Appendix A:
Affinity Diagram

In chapter 15, “Building the Future Firm Continuously,” you are introduced to a number of valuable tools to help improve the processes and systems of your firm. In that chapter, I refer to this appendix describing affinity diagrams. Affinity diagrams are great tools for managers to use to attain an overview one process and display a picture of the many aspects of the system. You might use an affinity diagram to plan the installation of new software or change the way that taxes are processed or new employees are on-boarded.

An affinity diagram is used to organize large sets of items (more than 20) into smaller sets of related items.

Guidelines

1. The rules of brainstorming are followed, but each idea is written (in seven words or less using a verb and noun) on a self-adhesive Post-it note.

2. After all the ideas have been generated and entered on the Post-its, post all the Post-its on a wall or board. Discuss the Post-its to check if there are any questions about what any of the Post-its say or mean.

3. Team members now silently move the Post-its around, grouping Post-its that are related or similar (have affinity) together.

4. If disagreement exists when grouping, make copies of the contested Post-it and place it in more than one group.

5. When the grouping has stopped, discuss each grouping to determine what it is that relates to all the Post-its. Write a header Post-it for each group that captures the theme and concept of the Post-its.

6. If any single idea Post-its do not fit well with any header, have the team decide if they should be kept.

An affinity diagram is especially useful when

▴ chaos exists.

▴ the team is drowning in a large volume of ideas.

▴ breakthrough thinking is required.

▴ broad issues or themes must be identified.

Building an affinity diagram is a creative, rather than logical, process that encourages participation because everyone’s ideas find their way into the exercise.

Sample Affinity Diagram