Gap Analysis

Gap Analysis was designed by Igor Ansoff. Gap Analysis consists of the following steps:

• Description of the current state
• Setting objectives (description of the target state)
• Determining the difference (gaps) between the current and target state
• Proposal of options to achieve the target state (an alternative strategy)
• Evaluation of options and selection of the most suitable one
• If necessary, the entire process is repeated until the target state is solved

Note: In cognitive psychology, a similar problem (problem solving) have been dealt in the 70’s of the 20th century by Allen Newell and Herbert A. Simon under the name means-end analysis.

Use of Gap Analysis in practice: This analytical technique is one of the decision making and problem solving methods. It is a simple methodology that is useful in situations where some strategies or changes are planned.