Force Field Analysis
(Lewin)

Analyzing change factors: the driving forces and the restraining forces. Explanation of Force Field Analysis and Diagram. Kurt Lewin.

Kurt Lewin

Kurt Lewin was an American social psychologist. He has contributed to science group dynamics and action research, and he is regarded one of the founders of modern psychology. But Lewin is perhaps best-known for developing Force Field Analysis and Force Field Diagrams.

Lewin's view on organizations

According to Kurt Lewin, an issue is held in balance by the interaction of two opposing sets of forces. Those seeking to promote change: the driving forces. And those attempting to maintain the status quo: the restraining forces. Lewin viewed organizations as systems in which the present situation was not a static pattern. But a dynamic balance ("Equilibrium") of forces working in opposite directions. In order for any change to occur, the driving forces must exceed the restraining forces, thus shifting the equilibrium. Compare: Catastrophe Theory.

The Force Field Diagram

The Force Field Diagram is a model built on this idea that forces are both driving and restraining change. These forces include: persons, habits, customs, and attitudes. A Force Field Diagram can be used at any level: personal, project, organizational, network, to visualize the forces that may work in favor and against change initiatives. The diagram helps its user to picture the "war" between forces around a given issue. Usually, a planned change issue is described at the top. Below this, there are two columns. The driving forces are listed in the left column, and the restraining forces in the right-hand column. Arrows are drawn towards the middle. Longer arrows indicate stronger forces. The idea is to understand, and to make explicit, all the forces acting on a given issue.

Use of the Force Field Analysis method

• Investigate the balance of power involved in an issue.
• Identify the most important players (stakeholders) and target groups for a campaign on the issue.
• Identify opponents and allies.
• Identify how you can influence each target group

Steps in a Force Field Analysis? Process

1. Describe the current situation.
2. Describe the desired situation.
3. Identify where the current situation will go if no action is taken.
4. List all the forces driving change toward the desired situation.
5. List all the forces resisting change toward the desired situation.
6. Discuss and interrogate all of the forces: are they valid? Can they be changed? Which are the critical ones?
7. Allocate a score to each of the forces using a numerical scale e.g. 1 is extremely weak and 10 is extremely strong.
8. Chart the forces. List the driving forces on the left. And list the restraining forces on the right.
9. Determine whether change is viable and progress can occur.
10. Discuss how the change can be affected by decreasing the strength of the restraining forces or by increasing the strength of driving forces.
11. Remember that increasing the driving forces or decreasing the restraining forces may increase or decrease other forces or even create new ones.

Force Field Analysis Forum

WinsomeD. - USA

Concept all around.

"I like this concept...It does sound like it was adopted from an accounting concept of debits and credit and increasing on's profit margin. Interesting. It also remains me of the Bible when it encourages us to focus on positive situations and outcomes."

0

Kenneth - USA

Quote by Lewin

"If you want truly to understand something, try to change it. - Kurt Lewin"

11

Marty - USA

Force Field analysis

"I think that the weak influences really are the hidden drivers of change in any organization!"

-9

Josef - UAE

Force Analysis

"I think that the concept of management has been created by the complexity of life. Actually, it is MAN who made life complicated. If we look at things in an easy way and DO NOT make it complicated, then we can get rid of all this nonunderstandable science. LETS MAKE LIFE EASY....."

2

Jeremy - New Zealand

FF & SWOT

"Forcefield is a useful and natural extension to a SWOT Analysis - often SWOT leaves you in limbo - Forcefield brings it home to a coherent strategy"

6

Dushyant - India

Uses

"This analysis can be used in creating effective & robust management strategies, end user documents, user guides and e-learning modules."

13

Nkem Ogbuaku - Nigeria

Post-Merger Force Fields

"In Post-Merger relationships restraining forces will include creation of 5th columnists within the organisation, and instigation of negative press by parties who don't want to expose the horrors of their balance sheet that was not identified during due diligence processes."

4

ghgrrt - England

Force

"How did people find out about force?"

-1

Comment on this Page

Force Field Analysis Special Interest Group

Force Field Analysis Education & Events

Add a link to this page

Copy and paste this code to your web page:

Compare with Force Field Analysis: Change Management Iceberg  |  Catastrophe Theory  |  Stakeholder Analysis  |  Stakeholder Mapping  |  RACI  |  Change Model Beckhard  |  Bases of Social Power  |  DICE Framework  |  Crisis Management  |  Changing Organization Cultures  |  Culture Types  |  Core Group Theory  |  Planned Behavior  |  Business Process Reengineering  |  Kaizen  |  Dimensions of Change  |  Root Cause Analysis  |  Brainstorming  |  Six Thinking Hats  |  Scenario Planning  |  Game Theory  |  Analogical Strategic Reasoning  |  Real Options  |  Kepner-Tregoe Matrix  |  OODA Loop  | Levels of Culture  |  Appreciative Inquiry  |  Positive Deviance

Return to Management Hub: Change & Organization  |  Communication & Skills  |  Decision-making & Valuation  |  Ethics & Responsibility  |  Human Resources  |  Leadership  |  Program & Project Management  |  Strategy

More Management Methods, Models and Theory

12manage for:

• Consultants
• Professors