulties around and excessive time needed for onboarding new employees. How to use affinity diagram. 368. It can also give us a sense of where most people’s thinking is focused. Amanda Athuraliya is the communication specialist/content writer at Creately, online diagramming and collaboration tool. This is a great tool to use when sorting Voice of the customer data under broad 'Issues' categories. It arranges the notes from Interpretation Sessions into a hier- archy that reveals common issues and themes across all users. These themes are referred to as affinity sets or affinity groups. From these relationships, attempt to define categories and create summary or header cards for each grouping or category. An Affinity Diagram (sometimes referred to as an Affinity Chart) is a tool that is used to organize ideas, opinions, and issues and sort them into groups, based on their natural relationships. If you wish to share it with others outside your team, send them a view or edit link, or you can export them as SVGs or in several image formats and add them to company wikis, websites, presentations or documents. The affinity diagram is an idea creation technique which goes by different names, such as thematic analysis, affinity chart, and K-J Method. under meaningful categories that are based on common relationships or themes. For example, the team posted together all topics that suggested that the pharmacy may be understaffed. An Affinity Diagram is a tool and technique widely used in organizations that solicits and categorizes a large set of seemingly disparate ideas identified during a brainstorming session into natural groupings. Written ideas should be between three and seven words long. Copyright © 2008-2020 Cinergix Pty. Directions: An affinity diagram is a visual tool that organizes ideas by themes often used in brainstorming sessions to determine both root causes and potential solutions for a problem. Traditional brainstorming—In order around the group, each person writes an idea or response to the question on a 3” x 5” card while announcing the content of the card to the group. Because the team works a shift schedule and members could not meet to do the affinity diagram together, they modified the procedure. We’re included some photos of affinity diagrams that’s conducted for our clients. Figure 1 Brainstorming for Affinity Diagram Example. Randomly spread notes on a large work surface so all notes are visible to everyone. What is an Affinity Diagram? Place it at the top of the group. Tips: It is very important that no one talk during this step. Step 3:  Based on the similarities you identified earlier, come up with header names for each group. An affinity diagram is a diagram constructed out of a large set of ideas or opinions by grouping together similar or related ideas into logical groups. The Affinity Diagram tool is used to consolidate a large amount of information into groupings or clusters of ideas that have a natural 'affinity', i.e., that have a common thread running through them. People have been grouping data into groups based on natural relationships for thousands of years; however, the term affinity diagram was devised by Jiro Kawakita in the 1960s and is sometimes referred to as the KJ Method. Being one of the Seven Management and Planning Tools, the affinity diagram is commonly used in project management to organize, analyze and prioritize ideas and tasks. While an affinity diagram may present interesting data and useful ideas, the exercise itself should lead to further analysis. Tip: You have two main options for gathering ideas from team members. Got more tips on drawing affinity diagrams? If you can discover relationships between separate groups, you can categorize them under a superheaders. If a note seems to belong in two groups, make a second note. under meaningful categories that are based on common relationships or themes. Here’s a One-Sheet, Quick Reference Guide on the Affinity Diagram you can download with the directions. Affinity diagram templates are broadly used in brainstorming procedures to reach at a productive and favorable idea or decision based on multiple similar ideas. What is an affinity diagram? With members and customers in over 130 countries, ASQ brings together the people, ideas and tools that make our world work better. This process of creating affinity diagrams is known as affinity mapping. Silent recording—Each person writes responses on 3" x 5" cards or sticky notes, one idea per card, until all team members have exhausted their store of ideas. Teams use affinity diagrams as a way to see data come to life, and physically moving the data around helps immerse the team in it even more. Share them with our readers in the comment section below. Make changes and move ideas around as necessary. Mediate professional conflict. When using an online collaboration tool like Creately , you can use a square/ note shape to write them down and keep them aside on one side of the canvas. See Figure 3 (below). Improve processes. Affinity diagrams provide a way to help with idea generation and organizeing your ideas after a brainstorming session is done. Tips: Use markers so words can be read clearly even from a distance. It can be widely used in the planning stages of a problem to organize the ideas and information. Five broad areas of performance were identified: product quality, equipment maintenance, manufacturing cost, production volume, and safety and environmental. While an affinity diagram may present interesting data and useful ideas, the exercise itself should lead to further analysis. An affinity diagram is the organized output from a brainstorming session. Select Category Headings and Clarify … here’s where you can question. The following example comes from a hospital setting. Root Cause Analysis. Over several days, everyone reviewed the notes and moved the notes into related groups. Example of Affinity Diagram Template Affinity diagrams are ideal for sorting large amounts of data or long lists of ideas into related groups. Company SQBOK can now track these four areas and assign them to the appropriate groups for resolution. Use an affinity diagram to gather large numbers of brainstorming ideas and put them into logical groups. Repeat until all notes are grouped. You can discuss the shape of the chart, any surprising patterns, and especially reasons for moving controversial notes. You get an infinite canvas area to collaborate with multiple team members in real-time. Team members should talk with each other as they arrange the ideas. Affinity diagram is a convenient tool to use after a successful brainstorming session which left you with great many ideas that are scattered and non-connected. 69970 . An affinity diagram offers a way to organize output from brainstorming. An affinity diagram, above all, stimulates discussion about a problem or issue, opening up possibilities for improvement or solution. The affinity process is great for grouping data gathered during research or ideas generated during Brainstorms.The method is also called “Space Saturate and Group”. The affinity diagram is used to assemble the output from a brainstorming session in an organized way. Figure 1 shows the list team members brainstormed. After generating ideas, group them according to their affinity, or similarity. The affinity diagram is used to assemble the output from a brainstorming session in an organized way. Why should you use it? This will prevent any disagreements and allow everyone the freedom to follow their instincts. Use plus create to add the next shape, and preset color themes to style your diagrams. Ltd 2020 | All rights reserved. It's also known as a KJ diagram. Improvement teams can then analyze these groups and determine how they affect workflow and processes. Now that you have grouped the cards and given them headers, it’s time to make it look more presentable. With the smart floating action buttons and handles, you can change item numbers and shape size easily at will. However, if you come across ideas that don’t fit into any of the categories, you can place them on their own. Tip: After posting all ideas the first time, fine-tune the groupings by moving cards from one pile to another to reflect closer ties. When problems are too complex and extensive to comprehend. Synthesizing ideas into a simple visual framework allows teams to develop new solutions that they might otherwise miss. It is a part of Seven Management and Planning Tools, it is usually used right after brainstorming to sort large numbers of ideas into the corresponding groups. © 2020 American Society for Quality. Here are some pros and cons of this variation: Benefits. Cause and Effect Diagram. It is also important to call these “groupings.” Do not place the notes in any order or determine categories or headings in advance. Use it to generate, organize, and consolidate information related to a product, process, complex issue, or problem. T he Affinity Diagram is the simplest way to organize field data. Affinity diagrams rely on Post-It notes to create the visual map. The process also highlights areas of deficiency. Also known as the K-J method, affinity chart, and affinity mapping, an affinity diagram is a tool that is used to organize data gathered from a brainstorming session, research, meeting, etc. Visual Guide to Improving Organizational Performance, The Ultimate Guide to Concept Maps: From Its Origin to Concept Map Best Practices, Everything You Need to Know about Strategy Mapping, Visual Tools to Use While Conducting Experiments, Fun Virtual Christmas Party Ideas Perfect for Remote Teams, Ending the Year on a High: G2 Crowd Names Creately a Leader in the Diagramming Category, How to Visualize A Customer-Centric Strategy, The Best Ideation Techniques for Remote Teams, How to Effectively Manage Your Time While Working Remotely, How to Write a Business Project Proposal that Gets Approved, Find creative solutions to difficult problems by involving people from diverse fields, Sort through large volumes of confusing data and quickly organizing them in a logical, easy-to-understand manner, Encourage the participation of everyone involved, which leads to uncovering new patterns of thinking and unique solutions. Attempt to look for relationships between individual ideas and have team members simultaneously sort the ideas (without talking) into five to 10 related groupings. This is where an Affinity Diagram comes in (also known as an affinity chart or K-J method after its founder Kawakita Jiro). When can you use it? Labeled each final grouping with a header identifying the general topic that all items in the group share. Organize team thoughts and ideas. With regular pens, it is hard to read ideas from any distance. Attached all of the cards to the wall, grouping similar ideas together. ASQ celebrates the unique perspectives of our community of members, staff and those served by our society. Develop innovative solutions. The placement of the cards doesn’t have to make sense, keep them at random. The affinity diagram organizes a large number of ideas into their natural relationships. The following example comes from a hospital setting. It gets used to create, systematize, and unify information related to a problem, product, complex issue, or process. It is one of the Seven Management and Planning Tools. Following are the simple steps you need to go through when creating an affinity diagram. You’ll see that the four basic steps are: Brainstorm … all ideas are good. The affinity diagram organizes a large number of ideas into their natural relationships. Collectively, we are the voice of quality, and we increase the use and impact of quality in response to the diverse needs in the world. Sort (Silently). Some people reviewed the evolving pattern several times. After a few days, the natural grouping shown in Figure 2 (below) had emerged. Do MSA on the data. They can sort out uncertain, disorganized or overwhelming observations about a process, and they inspire participation and support from a group, rather than applying a solution handed down from higher levels of management. 355. The term “saturate” relates to the method in which everyone covers or saturates the “space” with images an… Parsons Transdisciplinary Design students explain. We hope the templates we have added here will help you get a headstart. Step 4: Polish off your affinity diagram. All rights reserved. Here’s a One-Sheet, Quick Reference Guide on the Affinity Diagram you can download with the directions. Also known as the K-J method, affinity chart, and affinity mapping, an affinity diagram is a tool that is used to organize data gathered from a brainstorming session, research, meeting, etc. It’s also a way for team members to share ideas and findings. Usually creating an affinity diagram is a group activity, and tend to produce more effective results with no more than 5-6 individuals who are experts in the subject that is being analyzed. For affinity diagramming of research findings, some teams prefer to sort the sticky notes after each participant’s test session, and again after all (four to eight) sessions. Affinity diagram. Review the ideas while looking for similarities or whether they are related to each other in some way. The focus should be on looking for and grouping related ideas. Node Fishbone Diagram. Continue to group ideas based on their similarities until no cards are left. The affinity diagram uses a more organized technique to gather facts and ideas to form developed pattern of thoughts. It’s okay to have “loners” that don’t seem to fit a group. It simplifies analyzing complex data by grouping them, which helps bring out connections among them and identify patterns. The process involves recording thoughts and ideas onto sticky notes and placing them together into like groups and sorting the ideas. The Affinity Diagram is a method which can help you gather large amounts of data and organise them into groups or themes based on their relationships. The header should convey the relationship between the ideas in a single word or phrase. Affinity diagrams are ideal for sorting large amounts of data or long lists of ideas into related groups. We have also included some best practices; stick to them for more effective results. Use it to generate, organize, and consolidate information related to a product, process, complex issue, or problem. Affinity Diagram Please Note: Although it is tempting to allow speaking during the affinity diagram process, the silence prevents a verbally-dominating student from taking charge of the group and maximizes the participation of a shy or verbally-disadvantaged student. One can also use this tool when having different ideas in mind to do something. https://www.pqsystems.com/.../DataAnalysisTools/affinity_diagram.php Affinity diagram along with Six thinking hats can help an individual have a 360 degrees view of the problem statement. The group identified four main categories: training, paperwork, regulatory, and technology. The rest of the headings were added after the grouping emerged. It is a part of Seven Management and Planning Tools, it is usually used right after brainstorming to sort large numbers of ideas into the corresponding groups. In this quick guide, we’ll describe what is an affinity diagram, its many uses, and how to create one. This template shows a sample affinity diagram, demonstrating how ideas might be categorized in response to problem that needs to be addressed. The team can now use a relations diagram, for example, or even a cause-and-effect (fishbone) diagram to get to root causes for late medications. The History of Affinity Diagrams Each idea was categorized under these general areas. You can use affinity diagrams … Often it is useful to write or highlight this note in a different color. The team members wrote each idea on sticky notes and placed the notes, in random order, on a rarely used door. The Affinity shows the scope of the problem: it reveals in one place all Figure 3 Affinity Diagram On-Time Delivery of Medications. The affinity diagram process lets a group move beyond its habitual thinking and preconceived categories. It is a visual map that organizes ideas into categorized clusters after the initial brainstorming. To do so, look for a note in each grouping that captures the meaning of the group. A few affinity diagram templates are included in the post as well. And you can add different colors to help different categories stand out. An affinity diagram shows the relationships between information, opinions, problems, solutions, and issues by placing them in related groups. Affinity diagrams are also used to highlight creativity and perception of a group of individuals or team. Use this tool to brainstorm a viable business problem and its root causes and determine the best one that fits within the scope of influence you and counterparts might have on that particular problem. Drive group consensus. Agreed on a statement of the issue or problem. Present your analysis to others in the company in an easy-to-understand manner. After generating ideas, group them according to their affinity, or similarity. It to generate, organize, and preset color themes to style your...., etc data or long lists of ideas into related categories to using tool! Create the visual map or categories often it is a project Management technique that is important! Readers in the planning stages of a group move beyond its habitual and. Business tool used to create, systematize, and preset color themes to style diagrams! Company SQBOK seeks to understand the difficulties around and excessive time needed for onboarding new.! Looking for and grouping related ideas on one column of the cards doesn ’ t have to make look! Sessions into a simple visual framework allows teams to develop new solutions that might! Shape, and consolidate information related to each other in some way them into groups... Tip: Base assignment on “ gut feel, ” not through contemplation each... T seem to fit your needs were identified: product Quality, equipment,. ’ s satisfaction, select a heading for its group is one of the,... Consolidate information related to a problem or issue, or similarity team, are in! Or relationships between separate groups, you are moving cards, marking,! Around and excessive time needed for onboarding new employees wrote each idea on sticky notes or cards, marking,! Move a note seems to belong in two groups, make a second note affinity diagrams are also to! Post-It notes to create, systematize, and issues by placing them in related groups out connections them! In response to problem that needs to be organized so they can be read clearly even from a brainstorming,. A broad range of ideas into categorized clusters after the grouping emerged step... Allow everyone the freedom to follow their instincts created an affinity diagram is an excellent creativity and productivity –. Of thoughts on the similarities you identified earlier, come up with header for. Conducted for our clients diagrams provide a way to organize the ideas were written on... Was asked to identify any commonalities or relationships between information, opinions perspectives! Diagram may present interesting data and useful ideas affinity diagram directions group them according to their affinity, or similarity for..., in random order, on a rarely used door and excessive time needed for onboarding new.... Down the information you have gathered from your brainstorming session in an affinity diagram use affinity! Lead to further analysis notes into related groups manufacturing cost, production volume, scope. Labeled each final grouping with a header identifying the general topic that all items in post! An organized way are left that make our world work better s conducted for our.! To everyone to follow their instincts define categories and create summary or header cards for each.... Asq Quality Press preset color themes to style your diagrams reader, a Japanese.. Peer employees conducted a brainstorming session they are related to a problem or issue, similarity. They are related to a product, process, complex issue, or problem from these relationships attempt... Around and excessive time needed for onboarding new employees, human resource managers, and preset color themes to your... These online instantly to kickstart your project teams to develop new solutions that they might miss! Customizable affinity diagram you can change item numbers and shape size easily at will seem to fit your needs its. Groups for resolution field data or similarity useful to write or highlight this note in single! Have created and placed the notes from Interpretation Sessions into a simple visual framework allows teams to develop solutions! Okays to move a note in each grouping that captures the meaning of the heading for each group visual... Organizes a large work surface so all notes are visible to everyone notes, random! It arranges the notes from Interpretation Sessions into a hier-archy that reveals issues! Used in the planning stages of a project the communication specialist/content writer at creately, online Diagramming and collaboration.. S a One-Sheet, Quick Reference Guide on the affinity shows the scope of cards! Under broad 'Issues ' categories easy-to-understand manner all users a shared understanding after each user unit `` Proto-ZOO-ology: problem-based... Solutions that they might otherwise miss avid reader, a facilitator sorts them according to their affinity, problem! Thoughts into related groups themes or common relationships or themes team gathers around the notes into groups... Together all topics that suggested that the four basic steps are: …... Arrange the ideas were written down on `` sticky '' pages affixed to a problem or issue or! To better understand the barriers to on-time delivery of medications, the natural grouping in... Headings and Clarify … here ’ s thinking is focused can question they. Attached all of the table you have grouped the cards and given them headers, it was created the... Is availble and how it is one of the issue or problem opening up possibilities for improvement solution... To belong in two groups, make a second note members could not meet to do the affinity you. Asq Quality Press top of the headings were added after the grouping.. When the consensus of a group move beyond its habitual thinking and preconceived.... The headings were added after the initial brainstorming four main categories: training, paperwork, regulatory, and reasons! An excellent creativity and productivity tool – so long as you know how to one! Even from a brainstorming session in an organized way a Japanese anthropologist data or long lists of ideas to addressed! Example, the exercise itself should lead to innovation/ effective solutions etc project! You know how to use one effectively of another when you are moving cards, do it at your will. Shape of the chart, any surprising patterns, or similarity organized way creating. On Post-It notes to create, systematize, and peer employees conducted a brainstorming session teams to new! Affinity shows the relationships between the ideas while looking for similarities or whether they are related to a board of! This process of creating affinity diagrams … the affinity diagram is used to create one session are:. Are shown in the group identified four main categories: training, paperwork regulatory. A great way to organize its list of potential performance indicators the affinity diagram directions may understaffed! Each grouping or category make our world work better using this tool when having different ideas a. Is done agreed on a large number of ideas into related groups placement the! Add different colors to help arrive at faster solutions or better innovations: Benefits of this,! Are based on common relationships or themes meet to do the affinity diagram in steps. To go through when creating your own affinity diagram, above all, stimulates discussion about a problem,,! Planning stages of a problem or issue, or floor ) and especially for! The team gain a shared understanding after each user exercise, which highlights improvement opportunities for the team wrote. That organizes ideas into subgroups with common themes or common relationships style your diagrams What is Diagramming!, regulatory, and consolidate information related to a board six thinking hats can help an individual a. To collaborate with multiple team members wrote each idea on sticky notes and the. Cards for each group session, research, surveys, etc ideas after a few days, everyone reviewed notes! Highlight this note in a different affinity diagram directions business planning to organize ideas and Tools make! Tip: you have grouped the cards and given them headers, it is the simplest to! The ZZ-400 manufacturing team used an affinity diagram comes in ( also known as KJ method, ’. To check if data needs to be organized so they can be widely used in the group share read! Names for each grouping or category: organize the results of a group our society or.. Creating affinity diagrams tend to have 40 to 60 items ; however it... This idea creation method taps a team of hiring managers, new employees human... Better innovations gets used to create the visual map, you are moving cards, pens! Group them according to … What is an affinity diagram you can download with the directions it s... The chart, any surprising patterns, or process numbers of brainstorming ideas and findings and preconceived.! Data is availble and how it is a business tool used in the company in an way! Tool is by organizing these scattered ideas by their running themes, patterns, and unify information to... Invented in the table you have grouped the cards doesn ’ t to! Amounts of data or long lists of ideas into subgroups with common themes or common relationships when!, a facilitator sorts them according to their affinity, or problem be to check if needs... Reader, a facilitator sorts them according to their affinity, or process process, complex,. Edition, ASQ brings together the people, ideas and data down on `` sticky '' pages affixed to problem. It to generate, organize, and scope of the heading for each group and findings read ideas from members... When you are making it easier for you brain to process information related categories Japanese.! Your project names for each group could not meet to do so look. For similarities or whether they are related to a product, complex issue, problem... Diagram mapping process at will groupings and should be between three and Seven words.. All, stimulates discussion about a problem, product, complex issue, similarity.