Force-field analysis 

Force-field analysis is a technique used in business to explore the various factors acting for or against a change from the current state to a desired future state. It is similar to the decisional balance sheet (DBS) or ABC model used in behaviour change therapies.

In its simplest form you identify the various forces acting to promote change and and those acting to resist or constrain change and compare their relative total strengths.

DBS and ABC elaborate this further by differentiating between repulsive and attractive forces acting on the two states.

• Forces for change

  • Attractive forces for the desired state — advantages of changing

  • Repulsive forces for the current state — disadvantages of maintaining

• Forces of resistance

  • Attractive forces for the current state — advantages of maintaining

  • Repulsive forces for the desired state — disadvantages of changing

You could also further differentiate between:

• External forces — influences and constraints in your environment or context (e.g. physical limitations, social pressure, etc.)

• Internal forces — influences and constraints in yourself (e.g. motivations, abilities, knowledge, etc.)

All of this is a gross simplification of Kurt Lewin's field theory which explores the various 'fields', life-spaces or contexts that an individual might inhabit or pass through. Each field will contain its own mixture of forces of different strengths acting in different directions, enabling or resisting movement within or between fields.

One way to use force-field analysis in a less simplistic, linear way is to identify a range of alternative possible future states (which may have varying degrees of desirability associated with them). For each alternative future identify:

• Attractive forces unique to that state compared to the current state (indirect change forces)

• Repulsive forces unique to that state compared to the current state (indirect resistance forces)

• Attractive forces for the alternative state compared to the desired state (diversionary forces)

• Repulsive forces for the alternative stage compared to the desired state (anti-diversionary forces)

This might help you to identify potential unseen consequences or to find alternative routes to change.