Training Industry Magazine - Summer 2022 - 37

Affinity Maps
When to Use It
* Affinity maps are created through consensus
of the team on how the information should be
grouped in logical ways.
Why Use It
* To establish relationships or affinities
between pieces of information. From these
relationships, insights can be determined,
which are the starting point of design
solutions.
* To reach consensus faster than many other
methods.
How to Do It
* Select your team.
* Place individual opinions or answers to
interview questions or design concepts on
sticky notes or index cards.
* Spread Post-Its or cards on a wall or large
table.
* Group similar items.
* Work until your team has consensus. This can
be done silently by your design team moving
them around as they each see affinities.
* Name each group with a different colored
card or Post-Its above the group.
* Repeat by grouping groups.
* Rank the most important groups.
* Photograph results.
* Analyze affinities and create insights.
Tips
* Affinity mapping works best with groups of
five to 20.
* Reserve at least 30 minutes for this design
thinking activity.
* Use a wall that is large enough to
accommodate potentially hundreds of sticky
notes.
* This activity translates easily to a virtual activity
using a collaborative online whiteboard
platform, or similar tools.
spending time on to better the customer
experience. One technique is an affinity
map, which helps recognize gaps in
your processes and procedures and
get a deeper level of understanding. It's
like visually capturing a conversation
while encouraging thinking outside the
box - pie in the sky, if you could do this
without any limitations, how would you
do it? It allows you to organize many
ideas gathered from brainstorming and
structure them into groups, based on
their connections.
When you want to get a team of
people un-stuck or have them think
more reflectively about a topic, mind
mapping is a great tool. It can help
visually capture a conversation and
encourage nonlinear thinking and
shared vision. Mind maps can also
help you see the connections between
different themes and data points.
So, how does a mind map work? Find a
large whiteboard or flipcharts and two
colored markers - one for the text and
one for arrows and circles. Write the
main idea/phrase/question in the center
and circle it. Ask the group questions
that allow them to explore the central
idea: " What's important about this? " and
" What is X idea made of? " and " Why
should we consider this idea? " Capture
the entire conversation, confirming
the link back to the original idea. Last,
be sure to make connections between
related ideas.
This article provided an overview of two
methods for gathering and synthesizing
information about the issue you're
solving for. But that's just the beginning.
There are so many ways to engage
others and develop new ideas. The key
is to get started and have fun!
Shannon Effler is a senior instructional
designer at NCR with 25 years in L&D
roles, primarily in coaching, design and
corporate L&D consulting. April DeLac
is a senior instructional designer at NCR
with over 22 years of experience in L&D.
Email the authors.
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