Try out the free Force Field Analysis Tool

This app is fully functioning and allows you to save and load your actions plans....Try it now !

 (No data is stored on the website- Please see the "⚠️ Important: Saving Your Data" section of How to Use the Force Field Analysis Tool

How to Use the Force Field Analysis Tool

Welcome to the interactive Force Field Analysis demo. This tool helps you evaluate the factors influencing a specific project or change initiative.

To get the most out of your analysis, follow these steps:

1. Define Your Goal

• Start by typing your main objective into the "Enter Your Project Goal or Change Initiative Here..." box at the top of the page.

2. Identify the Forces

• Driving Forces (For Change): Click the + Add Driving Force button to list factors pushing your project forward.

• Restraining Forces (Against Change): Click the + Add Restraining Force button to list obstacles or resistance holding your project back.

• For each force you add, type a brief description in the text box provided.

3. Score the Forces

• Use the Strength slider beneath each force to assign a score from 1 (weakest) to 10 (strongest).

• As you adjust the sliders, the Balance of Forces visualizer at the top of the page will automatically update, showing you the current equilibrium between driving and restraining forces.

4. Create an Action Plan

• To tip the balance in your favour, click Add Action Plan (or View/Edit Action Plan) on any individual force card.

• A window will appear where you can assign an action, an owner, a due date, and a current status (e.g., Not Started, In Progress, Completed, Blocked).

• Adjust the Mitigated Strength slider to estimate how much this action will impact the force's score, then click Save Plan.

• You can track these projected improvements in the Mitigated Balance of Forces (Post-Action) visualizer.

5. Review and Print Your Report

• Once you have completed your analysis, click the View Action Plan button at the top of the screen.

• This will generate a consolidated report featuring a summary table of all your actions, which you can sort by clicking the column headers.

• You can print this report directly by clicking the Print Report button.

⚠️ Important: Saving Your Data (No data is stored on the website)

Because this is a web-based demo, your data will be lost if you refresh or navigate away from this page without saving.

To ensure you do not lose your work:

1. Click the Save to File button at the top right of the screen.

2. This will download a .json file containing your entire analysis to your device.

3. When you return to the tool later, simply click Load from File and select your saved .json file to pick up right where you left off.

Force field analysis is a decision-making and change-management method used to weigh the driving forces for a change against the restraining forces opposing it. Created by social psychologist Kurt Lewin in the 1940s, it helps groups decide whether to proceed with a plan by scoring these opposing pressures.

Core Concepts

• Driving Forces: Positive pressures and factors that push for change, such as new technology, market demands, or higher efficiency.

• Restraining Forces: Negative barriers and obstacles that maintain the status quo, such as employee resistance, tight budgets, or fear of failure.

• Equilibrium: A balanced state where driving and restraining forces are equal; change only happens when this balance is upset. 

Steps to Perform an Analysis

• Define the Goal: Write down the proposed change or objective clearly.

• List the Forces: Brainstorm all driving forces on the left side and all restraining forces on the right side.

• Assign Scores: Rate the strength or influence of each force using a numerical scale (such as 1 to 5).

• Tally and Decide: Add up the scores for both sides to see which group is stronger, then use the results to figure out how to weaken restraints or strengthen drivers.