Action planning through force field analysis

Abstract

An individual, group or organisation can often feel blocked (ie prevented from effective action) by apparently immovable forces which are obstructing the way forward towards a desired goal. According to Kurt Lewin's force field theory, the assumed blockage is not so much a static, immovable object but rather a state of dynamic tension which has arisen between whole sets of countervailing forces, some of which (the helping forces) are tending to assist progress whilst others (the hindering forces) are tending to oppose it. The fact that these forces are at any point in time exactly equal and opposite to each other produces the apparently static state, and the consequent feelings of being blocked.

Citation

Page, D. (1977), "Action planning through force field analysis", Education + Training, Vol. 19 No. 10, pp. 298-300. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb016527