A gap is a problem, issue, or challenge, and could be an opportunity for improvement. Gap analysis involves evaluating the difference between two things. It is mainly used to compare two different states of something, the current state and the future state. A gap analysis process helps organizations determine how to achieve their business objectives.
It compares the current state with an ideal state, which highlights deficiencies and opportunities for improvement.
The Flawless Execution toolkit can be an invaluable asset to any continuous improvement initiative.
These gaps are (poor alignment with the organization's strategy), (overuse), (difficulty in changing culture) and (absence of an execution process). Continuous improvement tools, such as Six Sigma and Lean, have significantly contributed to the success of many modern companies. The first step in performing a gap analysis is to establish specific objectives by analyzing the company's mission statement, strategic business goals, and improvement objectives.This plan outlines a gradual process to bridge the gap between your current and future states and achieve your objectives. SWOT, which stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, is a gap analysis strategy used to identify the internal and external factors that drive the effectiveness and success of a product, project or person. Perhaps the most dynamic of the models, the Nadler-Tushman model, examines how each business process affects another and identifies which gaps affect efficiency. Tushman, examines how business processes work together and how gaps affect the operational efficiency of the organization as a whole.
Gap analysis is a method for evaluating the performance of a business unit to determine if business requirements or objectives are met and, if not, what steps should be taken to meet them. Read on about managing organizational change, or use the tools described below to help you through this gap analysis process. This column must first identify if there really is a gap between the current state and the future of a company. In information technology, project managers and process improvement teams often use gap analysis reports as a starting point for an action plan aimed at producing operational improvement.
Rather than fumbling around in the dark, a gap analysis allows you to analyze in detail where your organization currently is and where it wants to be, so that you can act on the basis of facts, not assumptions, to achieve its potential. To understand this information and visualize your current state, use a gap analysis tool: a customer journey map, an empathy map, a service plan or a process flow. A useful tool for gap analysis would be a decision tree, since it calculates costs and benefits based on conditional probability. There are a variety of gap analysis tools and methodologies in the market, and the particular tool a company uses depends on its objective objectives.
