Force field analysis

Force field analysis is a tool used to evaluate a situation and help individuals or groups decide whether to go ahead with a proposed change. It involves breaking down a situation into its individual forces, assessing their relative strengths and weaknesses, and then weighing them up to decide whether to proceed with the change. The analysis helps to identify the forces that are supporting the change and those that are resisting it.

The forces can be broken down into two categories: the ‘driving forces’, which are the forces pushing for the change, and the ‘restraining forces’, which are the forces that are preventing or slowing the change. Once these have been identified, the relative strengths of the driving and restraining forces can be assessed. The goal is to identify which forces need to be strengthened or weakened in order to reach a desired outcome.

To make a force field analysis, the following steps should be taken:

• Identify the change that needs to be implemented
• List the driving forces and restraining forces
• Assess the relative strength of each force
• Determine which forces need to be strengthened or weakened
• Develop a plan to address the identified forces

Force field analysis is a useful tool for identifying the various forces in a situation, assessing their relative strengths and weaknesses, and helping to decide whether to go ahead with a proposed change. By assessing the forces for and against the change, it can help to ensure that the desired outcome is reached.

Example of Force field analysis

Force field analysis can be applied to a variety of situations, such as decision-making in business or project management. As an example, let’s imagine that a company is considering launching a new product. A force field analysis could be used to assess the forces for and against the launch.

• Driving forces - These include customer demand, competitive advantage, potential profits, and positive feedback from market research.
• Restraining forces - These include limited resources, high costs, market saturation, and customer resistance.

By assessing the relative strengths of the driving and restraining forces, the company can decide whether or not to go ahead with the launch. If the driving forces outweigh the restraining forces, then the launch is likely to be a success. However, if the restraining forces are too strong, then the company may need to reconsider the launch or find ways to address the restraining forces.

In conclusion, force field analysis is a useful tool for assessing the forces for and against a proposed change, and for helping individuals and groups decide whether to proceed with the change. By identifying and assessing the driving and restraining forces, it can help to ensure that the desired outcome is reached.

When to use Force field analysis

Force field analysis can be used when making major decisions, such as whether to implement a new policy or procedure. It can also be used when making decisions that involve potential changes to existing systems or structures. It can be used by individuals, teams, or organizations in order to understand the forces at play in a situation and make an informed decision about whether or not to pursue a proposed change.

Types of Force field analysis

Force field analysis can be used to assess many different types of situations, from business decisions to personal relationships. It can be adapted to suit different areas and adjusted to fit the specific situation being analysed. Some of the more common types of force field analysis include:

• Organizational change: Used to assess the forces in an organization that are either driving change or resisting it.
• Decision making: Used to identify the forces for and against a particular decision.
• Conflict resolution: Used to assess the forces in a conflict and determine which need to be addressed in order to resolve it.
• Personal relationships: Used to assess the forces in a personal relationship and identify areas of potential growth and improvement.

Steps of Force field analysis

1. Identify the Change: The first step in force field analysis is to identify the change that needs to be implemented. This should include the scope and objectives of the change, as well as the stakeholders and affected parties.
2. List the Forces: The next step is to list the driving and restraining forces. This should include both internal and external forces, such as external market conditions, political factors, organizational culture, and technology.
3. Assess the Strength of Forces: Once the forces have been identified, their relative strength should be assessed. This can be done by assigning a numerical value to each force, with higher values indicating stronger forces.
4. Identify Strengths and Weaknesses: The next step is to identify which forces need to be strengthened or weakened in order to reach the desired outcome. This can be done by comparing the strengths of the driving and restraining forces, and deciding which ones need to be strengthened or weakened.
5. Develop a Plan: The final step is to develop a plan to address the identified forces. This should include specific actions that need to be taken to strengthen the driving forces and weaken the restraining forces in order to reach the desired outcome.

Advantages of Force field analysis

• Helps to identify the forces that are driving and restraining a change
• Assesses the relative strengths of the driving and restraining forces
• Allows for better decision making regarding a proposed change
• Provides insight into the underlying dynamics of a situation
• Helps to identify the actions and strategies needed to implement a change

Limitations of Force field analysis

Force field analysis can be a helpful tool for evaluating a situation, but it also has some limitations. Firstly, the analysis is only as good as the data available, so if accurate data is not available the analysis can be inaccurate. Secondly, the analysis can be subjective, as it relies on the opinion of the person or group conducting the analysis. Finally, it can be difficult to accurately quantify the strength of the forces, which can make it difficult to identify which forces need to be addressed.

Other approaches related to Force field analysis

In addition to force field analysis, there are various other approaches related to change management and decision making. These include tools such as the Stakeholder Analysis, Decision Matrix, Risk Analysis, and Cost-Benefit Analysis. Each of these tools has different applications, but all are aimed at helping to identify and evaluate the various aspects of the change in order to reach a successful outcome.

Stakeholder Analysis involves identifying and evaluating all the stakeholders in a situation, while the Decision Matrix helps to weigh up the various options and determine the best course of action. Risk Analysis helps to identify and evaluate the risks associated with a proposed change, while Cost-Benefit Analysis helps to assess the economic implications of the change.

In conclusion, Force field analysis is a powerful tool for helping to identify and evaluate the forces for and against a proposed change. By assessing the relative strengths of the driving and restraining forces, it can help to ensure that the desired outcome is reached. Additionally, there are various other approaches related to change management and decision making, such as the Stakeholder Analysis, Decision Matrix, Risk Analysis, and Cost-Benefit Analysis, which can all be used to help make informed decisions.

Force field analysis — recommended articles

Strategic management tools — Strategic decision making — Scenario analysis — Complex problem solving — Simulation scenarios — ASTRA analysis — Strategic analysis — Base effect — Decision making process

References

• Baulcomb, J. S. (2003). Management of change through force field analysis. Journal of nursing management, 11(4), 275-280.
• Miller, H. L. (1967). Participation Of Adults In Education, A Force-field Analysis.