Chapter 14

SEVEN NEW
MANAGEMENT
TOOLS

SEVEN NEW MANAGEMENT TOOLS

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.

Affinity Diagram
Relationship Diagram
Tree Diagram
Matrix Diagram
Prioritization Matrix
Activity Network Diagram
Process Decision Program Chart

Affinity Diagram
is a special type of brainstorming
process that is used for organizing
large groups of information into
meaningful categories. It helps us to
clarify and make sense of a large or
complex problem.

Affinity Diagram Methodology

1. Define the Problem or issue to be
explored.
2. Brainstorm for ideas
3. Mix all thee notes or cards and stick them
on a wall or spread them out on a table
4. Let the group arrange the notes or cards
into related groups
5. Now the team can decide what to call
each group.

Relationship Diagram

This tool displays all the interrelated cause-andeffect relationships and factors involved in a
complex problem and describes desired outcomes.
The process of creating an interrelationship
diagraph helps a group analyze the natural links
between different aspects of a complex situation.

This diagram can be used

to:

Determine and develop QA policies

Design steps to improve market share
Improve quality
Vendor development
Improve cycle time
Reduce defects
Reduce quality cost, etc.

Tree Diagram
-This tool is used to break down broad
categories into finer and finer levels of detail. It
can map levels of details of tasks that are
required to accomplish a goal or task. It can be
used to break down broad general subjects into
finer and finer levels of detail. Developing the tree
diagram helps one move their thinking from
generalities to specifics.

Steps in drawing a Tree

Diagram
1. Agree on the objective to be achieved
2. Draw an affinity diagram to deduce high-level
means of achieving the objectives
3. Breakdown each of the high-level means to
sub-means or task. Each sub-mean can be
further divided into specific task.

Matrix Diagram
Is used in particular for describing the actions
required for a process or product improvement. It
is also called Quality Function Deployment (QFD).
Used to arranged large data relating to two or
more items and capture the relationship between
them

Types of Matrix Diagram

L shape
T shape
C shape
3 dimensional
Inverted Y shape

Process Decision Program Chart (PDPC)

A useful way of planning is to break down tasks into a
hierarchy, using a Tree Diagram. The PDPC extends the
tree diagram a couple of levels to identify risks and
countermeasures for the bottom level tasks. Different
shaped boxes are used to highlight risks and identify
possible countermeasures (often shown as 'clouds' to
indicate their uncertain nature). The PDPC is similar to the
Failure Modes and Effects Analysis (FMEA) in that both
identify risks, consequences of failure, and contingency
actions; the FMEA also rates relative risk levels for each
potential failure point.

Prioritization Matrix

-This tool is used to prioritize items and

describe them in terms of weighted criteria.
It uses a combination of tree and matrix
diagramming techniques to do a pair-wise
evaluation of items and to narrow down
options to the most desired or most
effective.

Activity Network Diagram

This tool is used to plan the appropriate sequence or
schedule for a set of tasks and related subtasks. It is
used when subtasks must occur in parallel. The
diagram enables one to determine the critical path
(longest sequence of tasks).