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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 © 2009
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Purpose: Use an affinity diagram to organize large groups of information
into meaningful categories.
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
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
The Affinity Diagram is just one of the tools included in the QI
Macros for Excel SPC Software for Excel.
 Download
the FREE 30-day Evaluation copy of the QI Macros Excel SPC Software for Six Sigma
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