Affinity Diagram
Relationship or similarity; brainstormed ideas are sorted into categories that have a relationship to each other. Good for assessing prior knowledge, vocabulary awareness, or concept attainment.
Bar Chart
Visual display of data; also called histogram; can be a Pareto diagram.
Brainstorming
Used to generate a large number of ideas in a short period of time. Participants call out ideas - no evaluation or judgment should be made - all ideas are recorded.
Brain-Writing
Nonverbal brainstorming when team members write ideas on sheets of paper, then exchange papers and write more ideas.
Cause-and-Effect Chart
See Fishbone Diagram
Check Sheet
Tool to organize data collection. Often organized in rows or columns, with data occurrences checked off or tallied.
Consensogram
Used to identify knowledge or opinions of a group on certain concepts or issues
Decision Matrix
Used to help people see the value of individual components involved in a decision.
Fishbone Diagram
Helps discern contributing factors to an outcome or problem. Also known as a cause-and-effect diagram. Causes are recorded on the bones of the fish - the effect is the head. Also used to develop whole-part relationships, I.e., novel elements, event & elements that contributed to it.
Flowchart
Visual documentation of a process. Shows step-by-step approach to a specific process by using symbols to denote tasks, decisions, and stages. Can be general process or deployment (specific roles assigned to tasks).
Focus Group
Type of survey - used to gather attitudes and concerns from a small group, usually randomly selected. Interviewer takes notes on responses.
Force Field Analysis
A problem-solving tools used to analyze driving and restraining forces that surround a proposed change.
Histogram
Bar chart that provides visual representation of data. Bars are arranged in order with respect to time, size, volume, etc.
Interview
Type of survey - used to gather open-ended responses, either face-to-face or by phone, from a small group.
Issue Bin
Captures ideas/questions that deserve further clarification or discussion at a later or more appropriate time. Also called bin or parking lot.
Light Voting
Way to determine consensus by allowing team members to case weighted votes to designate items with their greatest support. Total number of points for an item determines which item to choose. Related to nominal group technique.
Line Graph
Also known as a run chart.
Lotus Diagram
Organizes and breaks down broad topics into components. Done on a folded paper - nine squares. Each of the exterior squares can be further broken down into 9 subtopic squares (called a mega lotus).
Nominal Group Technique
Way to determine consensus by allowing team members to case weighted votes to designate their greatest support. Total number of hits an item gets (not weight of vote) determines items to choose. Related to light voting.
Pareto Diagram
A bar chart giving a visual representation of data in order of it frequency (greatest to least). Highest bar represents priority action item.
PDSA Cycle
Plan-Do-Study-Act, a cycle that reflects continuous improvement. Uses the scientific method in relation to systemic improvement and problem solving.
Questionnaire
Type of survey - used to collect data from a large group. Can be open response (short answers) or based on a continuum form negative to positive.
Radar
Give a picture of the strengths and weaknesses of a system. Performance is rated on spokes around a hub. Points are connected to form a visual interpretation of results.
Relations Diagram
A pictorial representation of the cause-and-effect relationships among elements of a problem or issue.
Run Chart
A line graph of data plotted over time.
Scatter Diagram
Graph showing the relationship between two factors. The pattern formed by the plotted dots help to analyze causes and indicates if a true relationship exists.
Survey
Used to collect knowledge/opinions of a targeted group. Can be written, phone, or face-to-face. Used to discover customers' views (external and internal) of supplier's performance.
Tree Diagram
Identified actions to solve a problem or implement a solution. Moves thinking from broad goals to specifics. Answers the question: How can this be accomplished?