The Importance of Fit Gap Analysis

At companies, problems will crop up. It’s inevitable. Frequently, firms have outmoded and/or inefficient ways of working that prevent them from being agile and competitive.

There are three ways of dealing with problems. The first way is to ignore them – if they don’t exist, you don’t have to fix them. A second method is to admit you have a problem, but not finding an effective solution (especially not doing so in a timely manner). The third path is to recognize there’s a problem and then resolve it so that the company can operate at peak efficiency.

While many people are aware that the third approach to problem solving works the best, it can be challenging for them to determine how to go about finding a solution. Read on to learn how a fit gap analysis plays a vital role in achieving a fix for problems that arise within businesses.

Fit Gap Analysis: It’s a Framework

Within a business, time is money. And the longer you spend trying to solve a problem, the more time and money you spend.

Fit gap analysis provides a framework to reduce the time and money expended on problem solving. You follow a series of steps in order to determine the best outcome for your firm. First, you identify the existing process and its existing outcome. Next, you pinpoint what the ideal outcome would be and what process is necessary to achieve it.

Although those last two steps can be quite difficult, having a framework that helps you reach those conclusions makes it easier to decide what the best steps are to solve your problem.

You Can Use Fit Gap Analysis in Multiple Situations

One of the most popular uses of fit gap analysis is to figure out whether a company needs a new software program. Some software programs can help firms run more efficiently.

However, fit gap analysis is quite flexible. It applies to a variety of situations, not just those in which you’re planning on implementing new software. If you think there’s a problem (as well as a better way to do things that’s waiting to be discovered), you should use fit gap analysis to evaluate the situation.

You Can Use Fit Gap Analysis at Any Time

There are some methods of solving problems that are only germane to certain situations. You have to wait until those set of circumstances emerge to use them. That’s not the case with fit gap analysis – it can be used at any time.

The only requirement to use fit gap analysis is that you think there’s a problem that needs solving. You might have come to that conclusion because you’ve got a gut feeling or because data has shown that you’re not achieving a certain outcome. Once those simple criteria have been met, you can start running a fit gap analysis.

Finding a solution to problems is crucial, but it also matters how you come to your conclusion. Fit gap analysis provides a framework which is applicable in many situations and can be used at any time, making it a vital tool in your problem-solving toolkit.