Force Field Analysis Problem Solving

Somewhat different from the process of listing pros and cons, force field analysis allows you to develop decision-making strategies in terms of strengthening the forces in support of a decision and reducing the impact of any opposition.

Somewhat different from the process of listing pros and cons, force field analysis allows you to develop decision-making strategies in terms of strengthening the forces in support of a decision and reducing the impact of any opposition.Force field analysis was developed by psychologist Kurt Lewin, a pioneer in the field of social psychology.

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A Final Tip: If doing this as a group exercise, find a room with a large blank wall to hang the flip-chart paper, and involve a neutral facilitator to write out the group’s comments and opinions.

This will allow all team members to engage, focus and analyse the group’s conversation.

Force field analysis requires the full participation of everyone involved to provide the accurate information required for an effective analysis.

This can be a disadvantage when full participation isn't possible, resulting in an analysis that doesn't provide a realistic picture of the supporting and opposing forces.

Another disadvantage is the possibility that the analysis won't result in a consensus among the group.

In fact, a force field analysis may actually cause a division in the group between those who support the decision and those who oppose it.

Lewin's intent was to create a tool that would allow a group to diagnose a particular situation by examining all the forces for and against a plan to decide whether or not the plan is worth implementing.

Forces that push a decision in a particular direction are called driving forces, while restraining forces are defined as those that hinder the decision-making process, such as apathy and hostility.

It’s strictly a personal preference, but I find the Force Field Analysis (instead of the SWOT Analysis) is more ideal for the field of communications because the situational columns help define the existing, preferred and worst mindsets or perceptions of important audiences.

In turn, this helps to identify the key communications opportunities to leverage and the communications issues to address.