Brazilian mining company Samarco Mineracao SA had an unstrange struggle. The firm needed to scale up the growth chart with a cost-effective methodology.

 

So a Six Sigma team put their heads together and worked out a solution that saved the company a chunky $2 million. The team developed a low-energy iron ore pellet that addressed the cost as well as customer concerns.

 

But how did they arrive at this solution?

 

via GIPHY

 

The answer, and also what they relied on among other techniques, was a force field analysis. Coupled with innovative and tested approaches like DMADV (define-measure-analyze-design-validate), the team’s force field analysis worked its charm, getting the company out of its sticky situation.

 

It would be wise to see that a Samarco-like conundrum could raise head anywhere in business ecosystems too. And it would be wiser to know how force field analysis can be the reprieve amid those trials and tribulations.

 

So here’s a quick guide to acquaint you with the ins and outs of force field analysis while offering you completely editable PowerPoint templates to empower your business decisions in the face of change. Read on and download.   

 

What is a force field analysis?

 

Developed by the father of modern psychology, Kurt Lewin, force field analysis is a type of root cause analysis used to assess and empower decisions for bringing a change in an organization. A significant concept under the change management model, it is a decision-making tool that helps visualize the driving forces and the restraining forces associated with an initiative of change. Ideally, the driving forces are the positive factors that favor the decision, while the restraining forces are the negative aspects that hamper the transition.

 

A force field analysis is ideal for informed business decision-making, helping entrepreneurs strike a healthy equilibrium between these driving and restraining forces. A desirable state is achieved by accentuating the forces that drive change while diminishing the forces that oppose the said change. The final decision helps visualize the feasibility of the transition for the business.        

 

How to analyze a force field?

 

A force field analysis is best conducted in groups of 5 people, each being a direct stakeholder in the transition. For successful analysis and execution, these stakeholders must be intimated timely for every step of the decision-making. Moreover, each team must identify their core competency and maintain the data that is churned out from the practice. Once the force field analysis is complete, it is time to get it into action using this data in a decipherable format.

 

While regular meetings and knowledge-sharing sessions are a given, it is paramount to document these in a visually mapped layout for better understanding. So here we will walk you through the six critical steps of performing a force field analysis on a PowerPoint slide. Follow along and prepare your data and then fill it in the downloadable slide given at the end of this section. 

    

Step 1: Analyze the current scenario

Your session for force field analysis should start with every team coming up with their perspective and data on the current situation in the organization. This can include respective statistics on a problem statement and any bottlenecks the team faces because of that. A quick SWOT analysis will also set the ball rolling.

Related read: Top 50 SWOT Analysis PowerPoint Templates Used by Professionals Worldwide

Additionally, you can include employee feedback regarding these bottlenecks and any ideas they have as well. Once you have all the data, it is time to put it on a PowerPoint slide as follows.

 

How to conduct force field analysis

 

Step 2: Identify the objective of change

The next step is to brainstorm ideas and propose a change that will address the bottlenecks. Since your SWOT analysis will give you a quick snapshot of a prospective solution, you can identify the objective solely based on that. The goal is to visualize the desired state that you want to achieve after executing the proposed change. Your visual worksheet slide will look like this. 

 

How to conduct force field analysis

 

Step 3: Recognize the driving forces

As covered earlier, the driving forces will be the factors that favor the accomplishment of the proposed change. These include better efficiency, more revenue, faster technology, employee satisfaction, industry trends, and applications. While your team can work these out on a specific level, you can also consult industry leaders and subject matter experts to analyze the driving forces for you.

 

Once you get the data on the driving forces (or the positives), list them on the left-hand side of your PPT slide as follows.

 

How to conduct force field analysis

 

Step 4: Recognize the restraining forces

The next step is to identify the restraining forces, which are the factors opposing the change. These include employee apprehensions, cost overruns, time constraints, and knowledge gaps. Again, a SWOT test will alert your stakeholders of the risks, but you must dig deeper to the grassroots to validate the negatives of the proposed change. Interviewing employees and collecting the survey data can help you make a more informed decision.

 

Once you are all set, list the restraining forces on the right-hand side of the PPT slide like this.

 

How to conduct force field analysis

 

Step 5: Assign scores to each force

Each contributing or opposing factor will have its own level of intensity or severity. It is feasible to have a rating scale and assign scores to each factor based on their gravity. You can have your team vote on each score and then give the final scores in the PPT slide as follows. We have used arrows to visualize the impact and assigned score into the circle corresponding to each pointer.

 

Alternatively, you can use straight arrows and have their lengths correspond to their score on the rating scale.

 

How to conduct force field analysis

 

Step 6: Plan for action

Now that your scorecard is ready, add up the scores for each side. Analyze which positives you can magnify to keep the score on the left-hand side higher. Do the same for the right-hand side by figuring out the methods to tone down the negatives. Once you reach a favorable score that each stakeholder acknowledges, list the action plan to execute the proposed change. If you can’t bring the positive score up, you can decide to scrap the transition.

 

The final visual worksheet looks like this.

 

How to conduct force field analysis

Download this template

 

Applications of force field analysis

 

A force field applies to any business scenario where a crucial decision needs to be made. More prominently, it is applicable when you have to define and analyze the balance of power within your organization. An even more practical aspect comes when you have to tag the roles of stakeholders in decision-making for any kind of project.

 

It also serves as the signal for incorporating or discarding a force of change. Another key prospect is that it helps get you a snapshot of organizational sentiment against a proposed activity or transition. 

 

Advantages of force field analysis

A force field analysis is a fruitful team-building exercise that sheds light on the roles and responsibilities of individuals within the organization. It also helps align differing viewpoints and informs the stakeholders about their impact on various projects. Since the visual mapping is a single-page or single-slide document, it helps business owners understand roadblocks quickly and address them on priority.

 

It also helps your teammates go beyond the quantitative aspect of the collected data, enabling them to look at critical junctures objectively and qualitatively.  

 

Disadvantages of force field analysis

With the all-hands-on-deck approach, a force field analysis may not be practical when full participation is hampered due to any reason. This also means that an all-encompassing test-and-learn may not be possible amid any dependency. In addition, due to the highly subjective perspectives of the team, the support or opposition may cause a professional divide in the long run.

 

Also, the authenticity of the decision will be subject to the qualification and caliber of the team rather than the data they produce.  Furthermore, since the overall approach is based on assumptions regarding the collected information, the evaluation could be misconstrued as objective.  

 

Some PPT templates to help you with force field visualization

 

Suppose you have found Lewin’s tool for change management to be an exciting addition to your arsenal. In that case, you must incorporate visual models of the same within your organization. Owing to the flexibility and applications of force field analysis, you can tweak these models as per the industry you are working in.

 

But how will you get started?

 

Worry not! You won’t have to fidget with MS-Word or, god forbid, MS-Excel to create your own force field assessment worksheet.

Here’s a quick catalog of handy PowerPoint presentation slides that will help your team organize information and arrive at lucrative decisions quickly. These templates are entirely editable, so feel free to personalize the graphics and text according to your unique requirements.

 

So scroll below and download the PPT formats you would like to use in your next decisive meeting.    

  

Template 1

We start from the basics with this simple PPT template for force field analysis. This no-flab design is perfect for getting your thoughts onto the table quickly. So choose this template and glide your way to better decision-making.

 

Sequential Text Boxes For Force Field Analysis Flat Powerpoint Design

 

Download this template

 

Template 2

Here’s a modern design to assist you in practicing force field analysis without any lag. Make this concise and digestible layout a part of your stakeholder meetings to conduct highly productive sessions. The best part is that it comes with a unique rating scale and arrow design to make your job easier.

 

Force Field Analysis On Scale Of Force Measurement

 

Grab this template

 

Template 3

Need to keep pointers in mind while segregating the driving and restraining forces? Here’s an actionable template with a stunning design. Just populate the text placeholders with your own content and disseminate knowledge on any tricky topic within minutes.

 

Force Field Presentation Images

 

Download this template

 

Template 4

Encapsulate the essence of organizational development with this handy PPT design. You can incorporate this slide into any of your presentations and deliver a full-fledged overview regarding any tough decision. This PPT template will help you transition smoothly.

 

Force Field Ppt Samples Download

 

Grab this template

 

Template 5

You can apply the following slide template to any business use case. With a unique design featuring befitting clipart, this slide is guaranteed to turn some naysayers into go-getters. Just click below and select this template for a productive brainstorming session.  

 

Force Field Showing Restraining And Driving Force

 

Download this template

 

Template 6

Here’s an illustrative template to help you arrive at favorable decisions more quickly. This PPT design is the perfect choice for change management meetings with a modern illustration depicting contributing and opposing forces. When you want concrete steps to be taken, this template will set the wheels in motion.

 

Force Field Ppt Slide Examples

 

Grab this template

 

Template 7

Use this slide to juxtapose positive and negative factors for convenient analysis. You can use this PPT design to stimulate your teams into a thinking-and-doing mode rather than a think-only mode. When you want to impress your seniors with your analytical approaches, this PowerPoint template is the one you must have in your arsenal.  

 

 

Download this template

 

Template 8

This template is for those occasions where the room may not be familiar with the origins of the force field analysis. So use it to describe how Lewin’s model fits well with your business objectives. The template has ample space to accommodate any and every idea your team churns out. So click below and gain instant access to this design.

 

 

Grab this template

 

Template 9

This template is the perfect combination of precision with expression. A noticeable deviation from the horizontal pattern of a force field analysis model, this template portrays it with a graphical layout with forces according to the axes. Feel free to add your own rating scale to the axes as well.

 

Force Field Diagram Powerpoint Presentation

 

Download this template

 

Template 10

Here’s another template to bifurcate the supporting and opposing forces concerning organizational initiatives. Replete with color-coded graphics, this template can accommodate valuable data, empowering your team to implement the proposed change and benefit the organization. Select this flexible template in a few clicks and apply it for favorable results.

 

 

Grab this template

 

Conclusion

 

Force field analysis is an agent of constructive change in your organization and helps improve your process quality down to the last cog. Since any business strategy is the cumulative impact of the decisions made from time to time, corporate head honchos can utilize such analytical tools and reap the rewards of team efforts.

 

Equilibriums have to be upset to present visible changes in a company. That is the part and marker of a dynamic organization. So when you need to strike the necessary imbalance between enablers and disablers at a crossroad, force field analysis will be the ultimate weapon of choice. And SlideTeam’s PowerPoint visuals and templates will be a great addition to your artillery.

 

So go ahead. Play around with force field analysis and find out where your pros and cons lie. Visualize. Test. Learn. Grow. Repeat.