Introduction
The Affinity Diagram, also known as the Kj method, was created by Dr. Kawakita Jiro in 1980. This diagram is used for the organization of ideas that a group contributes about a complex problem in an area. It is an easy diagram to make, it is part of the 7 new management tools.
The people who make these types of diagrams must be trained and know more than anything about the subject to be covered. It is worth mentioning that this diagram or method does not give the solution to the problem, but it does allow us to know the causes or the factors that originate it.
The use of the affinity diagram is described as a creative process, since it starts with different ideas contributed by different people.
Affinity diagram
The Affinity Diagram or also known as the KJ method, was created by Dr. Kawakita Jiro, it is part of the seven management tools. In itself the Affinity Diagram is a group technique that helps to understand the structure of a global problem through the analysis of verbal affinities. (Prof. Arturo Ruiz-Falcó Rojas)
What is it for?
The affinity diagram is used more than anything to organize a large amount of data that was previously obtained from brainstorming, also when there is a complex problem that is intended to be addressed directly or there is a topic on which you want to work and this is complex. This diagram was created to group elements that are related to each other naturally. You should always have a theme or main idea that you want to talk about or want to deal with.
More than anything, the central function of the affinity diagram is to help focus a problem that is poorly defined by contributing ideas or opinions about the problem, it is worth mentioning that this diagram does not give the solution to it, but it does help to have a Clearer idea of what could be causing it (of the factors).
That is used?
To carry out the affinity diagram, the following must be followed:
It must have a group of trained people and a leader or facilitator.
A6 size cards, 14.8 x 21 cm or post-its, where the ideas will be written. They are also known as verbal data cards.
Masking tape and a board large enough to write and glue the cards.
As elaborated?
First, the leader or facilitator informs the group that the meeting is held and what stages it will consist of, he also explains to them about the role that each one of them has. After this happens, the facilitator presents the topic to be covered and says it in the form of a question.
Each of the group members says their ideas on the cards or post-it they have been given, they are given 5 to 10 minutes for this to happen and they should not communicate with each other during this time.
Once this stage is finished, the facilitator removes the cards from the participants and mixes them so that they are exposed in a random way.
The ideas that were contributed begin to be grouped in the affinity diagram, where an independent phrase or phrases are written on the cards or pos-it. Afterwards, the ideas that resemble those that are written on the posit are grouped together, this is known as mutual affinity.
After this stage, the affinity diagram is drawn, already finished, and finally, a discussion is carried out among the group about the grouping that was given to each pos-it with ideas and what is the relationship that it has with the problem.
Affinity diagram
Example of the Affinity Diagram.
Image 1. Example of the affinity diagram.
conclusion
The Affinity Diagram is an easy tool to do as long as you have trained staff.
This Affinity Diagram is more than anything a grouping of ideas that help to know the origin of a problem in any of the areas of a company or organization. It works by means of the hierarchical structuring of the information that one has and does not always give the solution to the problem, but it does help to get an idea of what it could be causing.
The Affinity Diagram itself is a method that helps to organize a large amount of information.
Bibliography
- The 7 new administrative tools.; access. Available at: http://homepage.cem.itesm.mx/alesando/index_archivos/MetodolDisMejoraDeProcesos/7Ms.pdf American Society for quality. Affinity diagram.; access. Available at: http://ww2.educarchile.cl/UserFiles/P0001/File/analisis%20de%20afinidad%202.pdfAiteco. Affinity diagram; updated.access. Available at:
