What is the KJ Method?
The KJ method is a technique for organizing thoughts by writing ideas onto cards and grouping them to find structure.
The steps are simple:
- Write one idea per card
- Group similar cards together
- Give each group a name
- Connect groups with arrows to show relationships
- Write a summary text based on the diagram
When you try to think in prose, it’s easy to get stuck wondering “where do I even start?” The power of the KJ method lies in the fact that cards are movable — you can freely rearrange them after writing.
Where this works well
- When you want to untangle the causes of a problem
- After a brainstorming session, when you need to make sense of the ideas
- When you want to put a vague “feeling of unease” into words
- When comparing multiple options to make a decision
How to do it in ThinkTray
ThinkTray’s (.tt.svg) cards and arrows map directly to the four steps of the KJ method. In the demo above, select the step1–4 files to see each stage.
Step 1: Write ideas onto cards
Switch to the Card tool (R key) and place cards as ideas come to you.
- Write only one idea per card
- Don’t judge — just get it all out
- Drop cards anywhere on the canvas for now
Step 2: Group similar cards
Switch to the Select tool (V key) and drag cards with similar content close together.
- Drag cards freely to any position
- Just moving a card toward others you feel it belongs with will naturally reveal the structure
- If a card doesn’t belong anywhere, leave it off on its own — don’t force it into a group
Step 3: Name each group
Add a new card in a prominent position within each group and write the group’s name.
- Concrete names like “needs X” or “X is the problem” are more useful later than abstract names like “X-related stuff”
Step 4: Connect groups with arrows
Switch to the Line tool (L key) and draw arrows between groups.
- Adding a note beside the arrow — like “A causes B” or “A and B conflict” — raises the quality of the analysis
- You don’t have to connect every group; only connect those that have a real relationship
Step 5: Write a summary text
Once the diagram is complete, turn its structure into prose. Create a .txt or .tt.html file in the same folder and describe each group name and the meaning of each arrow in words.
- The diagram is “a map for thinking”; the text is “words for communicating.” Both together complete the process.
- If you can’t put something into words, that’s a sign your understanding of that part is still fuzzy. Go back to the diagram and refine it.
- In TextTree, you can place the diagram (
.tt.svg) and the text file (.txt) side by side in the same folder, making it easy to switch between them as you write.
Tips
- Dump everything first — You can group later. Focus on getting cards out first.
- Don’t be afraid to move things — You don’t have to commit to where you first placed a card. Moving things around is the thinking in the KJ method.
- Aim for 5–10 groups — Too many and the structure becomes hard to see. “Second-level grouping” (grouping groups together) is also effective.
- Don’t aim for perfection — A sense of “I’ve got a rough handle on this” is enough. Prioritize clarity of thought over a perfect diagram.
The KJ method was developed by cultural anthropologist Jiro Kawakita as a data organization technique. Wikipedia