Affinity Diagram

Jay Arthur
888-468-1537
303-756-9144
KnowWare International, Inc.
DBA LifeStar
2253 S. Oneida
Ste 3D
Denver, CO 80224

We help people think!

Copyright © 2008

The affinity diagram helps break old patterns of thought, reveal new patterns, and generate more creative ways of thinking.

The affinity diagram and relationship diagram offer interesting tools for gathering and organizing the information gathered from your customer. These can be used to gather, correlate, and relate huge quantities of information (especially written or verbal comments).

The affinity diagram helps to naturally group ideas or your customer's valid requirements and show the relationships between items and groups. It helps you gather and group large amounts of "language" (e.g., needs, wants, wishes, ideas, and opinions) into natural relationships. This more organic and creative approach to understanding the user's needs is also a useful tool for object-oriented analysis.

The affinity diagram helps organize the team's thoughts most effectively when:

• the issues seem too large and complex to grasp, not simple or immediate
• you need some way to break out of old, traditional ways of thinking
• facts or thoughts are chaotic
• you need to quickly uncover your customer's requirements

Affinity Diagram Process

1. State the issue to be examined in broad terms: "What are the issues surrounding or involving . . ."
   • the delivery of very low defect products or services
   • the delivery of very low defect products or services
   • reducing cycle time
   • reducing waste or rework
2. Generate and record ideas using Post-it notes. Begin sticking them on a wall or large sheet of easel paper where everyone can see them. Ensure that everyone is included. Ask for a "headline" to describe each thought. Note the contributor's initials.
3. Arrange the cards in related groupings. As you generate ideas, the person at the board may begin grouping the available notes as they are offered and keep the intensity of note generation going as long as possible.
4. Complete the groupings. Involve the group in clustering the notes into 6-10 related groupings. Have everyone stand and do this silently. Be prepared for some "loners." Avoid forcing them into a group. Some notes may need to be duplicated for different groupings.
5. Choose a word or phrase that captures the intent of each group and place it at the top as a header card. If there isn't one already, then create one with a word or phrase that does capture the intent.

Download the FREE 30-day Evaluation copy of the QI Macros Excel SPC Software for Six Sigma

Download
FREE
30-Day Trial

Or Buy It Now!
Unconditional
90-Day
Money-Back
Guarantee