Force Field Analysis
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Main steps
Define your target situation in terms of events, outcomes or behaviours.
Identify all the driving forces you can think of
Identify all the resisting forces you can think of.
Drivers and resistors can include people (key individuals and groups), aspects of the context, and arguments for which there is support and evidence. Do not be surprised if some drivers appear in a modified form as resistors, and vice versa.
Rate each of the driving and resisting forces (high, medium or low)
Give strength ratings numerical values (5= high; 3= medium; low = 1)
Rate each if the driving and resisting forces in terms of how easily influenced they are (high, medium, low (this is independent of the strength of each force).
Note: identify strong forces that are easily influenced. These are the ones on which you may concentrate when formulating your action plan. However, these would not necessarily be the only factors to be considered at that stage.
Components of an Action Plan
Consider the following:
Definition of the problem or issues to be resolved.
Specification of the target situation, outcomes and results
Practical actions
first steps
next steps
what
what then
any preconditions for the above?
Any options contingencies to mention should things go wrong?
Specified milestones and deadlines
Specific responsibilities
Timing of events.
Action Plan Assessment
Having produced an action plan to achieve your target situation, how should you evaluate the plan? One commonly applied technique is cost benefit analysis. This can be a sophisticated evaluation methodology, but it can also be applied with effect in a simple form.
List the main costs of your proposed plan (financial, material, psychological)
Rate each cost subjectively (high, medium, low)
List main benefits
Rate the strength of each benefit
You need not attach number to get a reasonably good feel as to whether one set of outcomes outweighs the other. If the benefits outweigh the costs, or