Gamestorming methods

Force Field Analysis

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30 - 905 - 30 Medium

The Force Field Analysis game is a time-tested way to evaluate the forces that affect change which can ultimately affect our organizations. Making a deliberate effort to see the system surrounding change can help us steer the change in the direction we want it to move.

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Goal

Evaluate the forces that affect change which can ultimately affect our organizations.

Attachments

Materials

    Instructions

    Preparation

    1. Before the meeting, draw a picture of a potential change in the middle of a large sheet of paper or a whiteboard. You can draw a literal representation (e.g., a manufacturing plant) or a more abstract representation (e.g., a metaphor). Label the picture to ensure that everyone participating will be clear on the topic.
    2. On the top left of the page, write the phrase “Forces FOR Change”. On the top right, write the phrase “Forces AGAINST Change”.
    3. Draw arrows on both sides pointing toward the image in the middle. These will be the areas that contain categories generated by the group, so make the arrows large enough to write 1–2-inch letters inside. If you like the “wow” factor of drawing live with the group but you’re not yet comfortable with freehand, sketch the arrows in pencil or yellow marker and trace them during the meeting.

    Flow

    1. When the group is gathered, introduce the change topic and explain that the goal of the Force Field Analysis game is to evaluate the feasibility of that change.
    2. Ask the players to take 5–10 minutes and quietly generate ideas about what elements are driving the change. Tell them to include one idea per sticky note. Ask the players to take 5–10 minutes and quietly generate ideas about what elements are restraining the change.
    3. Draw a simple scale with a range of 1 to 5 on your main flip chart. Indicate that 1 means the force is weak and 5 means the force is strong. Ask them to review each idea FOR change and add a number to that sticky note, weighing that idea. Ask them to review each idea AGAINST change and add a number to that sticky note, weighing that idea.
    4. Gather all of the sticky notes FOR change and post them to any flat surface viewable by the players.
    5. With the group’s collaboration, sort the ideas based on their affinity for other ideas. For example, if they produced three sticky notes that say “Can’t continue production at current cost”, “Materials cost too high”, and “Overexpenditure on production”, cluster those ideas together. Create multiple clusters until you have clustered the majority of the sticky notes. Place outliers separate from the clusters but still in playing range.
    6. After the sorting activity is complete, begin a group conversation to create an overarching category for each cluster. For example, an overarching category for the cluster from step 5 might be “unsustainable costs”.
    7. As the group makes suggestions and finds agreement on categories, write those categories inside the arrows on the main visual.
    8. As you categorize each cluster, direct the group’s attention to the numeric scores within that cluster. Get an average for each cluster and write that number next to the related category in the arrow.
    9. Repeat steps 3–8 using the sticky notes generated AGAINST change.
    10. Add the quantities for and against change and write the totals at the bottom and on the appropriate side of the sheet.
    11. Summarize the overall findings with the group, including the numeric totals, and discuss the implications of whether a change should occur.

    Background

    This game is based on the Force Field Analysis framework developed by Kurt Lewin.

    Source: Gamestorming

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