What is Force Field Analysis and its 7 Steps?

Force Field Analysis is a powerful decision-making tool that helps individuals and teams assess the factors influencing a particular situation or problem.

It examines forces that are either assisting (helping forces) or impeding (blocking forces) progress toward a goal (hindering forces).

The force field analysis uses a set of techniques to identify and analyze the strengths and weaknesses of an organization and its components. A good force field analysis can give you insight into potential solutions and can be a great way to find out what you can do to develop and improve an organization.

Developed by social psychologist Kurt Lewin in the 1940s, the Force Field Analysis method is widely used in various fields such as business, education, and healthcare. The concept behind Force Field Analysis is that any situation can be understood as being held in place by forces pushing for change (driving forces) and forces resisting change (restraining forces).

What does force field analysis mean?

The force field analysis developed by Lewin is used to determine which elements inside a setting or organization move a person toward or away from a desirable state, as well as which elements resist the driving forces.

These may be analyzed to help make decisions that make change more bearable. ‘Forces’ are more than just changeable attitudes. Kurt Lewin recognized that people’s attitudes about change are based on a lot of emotion.

To comprehend why individuals oppose or embrace change, we must first comprehend that person’s or group’s values and experiences. Self-awareness and emotional intelligence can assist us in comprehending the forces that operate inside us and around us.

Steps to Implement the Force Field Analysis

Step 1) Define the change you want to see

Clearly defining the change you wish to see is the first step in applying the force field analysis. You may build a clear vision that directs your efforts during the implementation phase by determining and expressing the intended goal.

Defining the change you wish to see entails thoroughly analysing your present circumstance. Start by considering what areas of your business require improvement and why these adjustments are required. Take into account both internal and external elements, including team dynamics, organisational culture, and resources, as well as market developments, competition, and client expectations.

Step 2) Brainstorm or Mind Map the Driving Forces

Brainstorming or mind-mapping entails assembling a group of experts on the subject at hand and encouraging them to come up with as many ideas as they can.

It’s crucial to establish a welcoming, judgment-free atmosphere during this brainstorming session so that everyone feels free to express their ideas. Each concept should be put down on a whiteboard or flip chart so that the many forces at work may be easily visualized. The more viewpoints there are, the better since this will provide a thorough grasp of both elements favouring and hindering the intended conclusion.

Step 3) Brainstorm or Mind Map the Restraining Forces

Any obstacles or barriers that prevent or slow down the achievement of an objective are referred to as restraining forces. Organizations may successfully address these influences and find solutions to any problems that may occur by recognizing and comprehending them.

Bring together a varied group of people with knowledge and experience in the topic being studied to start this process. Team members, stakeholders, clients, or subject-matter experts may be included in this. Encourage candid and open dialogue in which everyone has a fair chance to share their thoughts and opinions.

The group’s identified restraining forces should next be visually represented using brainstorming tools like mind mapping. Mind mapping enables non-linear thinking and aids in tying together relevant concepts.

Step 4) Evaluate the Driving and Restraining forces

Make a picture that illustrates the restricting and driving forces. On a piece of paper or whiteboard, draw a horizontal line in the middle to depict the current state of affairs. The restraining forces should be on the right side of the line, while the driving forces should be on the left. Each force’s arrow should be the same length as the corresponding weight.

You may achieve this by rating each force on a scale of 1 to 5 and adding the totals for each side. Alternatively, you might ignore the statistics entirely and concentrate on the overall impact of each.

Step 5) Review the forces

Subtract the total of the restraining forces from the total of the pushing forces to determine the net outcome. This gives a general indication of how the two sets of forces are balanced. A favourable net outcome suggests a higher chance of success since the motivating drives outweigh the restraining forces. A negative net result shows that the constraining forces are more powerful and that there are difficulties to be addressed.

Step 6) Strategize

Create a plan to either boost or diminish the driving forces or both. How can you boost the Driving Forces’ scores, reduce the Restraining Forces’ scores, or both after you’ve assessed each force?

Step 7) Prioritize action steps

What specific actions can you take to have the most impact? Determine the resources you’ll need and how you’ll implement the plan. It’s sometimes simpler to weaken driving forces than it is to diminish the influence of restraining forces.

Advantages of using Force Field Analysis

Force Field Analysis is a powerful tool that helps organizations identify and analyze the forces that are driving change within their systems. By visually representing the driving and restraining forces, this technique allows decision-makers to gain a deeper understanding of the dynamics at play. One of the major advantages of using Force Field Analysis is its ability to provide a structured approach to problem-solving and decision-making. The framework encourages individuals or teams to thoroughly assess both the positive and negative aspects surrounding a particular situation, enabling them to make more informed choices.

Another advantage lies in its potential for fostering collaboration within teams. When conducting a Force Field Analysis, different stakeholders come together to contribute their perspectives on what factors are influencing the current state and how they can be modified in order to achieve desired outcomes.

The disadvantages of using Force Field Analysis

One major drawback of using Force Field Analysis is its tendency to oversimplify complex situations. By breaking down a situation into just two categories – driving forces and restraining forces – it fails to capture the intricate nuances and interdependencies that exist within a system. In reality, these driving and restraining forces are not always clear-cut; they can often be interconnected and influence each other in unpredictable ways.

Another disadvantage lies in the subjective nature of identifying and analyzing these driving and restraining forces. Different individuals may interpret the same situation differently, leading to inconsistent results.