How to Create an Affinity Diagram
- Gather Data: Collect all relevant ideas, data points, or facts on individual cards or sticky notes.
- Sort and Categorize: Lay out all the cards on a large surface, like a whiteboard or table. Begin sorting the cards into groups that share common themes or relationships.
- Label Categories: As groups emerge, label them to reflect the central theme or category they represent.
- Review and Refine: Review the diagram with the team, and make adjustments as needed to ensure the groupings accurately represent the data.
- Document and Use: Once the affinity diagram is complete, it can serve as a reference for making informed decisions, solving problems, or planning projects.
What Is an Affinity Diagram?
An Affinity Diagram, also known as the KJ Method (Kawakita Jiro Method), is a brainstorming and organization technique used to gather and categorize large amounts of information, ideas, or data into meaningful groups or themes. It was developed by Jiro Kawakita, a Japanese anthropologist, as a way to manage and make sense of qualitative data. It is particularly useful in situations where there is a need to make sense of a complex and unstructured set of information.