Force Field Analysis

tool · management · organizing-schema

Lewin's mapping of driving and restraining forces around a proposed change.

Force Field Analysis, developed by Kurt Lewin as part of his broader field-theory and change-model work in the 1940s, maps the forces favoring (driving) and opposing (restraining) a proposed change around a current equilibrium state. The analytical premise is that change can be achieved either by strengthening driving forces, weakening restraining forces, or both — and that Lewin generally argued weakening restraining forces is preferable because strengthening driving forces tends to provoke increased opposition (the system pushes back against perceived pressure). The graphical convention places driving forces as arrows pushing against restraining-force arrows, with arrow length or weight representing relative strength. The tool pairs naturally with Lewin's three-stage Unfreeze-Change-Refreeze model: force field analysis identifies what must shift in the unfreezing stage. It remains a staple of organizational development and change-management practice.

Originators

Kurt Lewin high

Year / Decade

1940s development; 1947 ('Frontiers in Group Dynamics'); 1951 (Field Theory in Social Science posthumous) high

Primary sources

Lewin, K. (1947). 'Frontiers in Group Dynamics', Human Relations, Lewin, K. (1951). Field Theory in Social Science high

Core components

Current state at center
Driving forces (arrows pushing toward desired change)
Restraining forces (arrows pushing back)
Force strength shown by arrow length or weight
Lewin's preference for weakening restraining over strengthening driving forces
Equilibrium framing
Pairs with Unfreeze-Change-Refreeze

Primary use case

Change management diagnostic and planning; structured analysis of organizational change readiness; strategic planning for change initiatives; teaching tool in organizational development; complement to other change-management frameworks.

Common criticisms

Static snapshot of a dynamic system — forces shift over time as the change unfolds
strength estimates are subjective and politically loaded
treats forces as discrete when they often interact
can become a brainstorming exercise without driving real action
like Lewin's broader change model, the equilibrium framing assumes a stable starting point that may not exist in continuous-change environments
doesn't address how to actually weaken restraining forces (the key prescriptive move) beyond identification.

Lineage

Child of: Lewin's Change Model
Siblings: Lewin's Change Model, Kotter's 8-Step Change Model
Derived from: Lewin's Change Model