What Is Force Field Analysis? A Guide to Strategic Decision-Making

Posted on Jan 31, 2025 at 09:01 PM

Many organizations today face significant challenges as they attempt to achieve change and improvement. It can be difficult to know where to start or how to address resistance that may arise from within or outside the organization. However, in the world of strategic planning, there is a proven and transformational approach that helps comprehend and analyze the forces that influence the change process: Force Field Analysis. This tool was developed by psychologist Kurt Lewin in 1951, and has since become an essential tool in strategic decision-making and problem-solving.

If you are looking to understand the dynamics of change and achieve success in your strategic plans, Force Field Analysis is an indispensable tool. In this article, we will provide an overview of how to use this tool effectively to understand the forces that drive change and those that oppose it, so you can make better decisions to achieve your goals.

What is Force Field Analysis?

Force Field Analysis is a powerful analytical tool, developed by psychologist Kurt Lewin, designed to provide a basic scientific approach to understanding and navigating situations that require change. It helps organizations identify and analyze both the driving forces—those factors that promote progress—and the resisting forces—those factors that hinder it. This analysis highlights the balance of these forces, offering a clear visual framework that enables decision-makers to devise strategies that align with their purpose and objectives.

By leveraging this concept, organizations can develop impactful strategies that not only help them achieve their goals but also maintain stability in dynamic environments. Force Field Analysis is deeply rooted in social psychology and emphasizes the importance of recognizing and balancing the forces at play, which informs more efficient choices. Ultimately, it empowers individuals to take positive actions, anticipate challenges, and design strategies that effectively drive progress by mitigating resistance and reinforcing intended outcomes.  

5 Steps to Conducting a Force Field Analysis

To begin applying the Force Field Analysis, consider taking a Strategic Planning Course Online, which can initiate your journey through five key concepts that help organize work and achieve strategic goals.

Identify the Change Needed

The first step in performing a Force Field Analysis is to identify the change that the entity seeks to achieve. This can include many aspects such as improving performance or adopting new technologies. At this stage, the team concerned must define a clear statement of the desired change. This requires communication and coordination among team members to obtain a shared vision, which facilitates in adopting a joint resolution about what needs to be changed. For instance, Strategic Planning, Management Control, and Effective Budgeting are often critical components to consider during this phase to ensure intended outcomes.

Identify the Driving Forces

The next step is to identify the driving forces that are originally influencing the change and how they influence the organizational goal. These forces can come from internal or external sources and identifying them involves creating a clear understanding of the pros and cons. Supporting this analysis, different types of driving forces, whether operational or strategic, must be considered to ensure equilibrium in the change process. 



Identify the Inhibitors

After identifying the driving forces, the staff must identify the inhibiting forces that are hindering the change. This requires brainstorming sessions among executives and employees in the institution. Questions that may help at this stage are: What negative impacts may happen in this situation? What challenges or constraints might be encountered in implementing the change? The model or diagram created to determine these inhibitors includes analyzing how they affect the change. Here, leadership and strategic planning in the oil and gas industry, for example, often reveal specific inhibitors, providing insights into how to address challenges in this ever-changing environment. 

Assessing the Forces

This step involves studying both the driving forces and the barriers. This can be done by ranking them on a score scale of 1 to 5, with the strongest forces being rated the highest. Additionally, this approach visually examines how these forces impact each other and helps easily ascertain whether the barriers outweigh the driving forces or vice versa. The assessment is built to provide a clear understanding of the situation, particularly in contexts such as strategic planning in healthcare organizations, where sound decision-making is crucial.

Developing an Action Plan

After assessing the forces, the final stage is to develop an action plan for managing the change. This plan should aim to strengthen the driving forces and reduce the impact of the barriers. Based on the assessment, the action plan may include strategies such as building support for the change or addressing potential concerns. This plan should be comprehensive and clear to achieve intended goals.

In Summary,

Force Field Analysis is an influential and adaptable strategic approach that offers a comprehensive paradigm for understanding the forces driving or hindering change. By utilizing this tool in the UK or anywhere, leaders and managers can craft targeted strategies to navigate complex challenges and foster impactful change. Regardless of the sector—whether healthcare, oil, or gas—Force Field Analysis remains a critical tool for grasping the dynamics of change and making well-informed, strategic choices.