In gap analysis, what is the desired outcome?

In gap analysis, the primary goal is to identify areas for improvement within an organization. This involves assessing the current state of processes, systems, or performance and comparing it to a desired future state. By pinpointing the discrepancies—commonly referred to as "gaps"—between the two states, businesses can develop targeted strategies and actions to bridge those gaps effectively.

While increasing employee productivity, ensuring regulatory compliance, and improving customer service metrics are valuable objectives for organizations, they are not the main focus of gap analysis itself. Instead, these objectives could be outcomes that result from successfully conducting a gap analysis and implementing the changes needed to address the identified gaps. The essence of gap analysis lies in its diagnostic nature, enabling organizations to understand where they currently stand and what enhancements are necessary to meet their goals.