Teaching guide: Lewin's force field analysis

Highlights that at any moment there are forces for and against change. The model identifies how change may be brought about.

Model/theory

Key points

Highlights that at any moment there are forces for and against change. Change may be brought about if the forces for change increase (eg due to more competitors, worsening results, more customer complaints) or less restraining forces (eg funds become less of an issue, employees understand the need for change more).

When you can use this

When discussing the issues involved in bringing about change eg introducing a new strategy you might want to consider:

• how the pressure for change might increase (eg worsening financial results, more complaints or more competition)
• how to reduce the forces resisting change (eg through more incentives to change or providing more finance).

Where it's been used

• Q3.2, A-level paper 2, 2018

• Q12, A-level paper 1, 2017