AFFINITY

DIAGRAM

Group A
What is affinity diagram?

 Is a tool that gathers large amounts of

language data (ideas, opinions, issues) and
organizes them into groupings based on
their natural relationships.
 The affinity process is often used to group
ideas generated by brainstorming.
 The affinity process is a good way to get
people to work on a creative level to address
difficult issues.
 History
Affinity diagrams were invented by Jiro
Kawakita in the 1960s, who called this diagram
the K-J Method. They help prioritize actions
and improve group decision-making when
resources are limited.
 By the 1970s, affinity diagrams were part of
what's known as the Seven Management
and Planning Tools, an approach to process
improvement used in Total Quality Control in
Japan.
When to use an Affinity Diagram:

When you are confronted with many facts or

ideas in apparent chaos.
When issues seem too large and complex to
grasp.
 When group consensus is necessary.
 Typical situations are;

After a brainstorming exercise

When analyzing verbal data, such as survey
results
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
AFFINITY DIAGRAM PROCESS

 Step 1: Record each idea with a marking

pen on a separate sticky note or card
 Step 2: Look for ideas that seem to be
related in some way and place them side by
side
 Step 3: Begin a discussion with your team
 Step 4: Combine groups into "supergroups,"
if appropriate.
Example