Affinity Technique

The affinity techinque is a group problem solving technique that gives a group of people an opportunity to cluster large amounts of qualitative data together. It is generally completed in silence to stimulate left brain thinking and to reduce the dominance of any one individual.

Approach

Get the items together that are to be used in creating the Affinity Technique. These could be from an existing brainstormed list, or you might want to start by asking a broad question "What are the issues involved in…" and brainstorming a new list.

Write each item onto a separate Post-it note (or card if you plan to use the floor). Place each item in random sequence onto a whiteboard, flipchart or on the floor. Make sure there is enough room around the whiteboard, flipchart or floor area for all the team members to be able to easily see, read and move the cards.

In silence, and with the whole team working together around the board, flipchart or floor, cluster the items so that items that are related in some way are placed together. If you don't agree with the placement of an item, move it! This process of clustering should be a high energy process.

Look to create about 6-10 groups of related items. You may find that you have single items that don't belong in any group - these should be left as 'loners'.

Discuss each of the groups and create a header item that captures the central idea (both the essence and the detail) of each group. A header might come from a single item in the group, but most likely will have to be 'created' or written by the team.

The results can be recorded on a cause and effect diagram or can be used in an Interrelationship Digraph to determine possible cause and effect relationships and a focus for action.

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