Newton's laws and a dynamic force-field analogy for analyzing organizational changes

Abstract

A dynamic force-field analogy for analyzing organizational change is presented. Instead of just analyzing the driving and restraining forces in the traditional force-field analysis, which is similar to the static analysis in solid mechanics, the forces opposing change can be modeled in terms of viscous or frictional forces that may be encountered. Some analogies between organizational change and the dynamic motion of a body using solid mechanics are presented and discussed. The analogy is then extended to excitation at the resonant state of a mechanical system to examine the optimal or ideal conditions for enforcing organizational change.