Force Field Analysis - Kurt Lewin

Kurt Lewin's Force Field Analysis is a powerful strategic tool used to understand what's needed for change in both corporate and personal environments.

Best of all - it's easy to use and has complete credibility as a professional tool.

We'll use a little basic science to introduce the concept, after which you'll find enough information to allow you to unleash your knowledge of force fields on colleagues!

Lewin's Force Field Analysis Explained

To understand the concept of a force field analysis let's start with a simple science experiment (this really is relevant, so stay with me for a moment please).

You'll need to sit down for this one. You're sitting? Good. Now, what's keeping you in the chair?

Well, there are two answers really. One is gravity which is pushing you down into the chair. A driving force, if you like.

The other is the chair itself, which provides an opposing force, resisting gravity, and stopping you falling to the ground.

So it would seem that while you are sitting in your chair you're in an equilibrium of sorts.

Two forces keep you there. Gravity pushes down, keeping you in the chair, and the chair resists this, stopping you from falling to the ground.

Two equal forces, a driving force and a resisting or restraining force, working to keep the equilibrium or status quo.

Agreed? Okay, now let's play. Let's say we want to move away from this equilibrium and get you to fall to the floor. What could we do?

Well, on the one hand we could increase the amount of gravity (our driving force). The chair will give way eventually and you will fall.

On the other hand, we could leave gravity alone and decide to weaken the chair (our restraining force). The chair will give way, and there you are on the floor again!

We can achieve our intended result by increasing the driving force, or by reducing the resisting force.

If you've followed me this far then you've just completed a force field analysis and understood the basic concepts of the model. It also helps to explain why our science experiment is relevant.

You see, Kurt Lewin applied exactly this thinking to his theory of change within social situations - to people.

May the Force be with you, or against you.

Kurt Lewin views culture as being in a state of equilibrium.

He writes: "A culture is not a painted picture; it is a living process, composed of countless social interactions. Like a river whose form and velocity are determined by the balance of those forces that tend to make the water flow faster, and the friction that tends to make the water flow more slowly the cultural pattern of a people at a given time is maintained by a balance of counteracting forces." (Lewin, K. 1948. Resolving Social Conflicts, p.46.)

"To bring about any change, the balance between the forces which maintain the social self-regulation at a given level has to be upset" (Lewin, K. 1948. Resolving Social Conflicts, p.47.)

This describes the experiment we just did and is summarised in the diagram below.

So before change the force field is in equilibrium between forces favourable to change and those resisting it. Lewin spoke about the existence of a quasi-stationary social equilibrium.

For change to happen the status quo, or equilibrium must be upset – either by adding conditions favourable to the change or by reducing resisting forces.

What Kurt Lewin proposes is that whenever driving forces are stronger than restraining forces, the status quo or equilibrium will change.

Now that's useful. Especially if we apply this to understanding how people move through change and why they resist change.

There will always be driving forces that make change attractive to people, and restraining forces that work to keep things as they are.

Successful change is achieved by either strengthening the driving forces or weakening the restraining forces.

The force field analysis integrates with Lewin’s three stage theory of change as you work towards unfreezing the existing equilibrium, moving towards the desired change, and then freezing the change at the new level so that a new equilibrium exists that resists further change.

Using the Force Field Analysis

Lewin's force field analysis is used to distinguish which factors within a situation or organisation drive a person towards or away from a desired state, and which oppose the driving forces.

These can be analysed in order to inform decisions that will make change more acceptable.

'Forces' are more than attitudes to change. Kurt Lewin was aware that there is a lot of emotion underlying people's attitude to change.

To understand what makes people resist or accept change we need to understand the values and experiences of that person or group.

Developing self awareness and emotional intelligence can help to understand these forces that work within us and others. It’s the behaviour of others that will alert you to the presence of driving and restraining forces at work.

Your Guide to Using the Force Field Analysis:

1. Define the change you want to see. Use the centre column to write down the goal or vision of a future desired state. Alternatively, you can use the present status quo or equilibrium that exists.
   
   
2. Brainstorm or Mind Map the Driving Forces. These are the forces that are favourable to change. Record these on the force field analysis template using the column on the left.
   
   
3. Brainstorm or Mind Map the Restraining Forces. These are the forces that support the current status quo remaining in place. They can also be understood as forces that are unfavourable to, or oppose change. Record these on the force field analysis using the column on the right.
   
   
4. Evaluate the Driving and Restraining forces. You can do this by rating each force, from 1 (weak) to 5 (strong). Use the scoring column alongside each of the Driving and Restraining forces. Add the scores in each column and write a total at the bottom of each column.
   
   If you prefer to focus holistically on the impact of the Driving and Restraining forces you can leave the numbers out completely.
   
   
5. Review the forces. If you have scored the Driving and Restraining forces you can use the total score at the bottom of each column to inform your overall understanding of which is stronger or weaker.
   
   If the Restraining forces are stronger than the Driving forces, spend some time reviewing each of the individual forces in the columns. Decide which of the forces have some flexibility for change or which can be influenced.
   
   
6. Strategize! Create a strategy to strengthen the Driving forces or weaken the Restraining forces, or both. If you've rated each force how can you raise the scores of the Driving forces or lower the scores of the Restraining forces, or both?
   
   
7. Prioritize action steps. What action steps can you take that will achieve the greatest impact? Identify the resources you will need and decide how to implement the action steps. Hint: Sometimes it's easier to reduce the impact of restraining forces than it is to strengthen driving forces.

Criticism of the Force Field Analysis

Kurt Lewin's force field analysis is a popular way to tackle change in organizations. Despite this, there are criticisms of this approach. Some of the top critiques of this tool include:

It's too simple

Critics argue that the model is too simple as it only considers two opposing forces, driving and restraining forces. This makes it hard to understand the complex factors that affect change. In addition, the subjectivity of attributing scores to the driving or restraining forces is questioned.

Lack of empirical evidence

Force field analysis lacks empirical evidence to support its effectiveness. There isn't much evidence to show that force field analysis is more effective than other ways of managing change.

Limited scope

Force field analysis only helps identify driving and restraining forces. It doesn't provide guidance on how to deal with the underlying causes of these forces or how to make effective changes.

Failure to account for resistance

Force field analysis assumes that resistance to change is always negative and needs to be overcome. It does not recognize that resistance can also be a positive force that helps to identify potential risks and challenges.

Lack of stakeholder involvement

Force field analysis is often driven by a small group of managers or change agents without enough input from other stakeholders. This can lead to a lack of buy-in and support from those who are most affected by the change.

Despite these criticisms, force field analysis can still be a useful tool. It should be used along with other change management approaches and with a critical understanding of its limitations.

The force field analysis is backed by the Lewin change management model and has, over time, developed credibility as a professional change management tool.

Keep in touch by visiting our Facebook Page and clicking 'Like' to join the community.

---

---

---

Like This Page?

Hi! I'm Mark Connelly. As a psychologist and coach with 20+ years of experience, I help people create and manage change.

I may earn a small commission if you buy something through a link on this site. It won't cost you anything and I only recommend products I trust. Please see the affiliate disclosure for more.