What is Force Field Analysis and its 7 steps?

Force Field Analysis

In social science, force-field analysis is a new development. It establishes a framework for analysing the elements (forces) that impact a situation, first social circumstances. 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.

Kurt Lewin’s concept has made major contributions to social science, psychology, social psychology, community psychology, communication, organisational development, process management, and change management.

When faced with difficult choices, some individuals struggle. They debate the advantages and disadvantages and worry about making the best decision. It pays to apply an effective, systematic decision-making process when making tough or tough judgments.

This will enhance the quality of your decisions and boost your chances of success. One such methodology is Force Field Analysis, which we shall cover today in Digital Gyan.

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 Force Field Analysis

Step 1) Define the change you want to see

Make a list of your ideal future state’s aim or vision. Alternatively, you could wish to comprehend the current state of affairs or balance.

Step 2) Brainstorm or Mind Map the Driving Forces

Those who are receptive to change. Make a force field diagram of them.

Step 3) Brainstorm or Mind Map the Restraining Forces

Those who are opposed to or opposed to change. Fill in the blanks on the force field diagram.

Step 4) Evaluate the Driving and Restraining forces

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

Determine which of the factors can be affected or have some flexibility for modification.

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.

What is the purpose of a force field analysis?

Force Field Analysis allows you to consider the forces that are driving you to make a choice or make a change. Kurt Lewin came up with the idea.

To do a Force Field Analysis, write out your strategy or idea in the middle of a sheet of paper or on a whiteboard. Then, in a column on the left, list all of the forces for change, and in a column on the right, list all of the forces opposing change.

Score each component separately, then sum the results for each column. After that, you may decide whether or not to go forward with the modification.

Alternatively, you might use your research to consider ways to enhance the factors that support the change while weakening the ones that oppose it, resulting in a more effective transition.

What is a force field analysis diagram?

Force Field Analysis is based on the premise that circumstances are maintained by a balance of forces that drive change and those that resist it. The driving forces must be intensified, while the resistant forces must be lessened for change to occur.

Advantage of using Force Field Analysis

One of the most important benefits of a force field analysis is that it gives a visual overview of all the numerous elements supporting and opposing a certain notion, with all the data gathered about a prospective choice unified into a single graph.

Furthermore, force field analysis broadens the scope of the examination beyond the facts to include qualitative aspects that may influence the success or failure of choice under consideration.

Disadvantage of using Force Field Analysis

To give the exact information necessary for an efficient study, force field analysis necessitates the complete cooperation of all parties concerned. When complete involvement isn’t available, this might be negative, resulting in an analysis that doesn’t give a genuine picture of the supporting and opposing forces.

Another downside is the chance that the analysis may not lead to group consensus. In reality, a force field analysis may result in a split in the group between those who favour and those who oppose the choice.

How much Effective is Force Field Analysis?

One of the most important things to remember while employing force field analysis is that the results are totally reliant on the skill level and expertise of the team working on it.

Even though the assumptions are based on gathered data, the interpretation of the data should not be understood as an objective within the broader process of analyzing the driving and restraining factors.