Too many ideas and no overview? The Affinity DiagramA tool that organizes a large number of ideas or facts into related groups based on natural connections. Click term for full definition 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 in short
- Gather the data. One idea per sticky note, clear and short.
- Display at random. Spread the notes on a wall. No grouping yet.
- Group silently. Everyone moves notes next to related ones, without talking. Notes may move again.
- Refine the groups. Check for misfits, merge duplicates, discuss only now.
- 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.