Force Field Analysis
By: Ray Myers, Jr., PMP
Force Field Analysis provides a useful framework to look at the driving and resisting forces of a decision or proposed change. To implement a change, it is helpful to understand these forces.
Decisions are framed in terms of forces and factors. Forces that help achieve the desired change are called driving forces. Forces that work against the desired change are called restraining forces. Factors can be anything that exerts pressure on the force field such as, budgets, people, regulations, needs, desires, and so on.
The opposing forces are charted according to how they impact the change with the objective of enhancing the driving forces and reducing the impacts of restraining forces. Analysis of these forces and factors may provide insights into those conditions that must be addressed or monitored if the change is to be successful.
Procedure
Step 1 Setup the Force Field Framework
Working in a group, describe and document the decision or proposed change. Draw and label the framework on a sheet of paper or flipchart
Step 2 Identify the Driving Forces
Create a list of the forces that drive the planned change or decision. Consider factors such as time savings, cost savings, reduced delivery time, improved customer satisfaction. Use techniques such as brainstorming to create the list.
Step 3 Identify the Restraining Forces
Create a list of the forces that resist the planned change or decision. Include factors such as human resources, limited funding, limited time, stakeholder opposition to the change, etc. Use brainstorming and interviews to create the list.
Step 4 Assign Force Strength
Estimate and assign a score for the relative strength of each driving and resisting force. Use a simple numerical scale; say 1 (weak) to 5 (strong.) Tally and compare the scores. The scores will indicate the balance between the forces; say 12:9 in favor of the decision or 8:11 against the plan.
Step 5 Develop the Overall Change Strategy
Analyze the results to determine whether the proposed change is viable. If you decide to proceed, you can improve the probability of success by modifying how certain forces influence the force field. Forces can be modified in at least 2 ways: 1) Reduce or remove forces that oppose the decision, or 2) Increase the strength of positive forces or add new forces that drive the decision.
Figure 1 Force Field Analysis
In this example, the score is 13:16 and suggests that the plan should be abandoned. If you wanted to implement the plan, analysis suggests that a number of changes could be made to decrease the impacts of the negative forces. For example:
- A Make-Buy Analysis found that the cost of migration could be reduced by purchasing a commercial software package (reduce Migration Cost by 3)
- Purchase of the software package improves the Resource Availability costs because the local community college teaches classes for the software (reduce Resource Availability by 2 and reduce User Training Cost by 2)
Making these changes swings the balance from 13:16 to 13: 9 in favor of the plan.
About the Author: Ray Myers is a PMP certified project manager with over 2o years experience planning and managing technology projects.
Copyright © 2009 Ray Myers, Jr. – All rights reserved
This document may be freely copied and distributed, provided that: this copyright notice is included, the entire body of text is included, and the textual content of this document is unchanged.
For written permission to use portions of this document in other publications, send email to info@pmservicesnw.com.
