Q 85. 

 

"Kurt Lewin's Force-Field Analysis provides an overview of the balance between forces which drive change in a business and those which resist the change. Driving forces are those seeking change while Resisting (restraining) forces are those seeking to maintain the status quo. The analysis can help us decide whether we must go ahead with the change. Alternatively, we can think of strengthening the drivers and/or weakening the restraining forces. The technique is widely used for informed decision making, particularly in planning and implementing change management programs in organisations. Elaborate the use of the technique with suitable examples."

 

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Force Field Analysis. Example: buying new computers or using old computers for developing a new software application project. 

Driving forces for buying new computers

1. for good speed

2. maximum capacity

3. Features

Restraining Forces to go with existing computers

1. existing speed/features are enough for the new project

2. will increase project cost

 

Force field analysis technique is useful in many ways to make planning and decision making. 

Example: Opening new office of a bank

Possible driving factors are:

1. Good infrastructure & Well equipped

2. Economical

3. Location

4. Availability of transportation and other facilities (electricity, water supply etc.)

5. Large customer footfall/population

 

Possible restraining factors are:

1. Budget

2. Training of staff 

3. Disruption

4. Communicating new address to the existing customers

5. Maintenance

 

 

Example is of inventory management. 

One group is saying in a company to increase the inventory for three days instead of running inventory for one day. Now the point is how will you store the inventory for three days? Another group is against to increase inventory level, they just want to go on with one day inventory only. Now forces which are in favor to increase the inventory level are if any tool breakdown, machine breakdown, quality problem in parts, then customer line can be managed by using inventory and no need to have contingency plan if have sufficient inventory to support the line. 

Tool maintenance will have sufficient time to work in dies, machine maintenance will have sufficient time for preventive maintenance. 

Forces which are against in the decision to increase inventory level like

Who will take care for the increased inventory? 

Extra resources will be needed to increase the inventory level like area, building, manpower, trolleys, lifters, electricity. 

 

So we can see that for any change there are some forces which are against the change and some are far. So by doing brainstorming in a team considering all aspects a team can take a better decision by this technique of Force Field Analysis. 

It is great to see that all responses provided relevant examples. The best answer is that of Vastupal Vashisth as he has included additional explanation and goes beyond just mentioning the driving and restraining forces.