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Tools for Policy Impact: A Handbook for Researchers
5. Force Field Analysis
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 transparencies so that everyone can see what is 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 one (weak) to five (strong). The score may well not balance on either side. The resulting table might look like the following:
Figure 5: Force field analysis
Total: 10 Total: 11
1
3
1
3
3
4
Forces for change (^) Forces against change
Plan:
Upgrade factory with new manufacturing machinery
Disruption
Cost
Environmental impact of new techniques 3
1 Maintenance costs increasing
Raise volumes of output
2 Improve speedof production
Customers want new products
Source : Mind Tool, available at www.psywww.com/mtsite/forcefld.html
Context Assessment Tools
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 is 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 analysis 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:
- www.mindtools.com/forcefld.html for examples of the use of force field analysis in management
- www.psywww.com/mtsite/forcefld.html for examples of the use of force field analysis in psychology
- For a brief overview see www.mycoted.com/Force-Field_Analysis
Examples of the application of force field analysis in different areas are available below:
- Change management: www.accel-team.com/techniques/force_field_analysis.html
- Health (MSH and UNICEF): http://erc.msh.org/quality/example/example5.cfm
For computer software to conduct force field analysis see: www.skymark.com/resources/tools/force_field_diagram.asp
