In any project, organization or industry, change is inevitable. For the biggest challenge for a project manager is to manage changes in a project. Though lots of effort is being spent on tackling changes, the most common, effective and useful technique is the Force Field Analysis.
Force Field Analysis was developed by Kurt Lewin, an American social psychologist. Though Lewin has contributed a lot on Modern psychology, he was known more for his contribution in Force Field Analysis and diagrams.
PURPOSE
Force Field Analysis helps primarily to investigate the balance of powers involved in creating a change and influence the factors to achieve a positive change.
USAGE
It’s primary usage is in the PLANNING QUALITY process. I believe that not only can it be used to help influence defects, but also decide how to ensure that changes to processes/project related issues can be dealt with at a departmental or even organizational level to help the Quality department to operate smoothly and drive the changes.
It can also be used as a mind mapping technique in all departments wherever a change is desired at various levels such as project, organizational or industrial level.
CONCEPT
The force field analysis is based on the idea that to any change, there are forces driving the change (positive) forces and forces against or restraining (negative) forces. These forces can be people, processes, attitudes, customs, habits etc. The process normally starts with identifying the issue. This is normally put at the top of the chart. The forces driving and restraining are plotted below the change issue, indicating their strength as well. Based on the NET effect of positive or negative influences, one can decide whether the change is possible or not. If the change is not possible due to any negative forces, one can then work on influencing or making certain changes to help mitigate or avoid the negative forces. Here, I feel this is somewhat similar to the risk management process.
STEPS
- Describe the current situation and the desired situation.
- List all the forces driving (positive) and resisting (negative) change.
- Iterate all the forces listed to ensure their validity.
- Do a quantitative analysis by allocating them numerical values based on their strength.
- Chart the forces based on the analysis done to help create a clear map.
- Determine if change is viable. If not, check which resisting forces can be influenced, mitigated or avoided to make the change possible.
- Based on this outcome, come up with a strategy to help reduce the resisting forces and ensure that the changes can be done.
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