Mission Statement

The Affinity Diagram : An Idea Generating Tool

The purpose is to generate as many brainstorming ideas as possible and then arrange them into affinity groups.

1. Frame the question
2. Brainstorm ideas on post it cards
   • one idea per post-it
   • use short phrases
   • write large
3. Post the post-its one at a time on a flip chart, a wall, or a blackboard
4. Clarifying questions are asked as each card goes up
5. Categorizes the cards by moving them with other like ideas
6. Move the cards as many times as necessary
7. If consensus can’t be reached about the affinity of a particular note , make a duplicate for both categories
8. Create a title note for each completed group

(Source: Memory Jogger)