Force Field Analysis printable pdf download

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Part IV / Techniques and Guidelines for Phases of the Planned Change Process

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Force Field Analysis

To assess the various forces that may affect a decision regarding a social problem or

PURPOSE:

issue.

DESCRIPTION: Force field analysis is a technique that helps to identify and assess significant factors

that may promote or inhibit change in an organization or community. Five steps are

involved in conducting a force field analysis:

1. Clearly specify the desired objective. Be very clear regarding what change you

intend to achieve. Reduce this to a one-sentence statement, such as “The goal of this

action is to establish a ‘Clubhouse’ program to serve adults in this community who

are chronically mentally ill.”

2. Identify the people that will determine if the objective will be achieved. These

forces may be powerful individuals, groups, coalitions, organizations, or elected offi-

cials who have a personal stake in the issue. On the left side of a sheet of paper, list

those who are expected to work for the objective as the driving forces. On the right

side, list those who might be expected to oppose the initiative as the restraining

forces. In the case of a Clubhouse initiative, the driving forces might be professionals

who are familiar with this approach, parents of mentally ill persons, and mentally ill

persons themselves. Restraining forces might be mental health professionals who

favor more conventional therapeutic approaches and persons who oppose a tax in-

crease to provide this service.

3. Assess the strengths of each driving and restraining force. At the heart of force

field analysis is the determination of the relative strength of each driving and re-

straining force as a guide for developing the change strategy. Each force should be

assessed on the basis of the following characteristics:

Potency: the power of a particular force

Consistency: the stability or constancy with which the force has taken this

position

Amenability: the openness of the force to outside influence and pressure

For each of these factors, a “high” or “low” rating is given. For example, a person

who is mentally ill would likely have low potency (LP), whereas a county commis-

sioner would have high potency (HP). Thus, the two lists prepared in step 2 will re-

flect the summary assessment of strength of each force on the three factors.

4. Identify the actors that might attempt to influence the outcome. The goal of

making this assessment is to determine what individual or group might successfully

counter a driving or restraining force and thereby alter its strength. Once the poten-

tial actor has been identified for each force, a rating of “high” or “low” strength can

be recorded. In the Clubhouse example, support from the League of Women Voters

might very well blunt the opposition of a county commissioner to the establishment

of a program for the mentally ill.

Force Field Analysis

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