Quick Definition:
An Affinity Diagram is a business tool used to organize ideas and data. It is one of the Seven Management and Planning Tools. It helps to group large numbers of ideas into their natural relationships.
The Affinity Process
- Generate Ideas: Use brainstorming to generate a large number of ideas or requirements.
- Display Ideas: Place all ideas on a shared space (e.g., a wall with sticky notes).
- Sort Ideas: Silently sort the ideas into related groups.
- Create Header Cards: Give each group a descriptive name.
- Discuss and Refine: Review the groups and make any necessary adjustments.
Why Use It?
Affinity diagrams help PMs make sense of a large amount of unstructured information, allowing them to identify key themes and prioritize requirements.
