---
title: Affinity Diagram
description: "Too many ideas and no overview? The Affinity Diagram sorts them into a few clear themes, together and without endless debate. Watch the short video, then work with the toolkit PDF: it explains the method, shows a worked example and…"
url: "https://skillagility.com/en/resources/affinity-diagram/"
updated: "2026-10-07"
category: 03 ANALYZE
---

# Affinity Diagram

Too many ideas and no overview? The Affinity Diagram sorts them into a few clear themes, together and without endless debate. Watch the short video, then work with the toolkit PDF: it explains the method, shows a worked example and gives you a blank template to fill in.

Tool video

The short tool video will appear here.

[Affinity-Diagram_Toolkit_EN](https://skillagility.com/wp-content/plugins/embedpress/assets/pdf/web/viewer.html?&file=https%3A%2F%2Fskillagility.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2F2026%2F10%2FAffinity-Diagram_Toolkit_EN.pdf#key=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)

## Affinity Diagram in short

1. **Gather the data.** One idea per sticky note, clear and short.
2. **Display at random.** Spread the notes on a wall. No grouping yet.
3. **Group silently.** Everyone moves notes next to related ones, without talking. Notes may move again.
4. **Refine the groups.** Check for misfits, merge duplicates, discuss only now.
5. **Write headers.** A short title for each group that captures its theme, then look for links between headers.

Key points

- One idea per note.
- Group silently, discuss later.
- Headers name the themes.
- Themes feed Pareto, ID or FMEA.

**Related tools:** [Fishbone Diagram](https://skillagility.com/en/resources/fishbone-diagram/) · [Pareto Analysis](https://skillagility.com/en/resources/pareto-analysis/) · [Interrelationship Diagraph](https://skillagility.com/en/resources/interrelationship-diagraph/)