1. Clustering ideas / options

2. Why Cluster Develop themes
Understand relationships between ideas / options
Avoid / identify duplication
Organise and structure ideas
Aid action planning

3. When to cluster During or after brainstorming
If you are working with lots of discrete pieces of data e.g. requests /requirements / feedback / actions

4. How to Cluster – method 1
Ensure each idea / option is on its own post-it / piece of paper
Take the first two ideas / options
Ask group members ‘is it the same or different’
If it is the same place them together, if they are different place them apart
Do this for each idea / option, comparing each option with others until all ideas / options have been assigned to a group
If the idea / option belongs in more than one group, make a copy of it and place it in both groups
Discuss and agree the name of the first cluster and put the name on a different coloured post-it
Repeat for each cluster

5. How to Cluster – method 2
Ensure each idea / option is on its own post-it / piece of paper on a large piece of paper or flipchart
Ask the whole group to come up to the ideas / options and individually, without discussion, group related ideas together
If an idea is constantly getting moved between groups, ask the group members to duplicate the idea and place it in each group
After about 10 minutes / when group members are no longer moving ideas around stop the activity
Discuss and agree the name of the first cluster and put the name on a different coloured post-it
Repeat for each cluster

6. How to Cluster – method 3
You may already have some categories which the ideas need to be organised into e.g. small, medium, large projects or issues that are related to systems, people or processes…
Create categories (if on post-its use a different colour)
Ensure your categories are clearly defined
During clustering ask which category the issues relates to and place the idea in the correct category.