A categorised visual representation
of the main findings from the environment
Εκπαιδευτικό Πρόγραμμα
60-90 minutes
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A whiteboard or wall with one or more large sheets of paper attached.
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Sticky notes in different colours.
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Markers in different colours
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Tape or other materials to attach ideas to the board and sheets of paper on the wall.
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A camera or smartphone
What is this tool and what is its purpose and benefit?
An affinity diagram visually organises scattered findings according to their natural relationships, grouping them into related themes and categories. It helps to create a comprehensive picture of the collected information, forming clear areas of insight that can be processed and combined into new concepts. The environment affinity diagram provides an overview of the environmental factors identified using the other tools in Phase 3, ‘Environment’.
STEP 1
STEP 2
STEP 3
STEP 4
STEP 5
Collect the findings from the other Phase 3 'Environment' tools and organise them into clusters. Depending on the tool used, select eight to fifteen findings and write each one on a sticky note in a different colour. For example, use green sticky notes for signals and opportunities, red ones for challenges and barriers, and yellow ones for neutral findings.
Arrange the sticky notes on a whiteboard, wall, or large sheet of paper. Sort the ideas into meaningful categories, forming distinct clusters based on similar topics or solutions. Keep any duplicates, as repetition indicates importance. Write the number of duplicates on the top sticky note. This makes the information easier and quicker to read. Place all the sticky notes that do not yet fit into any cluster together.
Name each cluster and write a short sentence summarising its key idea.
Prioritise the clusters according to their importance and impact on your career development. Do this by circling and numbering the clusters in order of importance.
Take notes and a photo of your affinity diagram. For example, you can document the entire diagram in a Word file.
