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Force Field Analysis was developed by Lewin (1951) and is widely
used to inform decision-making, particularly in planning and implementing
change management programmes in organisations. It is a powerful
method for gaining a comprehensive overview of the different forces
acting on a potential policy issue, and for assessing their source
and strength.
Detailed Outline of the Process
Force Field Analysis is best carried out in small
group of about six to eight people using flip chart paper or overhead
transparency so that everyone can see what's going on. The first
step is to agree the area of change to be discussed. This might
be written as a desired policy goal or objective. All the forces
in support of the change are then listed in a column to the left
(driving the change forward) while all forces working against the
change are listed in a column to the right (holding it back). The
driving and restraining forces should be sorted around common themes
and should then be scored according to their 'magnitude' ranging
from 1 (weak) to 5 (strong). The score may well not balance on either
side. The resulting table might look like the example on the right
(Source: Mind Tool, available at www.psywww.com/mtsite/forcefld.html).
Throughout the process rich discussion, debate and dialogue should
emerge. This is an important part of the exercise and key issues
should be allowed time. Findings and ideas may well come up to do
with concerns, problems, symptoms and solutions. It's useful to
record these and review where there is a consensus on an action
or a way forward. In policy influencing the aim is to find ways
to reduce the restraining forces and to capitalise on the driving
forces.
Force Field Analysis is natural follow-on from Problem Tree Analysis
which can often help to identify objectives for policy change. A
useful next step on from Force Field Analysis is Stakeholder Analysis
in which the specific stakeholders for and against a change are
identified, together with their power, influence and interests.
A Good Example
Force field analysis has been used in diverse
fields ranging from participatory rural appraisal and social research
to strategic planning and organisational change. As part of a DFID
sponsored participatory poverty profiling in Bolangir, a drought
prone district in Western Orissa, India, a team of facilitators
from PRAXIS used various participatory tools to conduct a study
of the poverty profile of the district. Seasonal migration poses
a serious problem with the rural poor and a Force Field Analysis
was conducted with a group of villagers to study the factors leading
to migration. Drought and lack of land emerged as the most important
factors contributing to migration. Among the forces inhibiting migration
were emotional attachment to the village and excessive work during
migration. The information generated from the FFA has been useful
in that it has led to designing a livelihood project, to be implemented
by the Government of Orissa, supported by DFID, India.
Further Information
The case study above comes from: PLA Notes (1999), Issue
36, pp.17-23. IIED, London, at: www.worldbank.org/participation/PRSP/plna/plan_03604.pdf
Another case details the use of force field analysis in a school
situation to assess the potential to change from teacher-centered
methods of working to greater pupil participation in planning. See:
www.crossroad.to/Quotes/brainwashing/force-field.htm
For original literature of force field analysis see: Lewin K. (1951)
Field Theory in Social Science, Harper and Row, New York.
Simple step-by-step guides to carrying out force field analysis
are available at:
For a brief overview see www.mycoted.com/creativity/techniques/forcefieldanal.php
Examples of the application of force field analysis in different
areas are available below:
For computer software to conduct force field analysis see: www.skymark.com/resources/tools/force_field_diagram.asp
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