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HelpDesk

How To Create an Affinity Diagram Using ConceptDraw Office

Affinity diagram is designed to prepare the data for further analysis of the cause-effect relationships.The Affinity diagram shows the structure of large, complex factors that have an influence on a problem, and then divides them up into a smaller and simpler structure. We recommend using a mind map for Brainstorming and collecting the factors affecting the problem. The ability to create an Affinity diagram from a mind map is supported by the ConceptDraw Seven Management and Planning Tools solution.

Affinity Diagram Software

Affinity Diagram Software - ConceptDraw PRO is a powerful diagramming and vector drawing software that allows quick, easy and effective create the Affinity Diagrams.
Seven Management and Planning Tools solution from the Business Productivity area of ConceptDraw Solution Park provides templates, samples and ready-to-use vector stencils that will help you design the professional looking Affinity Diagrams in a few moments.

Affinity Diagram

The affinity diagram is a business tool used to organize ideas and data. It is one of the Seven Management and Planning Tools. But how design the Affinity Diagram quick and easy? ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software offers the Seven Management and Planning Tools Solution from the Management Area.
The affinity diagram shows the structure of complex factors that have an influence on a problem, and then divides them up into a smaller and simpler structure. This diagram is designed to prepare the data for further analysis of the cause-effect relationships.
"Affinity diagrams are a special kind of brainstorming tool that organize large amounts of disorganized data and information into groupings based on natural relationships.
It was created in the 1960s by the Japanese anthropologist Jiro Kawakita. Its also known as KJ diagram,after Jiro Kawakita.When to Use an Affinity Diagram: 1) When you are confronted with many facts or ideas in apparent chaos. 2) When issues seem too large and complex to grasp." [Seven Management and Planning Tools. Wikipedia]
The affinity diagram is one of the Seven Management and Planning Tools (7 MP tools, Seven New Quality Tools).
The affinity diagram template for the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software is included in the solution "Seven Management and Planning Tools" from the Management area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.
Affinity diagram template
Affinity diagram template, Affinity diagrams,
"A continual improvement process, also often called a continuous improvement process (abbreviated as CIP or CI), is an ongoing effort to improve products, services, or processes. These efforts can seek "incremental" improvement over time or "breakthrough" improvement all at once. Delivery (customer valued) processes are constantly evaluated and improved in the light of their efficiency, effectiveness and flexibility.
Some see CIPs as a meta-process for most management systems (such as business process management, quality management, project management, and program management)." [Continual improvement process. Wikipedia]
The affinity diagram example "Implementing continuous process improvement" was created using the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software extended with the solution "Seven Management and Planning Tools" from the Management area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.
Affinity diagram
Affinity diagram, Affinity diagrams,
"Point of sale (also called POS or checkout) is the place where a retail transaction is completed. It is the point at which a customer makes a payment to the merchant in exchange for goods or services. At the point of sale the retailer would calculate the amount owed by the customer and provide options for the customer to make payment. The merchant will also normally issue a receipt for the transaction. ...
The modern point of sale is often referred to as the point of service because it is not just a point of sale but also a point of return or customer order. Additionally it includes advanced features to cater to different functionality, such as inventory management, CRM, financials, warehousing, etc., all built into the POS software. Prior to the modern POS, all of these functions were done independently and required the manual re-keying of information, which can lead to entry errors." [Point of sale. Wikipedia]
The affinity diagram example "Checkout operators leaving job" was created using the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software extended with the solution "Seven Management and Planning Tools" from the Management area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.
Affinity diagram
Affinity diagram, Affinity diagrams,
Inefficient checkout process
Inefficient checkout  process, Affinity diagrams,
Not happy in job
Not happy in job, Affinity diagrams,

PROBLEM ANALYSIS. Identify and Structure Factors

Identify and Structure Factors. Use the Affinity Diagram to collect and structure factors that impact on a problem.
ConceptDraw Office suite is a software for identify and structure factors with affinity diagram. This is a grouping and structuring of factors that impact on a problem.
7MP Tools
7MP Tools

seven management and planning tools Seven Management and Planning Tools

seven management and planning tools
Seven Management and Planning Tools solution extends ConceptDraw PRO and ConceptDraw MINDMAP with features, templates, samples and libraries of vector stencils for drawing management mind maps and diagrams.
"An economic expansion is an increase in the level of economic activity, and of the goods and services available. It is a period of economic growth as measured by a rise in real GDP. The explanation of such fluctuations in aggregate economic activity is one of the primary concerns of macroeconomics.
Typically an economic expansion is marked by an upturn in production and utilization of resources. Economic recovery and prosperity are two successive phases of expansion. It may be caused by factors external to the economy, such as weather conditions or technical change, or by factors internal to the economy, such as fiscal policies, monetary policies, the availability of credit, interest rates, regulatory policies or other impacts on producer incentives. Global conditions may influence the levels of economic activity in various countries." [Economic expansion. Wikipedia]
"The term business cycle (or economic cycle or boom-bust cycle) refers to economy-wide fluctuations in production, trade and economic activity in general over several months or years in an economy organized on free-enterprise principles.
The business cycle is the upward and downward movements of levels of GDP (gross domestic product) and refers to the period of expansions and contractions in the level of economic activities (business fluctuations) around its long-term growth trend.
These fluctuations occur around a long-term growth trend, and typically involve shifts over time between periods of relatively rapid economic growth (an expansion or boom), and periods of relative stagnation or decline (a contraction or recession)." [Business cycle. Wikipedia]
The affinity diagram example "Business expansion" was created using the ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software extended with the solution "Seven Management and Planning Tools" from the Management area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.
Affinity diagram
Affinity diagram, Affinity diagrams,

seven management and planning tools Seven Management and Planning Tools

seven management and planning tools
Seven Management and Planning Tools solution extends ConceptDraw PRO and ConceptDraw MINDMAP with features, templates, samples and libraries of vector stencils for drawing management mind maps and diagrams.

Problem Analysis

ConceptDraw Office suite is a software for Problem Analysis. The Seven Management and Planning Tools are a set of such tools for investigating complex problems. These tools are exemplary at organizing research, parsing complex problems, providing a structure for the details, helping managers make decisions, and organizing effective communications in a visual manner that keeps everyone involved
7MP Tools
7MP Tools
HelpDesk

How to Manage Problem Solving Using Seven Management and Planning Tools

Stage by stage gouide on using visual tools to move toward solving the problem.
7 MP Tools
7 MP Tools

The Action Plan

Action Plan - For the action planning define people and groups involvement in corrective actions by roles, identify logical sequences of scheduled actions and critical path of problem solving, identify possible risks of action plan and propose preventive actions.
ConceptDraw Office suite is a software for decision making and action plan.
7MP Tools
7MP Tools

Activity Network (PERT) Chart

Activity Network and Project Evaluation and Review Technique, or PERT, charts are a way of documenting and analyzing the tasks in a project.
This diagram is constructed as part of the process in creating a schedule of corrective actions. The Activity Network Chart (PERT) shows the logical connections and consequence of tasks to be performed. It displays the time period for problem solving and the implementation of all activities through the critical path.

Activity Network Diagram Method

Activity Network Diagram - This sample was created in ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software using the Seven Management and Planning Tools solution from the Management area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.
This sample shows the PERT (Program Evaluation Review Technique) chart of the request on proposal. A request for proposal (RFP) is a request of the company or the organization to potential suppliers to submit the business proposals for service or goods that it is interested to purchase. The RFP is represented on the initial procurement stage and allows to define the risks and benefits.

PDPC

ConceptDraw PRO extended with Seven Management and Planning Tools Solution from the Management Area of ConceptDraw Solution Park is the best software for drawing all types of diagrams from the Seven Management and Planning Tools: Affinity Diagram, Relations Diagram, Prioritization Matrix, Root Cause Analysis Tree Diagram, Involvement Matrix, PERT Chart, and Risk Diagram (PDPC).

Decision Making

Decision Making - ConceptDraw Office suite provides visual tools that are given support on the stage of the decision making.
The Seven Management and Planning Tools is a set for such diagrams: Affinity Diagram, Relations Diagram, Prioritization Matrix, Root Cause Tree Diagram, Involvement Matrix, PERT Chart, Risk Diagram (PDPC).

Activity on Node Network Diagramming Tool

Activity on Node Network Diagramming Tool - Activity Network and Project Evaluation and Review Technique, or PERT, charts are a way of documenting and analyzing the tasks in a project.
This sample shows the Activity on node network diagramming method. It was created in ConceptDraw PRO diagramming and vector drawing software using the Seven Management and Planning Tools solution from the Management area of ConceptDraw Solution Park.