Quantitative Force Field Analysis

by Chris Wang
(Chard, Somerset, UK)

Background:
Force-Field Analysis is a well-known, but little used, quality management & planning tool. The limitation of its usage may due to its lack of quantitative analysis capability.
The strength of Driving forces and restraining forces is usually estimated and represented by the length or size of arrow, hence is quite subjective. To better understand the strength of driving and opposing forces and apply it more precisely to desired change of an organization a formal proposal is made below.
Proposal:
1. Add numerical values, for example, -9 to 9, to x line, represent the strength of driving forces and restraining forces.
2. Assign a value -9 to 0 to each driving force, the lower the value the higher the driving force. Consensus must be reached.
3. Assign a value from 0-9 to each restraining force, the higher the value the higher the restraining force. Consensus must be reached.
4. Calculate the total value of driving forces and restraining forces separately.
5. Sum the total value of driving forces and restraining forces. A negative value indicates a feasible change. Otherwise the organization needs to reduce restraining forces and improve driving forces.
Example:

See picture

Total of driving forces = (-3)+(-3)+(-9)= -18
Total of restraining forces = 3+3+3=9
Sum of the total value of driving forces and restraining forces = (-18)+9 = -9 <0
Conclusion: the desired change is feasible.