Force field analysis
Description and objectives
The team defines a desired state it wants to reach. Based on that goal, it identifies the factors that would facilitate the change and those that would hinder it. It then assesses which ones are easiest to strengthen or reduce, and designs specific actions to tip the balance in favor of the change.
How to run the activity
- The facilitator introduces the activity and explains the goal of identifying the factors that will support or hinder the desired change.
- The team splits into small groups. Each group spends a few minutes identifying the factors that would support the change.
- The groups share their results in a round, one factor at a time, avoiding repeating factors already mentioned. All factors are written down on a flip chart.
- The strength of each supporting factor is assessed relative to the others.
- The process is repeated for the factors that would hinder the change.
- With all the factors listed, the team looks for ways to increase the strength of the supporting factors and to mitigate the inhibiting factors.
- The team discusses which specific action would be most effective in promoting the desired change.
- The facilitator keeps track of the time for each step.
When to use it
- When the team is planning a significant change in its way of working and needs to assess what will make it easier and what will block it.
- As a follow-up to diagnostic activities such as Fishbone or Five Whys: once the causes have been identified, force field analysis helps plan how to act on them.
- In agile transformation or project kickoff retrospectives.
Common mistake
Identifying many factors and prioritizing none. Force field analysis is valuable when it ends with a specific action plan: which supporting factor we are going to strengthen and which inhibiting factor we are going to reduce. If the team walks away with a long list of factors but no commitments, it will have carried out a useful diagnosis, but one without consequences.
Resources
🔧 Diseñar una retrospectiva [Designing a Retrospective, in Spanish]Template · Scrum Manager
References
- Derby, Esther; Larsen, Diana. (2006). Agile Retrospectives: Making Good Teams Great. Pragmatic Bookshelf.
- Lewin, Kurt. (1951). Field Theory in Social Science. Harper & Row.
See also
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