Force Field Analysis (Page 4 of 5) in pdf

As shown in the above force field diagram, the total point value for restraining forces

exceeds the total value of the driving forces. This means that the proposed change

would likely fail if nothing is done to change the balance. To increase the likelihood of

success, management can attempt to reduce restraining forces, increase driving forces,

or some combination of the two. In changing the impact of one force, the impacts of

other forces often change as well. One example of this interdependency would occur if

management decides to reduce the level of employee fear be providing extra training

and resources. The impact of fear as a restraining force may drop from a 7 to a 4, but

the capital investment restraining force may increase from a 3 to a 7 resulting in a

higher restraining force than before the change. The relationships among the many

forces must be understood and evaluated before strategies to eliminate the restraining

forces and to capitalize on the driving forces are implemented.

Applications

Force field analysis is being used for many different applications in a wide variety of industries.

There are three main applications of the force field analysis tool:

1. Change management (which has been the focus of this article)

2. productivity improvement

3. decision making

Change management is the primary application for force field analysis. One industry that has

embraced the usefulness of this tool is the health care industry. Change is a regular occurrence in

the healthcare environment. One area of change in which the health care industry has used force

field analysis is in the computerization of nursing systems. Nurses have widely varying attitudes

toward computers and change in the workplace. To help in the transition, managers are

evaluating the forces that encourage and the forces that impede the change. Based on the force

field analysis, strategies must be developed to assist nurses in moving forward with the

transition.

Productivity improvement is the second main application of force field analysis. This universal

application of how to increase employee productivity demonstrates a powerful need for the force

field analysis tool. Instead of looking at factors promoting and inhibiting change, managers can

look at forces promoting and inhibiting productivity. This analysis can shed light on methods,

strategies, and systems that can promote long-term improvements in employee productivity.

Force field analysis is also a powerful decision-making tool. By evaluating the forces supporting

and opposing a specific decision, managers can know the likelihood of acceptance and can also

manage the influencing forces to maximize the potential for acceptance and success.

The force field model is a valuable tool for use in these three applications; however, it is not

limited to these forms of application. By understanding the principles of force field analysis,

managers can customize the technique for use in a large variety of situations.

By recognizing that every decision and every change has forces that promote the change and

forces that impede the change, managers can make smarter decisions and can use force field

analysis to effectively manage change in their organizations.

Force Field Analysis Page 4