FORCE FIELD
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The force field analysis is one of the most important problem solving tools you can use to develop ‘how’ action plans in your one page plan. A powerful problem solving tool for virtually any issue.
Force field is used to drive strategies into actions by discovering what can be done to double the impact of the positive forces impacting on the issue and at the same time halving the forces that are impacting negatively on the issue.Within a problem solving process it is typically used after the mindmapping and the Pareto analysis where you have clarity on the strategies and then want to come up with actions.
This tool enables you to identify the action plans and strategies you need to consider in solving the 'how’ side of the ‘Now, Where, How' process. Change will not occur when both the positive and the negative forces are equal, or the negative force is stronger than the positive force. For change to occur and move the issue forward, the positive forces must overpower the negative forces.
It's impossible to do all the great ideas from the force field process so after completing it reflect on what are the top three or four ideas (using the Pareto analysis concept) from either side of the force field. These become your actions. Step 1: Write down your issue requiring a solution, down the centre of the Force Field. In this example, the issue is “Happiness”Step 2: Brainstorm at last 4 factors that you consider will impact positively on your issue. List these down the left-hand side with an arrow pushing the issue in a positive direction.Step 3: Next, decide what you need to do to make all these positive forces twice as strong and double the impact. Write down 3 actions under each of these positive factors.Step 4: Now, brainstorm all the negative factors (not the opposite of the positive factors) which are making the issue you have selected, unsuccessful and list them down the right-hand side with an arrow pushing the issue in a negative direction. Step 5: Next, decide what you need to do to halve or reduce the strength of these negative forces. Write down 3 actions under each of the negative factors.Step 6: You have now doubled your positive forces and halved your negative forces. The sheer strength of your Force Field will move your issue in a positive direction.Step 7: You can now select the top 3 issues from your Force Field to work on by either of these methods.• Use the Pareto 80:20 tool• Give your team 3 votes to select the factors and see what scores the highest. Download the Force Field Printable Template here
This tool enables you to identify the action plans and strategies you need to consider in solving the 'how’ side of the ‘Now, Where, How' process. Change will not occur when both the positive and the negative forces are equal, or the negative force is stronger than the positive force. For change to occur and move the issue forward, the positive forces must overpower the negative forces.
It's impossible to do all the great ideas from the force field process so after completing it reflect on what are the top three or four ideas (using the Pareto analysis concept) from either side of the force field. These become your actions. Step 1: Write down your issue requiring a solution, down the centre of the Force Field. In this example, the issue is “Happiness”Step 2: Brainstorm at last 4 factors that you consider will impact positively on your issue. List these down the left-hand side with an arrow pushing the issue in a positive direction.Step 3: Next, decide what you need to do to make all these positive forces twice as strong and double the impact. Write down 3 actions under each of these positive factors.Step 4: Now, brainstorm all the negative factors (not the opposite of the positive factors) which are making the issue you have selected, unsuccessful and list them down the right-hand side with an arrow pushing the issue in a negative direction. Step 5: Next, decide what you need to do to halve or reduce the strength of these negative forces. Write down 3 actions under each of the negative factors.Step 6: You have now doubled your positive forces and halved your negative forces. The sheer strength of your Force Field will move your issue in a positive direction.Step 7: You can now select the top 3 issues from your Force Field to work on by either of these methods.• Use the Pareto 80:20 tool• Give your team 3 votes to select the factors and see what scores the highest. Download the Force Field Printable Template here