Originally published: 24/08/2022 19:16
Publication number: ELQ-64732-1
View all versions & Certificate
Publication number: ELQ-64732-1
View all versions & Certificate
Lewin's Force Field Analysis Framework Template
An editable PowerPoint Template for change managers to analyse the balance of strengths of forces playing FOR or AGAINST a given suggested change in a business.
by Tim DemouresChief of Staff @Wimi, Managing Director @Eloquens, VP Key Projects @Adventures Startup StudioFollow 189
Description
Force Field Analysis was said to have been developped by Kurt Lewin (German-American Psychologist) in the 1940s as part of his book "Field Theory in Social Science" (Harper and Row, New York), available here: https://openlibrary.org/books/OL6092565M/Field_theory_in_social_science It was then expanded by John R. P. French (American Psychologist, University of Michigan) to business and industrial settings.
The objective of this change management model, is to provide for a way to "destabilize" the equilibrium making it naturally hard for change to take place, by strengthening driving forces, and weakening resisting ones.
By identifying forces and scoring them, LEWIN makes it easier to take decisions on what pieces to move, and in what order.
Before implementing any change, he identified that there are three stages in moving an organisation for a given change:
1/ Unfreezing: prepare the organisation for the change bound to arrive, anticipate friction, spot places to put positive efforts etc.
2/ Change or Transition: execute the change
3/Refreezing: re-stabilise the organisation in its new situation, post-change.
Over time, LEWIN identified that forces FOR and AGAINST change were fighting to win for the change to either FAIL or SUCCEED in its effectiveness.
- Forces FOR Change (examples: new leadership, new opportunities in market, new technology
competition, Increased demand, fashion, pressure from management, incentives, political regimes, regulatory laws and policies, public opinion...)
- Forces AGAINST Change (examples: fear of uncertain future, previous failure of change initiatives, old habits of employees, living in comfortable zone, hostility among employees, employees’ unions, strict bureaucratic structures, Organizational culture...)
Source of examples:https://changemanagementinsight.com/lewins-force-field-analysis-change-management/
The originality of LEWIN's framework is to consider each Force seperately, to give it a corresponding strength (from 1 to 4), sum the scores and then conclude on which forces should be either tackled or reinforced to reach the desired result for change.
Given the simplicity of the framework, and its application to many change management cases, I decided to create a universal PowerPoint template for any change management consultant, business leader or coach to use on-the-job.
When faced to a change you wish to implement, this template will enable you to take a step back and have a global view on where you need to focus your efforts to make the change happen.
Here is an extract of the methodology to follow in order to successfully use the template:
1/ Read and understand the theory behind LEWIN's framework
2/ Describe and insert the Change you which to implement at the center of the slide
3/ List the forces FOR and AGAINST change and score their strength from 1 to 4
4/ Adjust the visual representation accordingly on the slide by playing on the length of the arrows
5/ Sum up the scores for both FOR and AGAINST forces
6/ Based on which "side" (FOR or AGAINST), has the most points, as well as the global strength structure (are there forces which tend to ultra influence the change in one way or the other? Or are they more or less all similar in strength? etc.), make your conclusions on what should be the key focus priorities to maximise the chance of the change happening, according to your plans and time-frame.
Other relevant resources to understand the Force Field Analysis Framework:
- Comprehensive Guide and Steps by MindTOols (with video): https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_06.htm
- MBA Knol's detailed description of the Unfreezing, Make the change and refreezing stages: https://www.mbaknol.com/modern-management-concepts/kurt-lewins-force-field-theory-of-change/
The Best Practice is:
- an editable Microsoft PowerPoint Template Slide
- with an online & offline 7 step-by-step methodology, with pedagogical illustrations for each step.
Should you have any questions about this popular change management framework template model, you're welcome to reach out to me via Private Message.
Good Luck!
- Tim
Force Field Analysis was said to have been developped by Kurt Lewin (German-American Psychologist) in the 1940s as part of his book "Field Theory in Social Science" (Harper and Row, New York), available here: https://openlibrary.org/books/OL6092565M/Field_theory_in_social_science It was then expanded by John R. P. French (American Psychologist, University of Michigan) to business and industrial settings.
The objective of this change management model, is to provide for a way to "destabilize" the equilibrium making it naturally hard for change to take place, by strengthening driving forces, and weakening resisting ones.
By identifying forces and scoring them, LEWIN makes it easier to take decisions on what pieces to move, and in what order.
Before implementing any change, he identified that there are three stages in moving an organisation for a given change:
1/ Unfreezing: prepare the organisation for the change bound to arrive, anticipate friction, spot places to put positive efforts etc.
2/ Change or Transition: execute the change
3/Refreezing: re-stabilise the organisation in its new situation, post-change.
Over time, LEWIN identified that forces FOR and AGAINST change were fighting to win for the change to either FAIL or SUCCEED in its effectiveness.
- Forces FOR Change (examples: new leadership, new opportunities in market, new technology
competition, Increased demand, fashion, pressure from management, incentives, political regimes, regulatory laws and policies, public opinion...)
- Forces AGAINST Change (examples: fear of uncertain future, previous failure of change initiatives, old habits of employees, living in comfortable zone, hostility among employees, employees’ unions, strict bureaucratic structures, Organizational culture...)
Source of examples:https://changemanagementinsight.com/lewins-force-field-analysis-change-management/
The originality of LEWIN's framework is to consider each Force seperately, to give it a corresponding strength (from 1 to 4), sum the scores and then conclude on which forces should be either tackled or reinforced to reach the desired result for change.
Given the simplicity of the framework, and its application to many change management cases, I decided to create a universal PowerPoint template for any change management consultant, business leader or coach to use on-the-job.
When faced to a change you wish to implement, this template will enable you to take a step back and have a global view on where you need to focus your efforts to make the change happen.
Here is an extract of the methodology to follow in order to successfully use the template:
1/ Read and understand the theory behind LEWIN's framework
2/ Describe and insert the Change you which to implement at the center of the slide
3/ List the forces FOR and AGAINST change and score their strength from 1 to 4
4/ Adjust the visual representation accordingly on the slide by playing on the length of the arrows
5/ Sum up the scores for both FOR and AGAINST forces
6/ Based on which "side" (FOR or AGAINST), has the most points, as well as the global strength structure (are there forces which tend to ultra influence the change in one way or the other? Or are they more or less all similar in strength? etc.), make your conclusions on what should be the key focus priorities to maximise the chance of the change happening, according to your plans and time-frame.
Other relevant resources to understand the Force Field Analysis Framework:
- Comprehensive Guide and Steps by MindTOols (with video): https://www.mindtools.com/pages/article/newTED_06.htm
- MBA Knol's detailed description of the Unfreezing, Make the change and refreezing stages: https://www.mbaknol.com/modern-management-concepts/kurt-lewins-force-field-theory-of-change/
The Best Practice is:
- an editable Microsoft PowerPoint Template Slide
- with an online & offline 7 step-by-step methodology, with pedagogical illustrations for each step.
Should you have any questions about this popular change management framework template model, you're welcome to reach out to me via Private Message.
Good Luck!
- Tim
This Best Practice includes
1 PowerPoint Template Model + 1 Offline/Online 12 Step-by-Step Methodology
