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| Affinity Diagramming: Steps
To create an affinity diagram, you sort the brainstormed
list, moving ideas from the brainstorm into affinity sets, and
creating groups of related ideas.
As you sort ideas:
- Rapidly group ideas that seem to belong together.
- It isn't important to define why they belong together.
- Clarify any ideas in question.
- Copy an idea into in more than one affinity set if
appropriate.
- Look for small sets. Should they belong in a larger
group?
- Do large sets need to be broken down more precisely?
- When most of the ideas have been sorted, you can start
to enter titles for each affinity set.
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| This tool helps to organize ideas versus other
tools that organize data. |
Process to construct an Affinity Diagram:
- State the issue in general terms.
- Brainstorm and record the ideas on cards or Post-it-Notes ...
one idea
/card.
- Place the notes on the wall .. randomly.
- Sort the notes. Look for relationships among the ideas. Sometimes cards belong in more
than one grouping. Make a duplicate card.
- Develop heading or theme cards for each group of ideas which capture the thread of the
ideas in the column. Make them clear and concise.
- Review the affinity. Decide what you are going to do with this information.
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Benefits:
- Organize random thoughts into logical grouping while retaining the integrity of the
original ideas.
- Builds consensus; avoid prolonged argument
- Makes logic visible
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| Example:
Barriers to successfully Implementing
Continuous Improvements |
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| Poor communication throughout
organization |
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| Inability to sell the program up and down the organization |
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| Illiteracy within the organization |
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| Lack of funds for training and education |
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| Lack of time to implement |
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| Lack of basic math skills |
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| No on-going coaching/ facilitation |
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| No understanding of how to work effectively in teams |
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| Lack of effective system of measurement to track results/ progress |
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