Unit 6: Business Management Toolkit — BMT 12 Force Field Analysis
What is Force Field Analysis?
Force Field Analysis is a decision-making tool developed by Kurt Lewin that helps organizations to analyze the factors (“forces”) that support or hinder change initiatives. It visualizes “driving forces” that promote change and “restraining forces” that resist it.
Use Cases:
- Change management
- Strategic planning
- Problem-solving
- Organizational development
- Change management
- Strategic planning
- Problem-solving
- Organizational development
Force Field Analysis Model
| Driving Forces (For Change) | Restraining Forces (Against Change) |
|---|---|
| Market demand, leadership support, new technology, competition | Employee resistance, cost, existing culture, lack of resources |
| Customer expectations, efficiency gains, regulatory pressure | Fear of uncertainty, training needs, system inflexibility |
Key Principle: Change occurs when the sum of driving forces outweighs restraining forces.
Steps in Force Field Analysis
- Define the change or decision situation.
- Identify driving and restraining forces.
- Assign scores to each force (e.g. 1–5 for strength).
- Visualize forces and calculate net force.
- Develop strategies to strengthen driving forces or reduce restraining forces.
Net Force Formula:
Net\ Force = \sum Driving\ Forces - \sum Restraining\ Forces - If Net\ Force > 0, change is likely.
- If Net\ Force < 0, change is unlikely.
Net\ Force = \sum Driving\ Forces - \sum Restraining\ Forces - If Net\ Force > 0, change is likely.
- If Net\ Force < 0, change is unlikely.
Force Field Analysis Diagram (Example)
Change Scenario: Implementing new IT system
Driving Forces: Ease of use (+4), Cost savings (+3), Market trend (+2)
Restraining Forces: Staff resistance (-4), Training cost (-2), System downtime (-2)
Driving Forces: Ease of use (+4), Cost savings (+3), Market trend (+2)
Restraining Forces: Staff resistance (-4), Training cost (-2), System downtime (-2)
Total Driving Forces: 4 + 3 + 2 = 9
Total Restraining Forces: 4 + 2 + 2 = 8
Net Force: 9 - 8 = 1 → Change can proceed, but efforts should focus on reducing resistance for better results.
Total Restraining Forces: 4 + 2 + 2 = 8
Net Force: 9 - 8 = 1 → Change can proceed, but efforts should focus on reducing resistance for better results.
Advantages & Limitations of Force Field Analysis
| Advantages | Limitations |
|---|---|
|
- Easy to visualize - Clarifies decision dynamics - Focuses on practical actions |
- Subjective scoring - May oversimplify complex issues - Dependent on accurate identification of all forces |
Conclusion
Force Field Analysis is a flexible tool to guide change, planning, and problem-solving by structuring group thinking and emphasizing evidence-driven actions. Its effectiveness depends on honest evaluation and clear communication.