Quick Tips for Team Leaders
SERIES ARTICLE
By Jeff Oltmann
Oregon, USA
Quick Tip – Gap Analysis
Gap analysis is a steering technique. It is like reading a map to determine where you are, where you want to be, and routes to get there. Gap analysis determines the current state, the desired state, and steps to get from one to the other. Applied periodically, it is a useful way to ensure forward progress through the fuzzy front end of a new initiative or project.
When to Use
- You want to start a team off in the right direction.
- You want to align objectives among the team.
- You need to verify that you are still on track.
Procedure
Gap analysis can be an individual or a team activity, depending on who is doing the steering and who you want aligned. If done as a team, gap analysis tends to build alignment and commitment to a shared direction and approach.
Identify and write down the desired state. These are the essential attributes of where you want to be. Depending on what you are steering, the attributes could be project deliverables, product features, or operation parameters. This list of desired attributes should be short and SMART (specific, measurable, assignable, realistic, and time-bound).
Write down the current state of each of the attributes identified in the desired state. The descriptions of current and desired states should describe the situation, not causes or solutions. For example, a desired attribute could be “The charter for the project is ready for review by June 1”, not “Add more developers to get the charter done faster.”
Then for each attribute identify specific actions to get from the current to the desired state, as shown in the example below…
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Editor’s note: This series of “Quick Tips” articles is by Jeff Oltmann, experienced program and technology executive and principal of Synergy Professional Services in Oregon, USA. The Quick Tips offer simple approaches and models for problem analysis, gathering ideas and input from team members, facilitation and taking action. The tips offered in this series were identified or developed over two decades of helping program, project and team leaders get things done in faster, more agile ways. Learn more about Jeff Oltmann in his author profile at the end of this article.
How to cite this paper: Oltmann, J. (2022). Gap Analysis and Cause & Effect Analysis, Quick Tips for Team Leaders, series, PM World Journal, Vol. XI, Issue VI, June. Available online at https://pmworldlibrary.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/pmwj118-Jun2022-Oltmann-quicktips-gap-cause-and-effect-analysis-series-article-1.pdf
About the Author
Jeff Oltmann
Oregon, USA
Jeff Oltmann is a seasoned leader with over 30 years of experience advising clients, managing successful technology programs, and developing new products. His specialties include strategy deployment, operational and project excellence, and project portfolio management. As principal consultant at Synergy Professional Services, Jeff advises leaders and teams in diverse sectors including healthcare, research, bioscience, and technology product development.
Jeff is the founder of the Portfolio and Project Leaders Forum. He is also on the graduate faculty of the Division of Management at Oregon Health and Science University and was previously on executive staff at IBM. He teaches portfolio, program, and project management and is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®).
Jeff welcomes your questions and ideas. You can contact him at jeff@spspro.com or read previous articles at www.spspro.com/article-library.
