School Improvement: Force Field Analysis

Force Field Analysis

		Force Field Analysis

		Force Field Analysis

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To change, either personally or within an organization, requires movement. The movement may be toward something or away from something. A force-field analysis assist groups in identifying the driving forces, those things which give change momentum, and restraining forces, those things which inhibit change. Consider the following example for an advisory group who wants their school to give a minimum of one hour a day to student reading.


	Driving Forces		Restraining Forces



	Focus of current state mandates. Have data to support need. Plenty of books to check out in media center. Popular goal with parents.		Some teachers not willing to give one hour. Something else will need to be eliminated from schedule. Shortened schedules—late starts and early outs.

If the group determines the restraining forces to be stronger than the driving forces, then the desired change will not happen.

You may believe you need to strengthen the driving forces to induce change. However, strengthening the positive often has the unexpected result of reinforcing the negative. It has been shown that the most effective tactic is to diminish or eliminate a restraining force.

It is important to involve a diverse group when using the Force Field Analysis. The more honest the dialogue about driving and restraining forces, the more likely you will be able to impact change.

School Improvement

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