Gap Analysis

Gap Analysis:

Gap refers the space between where we are and where we have to reach. Same like that, Gap analysis is a technique 
to identify the gap between the actual performance and desired performance of a business unit. 

*Where we are now (Current state).
*Where we need to be (Future state).
*What all are the methods to fill the Gap.

Gap analysis involves indentifying, analyzing, documenting and improving the business capabilities. Mainly it will determine whether the business 
requirements being met, if not, then analyze why it didn't meet and find the solutions to reach the desired future state.


To conduct a gap analysis first we should know the company's strategic goals, vision, mission statement and improvement objectives etc.
To analyze the present state we can use different methods to collect data. We can conduct interviews, by observing, surveys, studies etc.,
and also company's processes and the resource's performance level on these processes.
After the comparison study between present state and the future state it will identify how the gap has formed and the solutions to achieve the target.

It is impossible to jump directly to a conclusion. First we should know the business processes and its current and future state by understand the organization's 
goals to identify the gap. So it will lead to figure out the deficiencies in between what business would like to do and it's doing. Business Analyst often leads 
to identify and analyze these gaps and come up with the steps to fix it and achieve the goal.

Steps:

*Identify Current State.
*Identify Future State.
*Analyze the gap exists between these two states.
*Find the cause for the gap.
*Bring the solutions to the deficiencies.
*Prioritize the needs to bridge the gaps
*Implement the best solutions to resolve the gaps.

Identifying Gaps:
 
It may be the improper use of resources like people, processes or technologies. The resource's lack of knowledge to use proper tool for the business
need may cause gap. May be the system itself was not build properly or outdated for the business need. Analyze the existing system's features versus features that need 
to support the future. Lack of investment for the processes. There are many other factors for the gap like lack of strategic planning. Among these, 
the studies shows that the most common cause for the gap is use of resources and lack of investment.

The good way to start a gap analysis is by conducting a SWOT analysis.

SWOT stands for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats. The result of identifying the weaknesses and threats will lead 
to figure out the existing gaps. And also we can use eliciting techniques like interviews, surveys, review documentation, observation 
and more to identifying and analyzing gaps.

What's next after identifying the gap:
 
This depends on your business and teams how you want present the results. So, first check with the stakeholders for the best way to present the result.
For example like Color coding, use excel file etc. It's always good to document the results of the gap analysis.
Another way to represent gaps in a analysis is visually by drawing a business process model the points where the gaps and deficiencies arise.