FORCE FIELD ANALYSIS 1 2

POSITIVES AND NEGATIVES OF CHANGE

Why use it? To plan for the implementation of change To identify forces or factors that support or work against the solution

of an issue or problem so that the positives can be reinforced and/or the negatives eliminated or reduced

Keeps group members realistic about change and the obstacles that may be encountered

Arrive at consensus and address concerns

When to use it? Can be used to study existing problems, or to anticipate and plan for

implementing change. When used in problem analysis, it is especially helpful in defining

more subjective issues, such as moral, management, effectiveness, and work climate

What does it do? Presents positives and negatives of a situation for easy comparison Forces people to think together about all aspects of making the

desired change Encourages people to agree about the relative priority of factors on

each side of the “balance sheet” Encourages honest reflection on the real underlying roots of a

problem and its solution Keeps members grounded in reality when they start planning a

change by making them systematically anticipate what kinds of resistance they could meet

May help build consensus by making it easier to discuss people’s objections and by examining how to address those concerns.

How does it work?

1 Public Health Foundation (2007). Public Health Memory Jogger II, pp. 63-65.2 (Massoud, R., Askov, K., Reinke, J., Franco, L. M., Bornstein, T., Knebel, E., et al. (2001). A modern

paradigm for improving healthcare quality. QA Monograph Series. Bethesda, MD: Quality Assurance Project for the US Agency for International Development (USAID), p. 66.

Massoud et al., 2001)

+ _Force Field Analysis template on page 3!

Draw a large “T” on a flipchart. At the top, write the issue or problem that you plan to analyze. To the far right, of the top of the “T” write a description of the ideal situation you would like to achieve.

1. Brainstorm the forces that are driving you towards the ideal situation.(may be internal or external). List them on the left side.

2. Brainstorm the forces that are restraining movement toward the ideal state, and list them on the right side.

Think about what is behind each force or factor. What works to balance the situation?

3. Determine how strong the hindering forces are, and assign numerical value (high=3, medium=2 or low=1). Each participate should rate. Add ratings together to determine priority items.

When the force field is used for problem analysis, the forces with the greatest impact should be tested as likely causes.

When the force field is used to develop solutions, those with the biggest impact may become the focus of plans to reduce resistance to change.

4. Prioritize the driving forces that can be strengthened, or identify restraining forces that would allow the most movement toward the ideal if they were removed.

5. Determine an action plan to address the largest hindering forces.

What does it look like?

Force Field AnalysisDriving Forces + - Restraining Forces

           

           

           

           

           

           

Prioritize Forces(assign rank)

Identify whether driving or

restraining force            Driving            Driving            Driving            Driving            Driving