Force Field Analysis
What is it?
A force field analysis is a tool for understanding the positive and negative factors or forces that may help (positive forces) or impede (negative forces) a change.
Why use it?
A force field analysis is helpful in planning stages of quality improvement. It can be used to
Decide whether to go ahead with a change
Increase the chances of success for the change
It can be helpful
When discussing options for improvement.
To understand the context that your changes exist within.
To see what is within your power to influence.
To understand the potential barriers and what can be done, if anything, to overcome these.
To understand forces that help in changes that could be amplified to increase the chances for success.
To make decisions about whether to proceed with a change idea.
How to use it?
Agree the area of change to be discussed. Write this either at the top of the page or in the centre.
Note down the forces that are in support of a change (positive/driving forces that are compelling you forward) in the left hand side of the page.
Write down forces that are barriers (negative/constraining forces holding you back) for the change in the right hand column.
Take note of the discussions about these factors as they may be helpful later.In their columns, group forces together into themes if these are clear (similar to how themes are created in fishbone diagrams and drivers in driver diagrams).
Score the forces based on how ‘strong’ they are, with scores from 1 (weak) – 5 (strong). Note down the discussions about why forces were scored in the way they were
Total the scores for each column to see whether one column is more heavily weighted than the other.
Below the force field analysis, note down any ideas to overcome negative/constraining factors. It may be that change ideas are needed for the negative/constraining forces first before beginning the original change idea or area.
More information
Quality Improvement Zone NES – click for further information and templates.
IHI – click for a video for how to create a force field analysis.
NHS Improvement - for a guide for how to produce a force field analysis