Define "force-field analysis," and delineate the steps involved in it

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Lewin argued that participation and communication are keys to change. The force-field analysis technique is based on the notion that when forces pushing or pulling in one direction exceed forces pushing or pulling in the opposite one, the body will move in the direction of the greater forces. In planned change, we are dealing with social forces rather than physical ones. Such a change as transitioning to COPPS and thus transforming the culture of the police agency will involve one of three options: (1) increasing forces in support of change; (2) decreasing forces against change; or (3) doing both in some combination. There is always resistance to change, and the change agent must anticipate and overcome it. Force field analysis is a valuable tool for doing this. Three steps are involved in conducting a force field analysis:

1 . Identifying driving forces (those supporting change) and restraining forces (those resisting
change)
2 . Analyzing the forces identified in step 1
Assess (for each):
• Amenability to change (how likely is it that this force can be changed?)
• Potency (how much impact would reducing this source of resistance have on moving the intervention forward?)
• Consistency (does this force remain stable or change over time?)
3 . Identifying alternative strategies for changing each force identified in step 1 . Focus on reducing sources of resistance