Affinity Clustering
Many notes sorted into themes
- PhaseFrame
- Group5 to 30 people
- Time40 minutes
- SettingRoom or remote
- ExecutivesYes
What it is
Affinity clustering sorts many notes into themes. The group reads the notes, moves related ones together without talking, then names each cluster. It is how interviews, pains and observations become a short list of findings. The approach is associated with Jiro Kawakita's KJ method.
When to use it
After Understand or any silent-notes exercise, when you have a wall of notes and need to find the themes.
When to skip it
When you have fewer than about fifteen notes.
How to run it
- 10 minPost all notes. Everyone reads in silence.
- 15 minMove notes together without talking. Move any note you disagree with.
- 10 minName each cluster as a sentence: a need or a problem.
- 5 minVote on the clusters that matter most.
About 40 minutes of method time. Add ten to fifteen minutes to open and close the session.
What to watch for
Sorting by department or tool, not by the need. Naming a theme with one word. Name it as a need or a problem.
The AI lens
Name one cluster for risks and trust. If nothing lands there, you have not heard from the people who would be affected.
What you leave with
Four to six named themes, each phrased as a need, ranked by the group.
An example
Sixty interview quotes become six themes. Naming each theme as a need, for example 'I need to know what the system decided and why', turns a pile of notes into a brief for ideas.
How it compares
Affinity Clustering organises what you have gathered. A Problem Statement then picks the one problem the group will work on.
Related methods
Questions
What is Affinity Clustering?
Affinity clustering sorts many notes into themes. The group reads the notes, moves related ones together without talking, then names each cluster. It is how interviews, pains and observations become a short list of findings. The approach is associated with Jiro Kawakita's KJ method.
When should I use Affinity Clustering?
After Understand or any silent-notes exercise, when you have a wall of notes and need to find the themes.
How long does Affinity Clustering take and how many people do I need?
Affinity Clustering takes about 40 minutes and suits 5 to 30 people, plus a facilitator. Add ten to fifteen minutes to open and close the session.
How is Affinity Clustering different from other methods?
Affinity Clustering organises what you have gathered. A Problem Statement then picks the one problem the group will work on.
Can I run Affinity Clustering remotely or with executives?
Yes. Affinity Clustering works in the room or remotely. Remotely, put the canvas on a shared board in advance and write silently in the board, not in chat. Executives: Yes, works with executives present.