Force Field Analysis
Force field analysis is a decision-making and change management technique that identifies and evaluates the forces driving and restraining a proposed change to determine its feasibility and plan implementation strategies.
Explanation
Force field analysis, developed by social psychologist Kurt Lewin, is a tool for analyzing the factors (forces) that support and oppose a proposed change. The technique involves listing all driving forces (factors pushing toward the change) and restraining forces (factors resisting the change), then evaluating the relative strength of each force. The goal is to determine whether the driving forces outweigh the restraining forces and to develop strategies to strengthen drivers and weaken resistors.
In project management, force field analysis is used in organizational change management, stakeholder analysis, decision-making, and risk assessment. It provides a visual representation of the change dynamics, typically displayed as a diagram with driving forces on one side and restraining forces on the other, with arrows indicating relative strength.
The technique helps project managers develop targeted strategies for implementing change. Rather than simply pushing harder with driving forces, effective change management often focuses on reducing or eliminating restraining forces, which can be more effective and less likely to create resistance.
Key Points
- •Identifies driving forces (supporting change) and restraining forces (resisting change)
- •Evaluates relative strength of each force
- •Developed by Kurt Lewin for change management
- •Reducing restraining forces is often more effective than increasing driving forces
Exam Tip
Force field analysis is specifically about analyzing forces for and against a change. If the question involves evaluating factors supporting and opposing a proposed change, this is the answer.
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