gap-analysis

Overview

Based on the BABOK Guide v3 (IIBA) - Strategy Analysis knowledge area, which defines gap analysis as the comparison between current state and desired future state to identify changes needed. Also draws on Mastering the Requirements Process by Suzanne & James Robertson for the Brown Cow Model - a 2x2 matrix (What/How x Now/Future) that prevents teams from jumping to solutions before understanding the problem space. The key insight: gap analysis must cover all four quadrants of the Brown Cow Model. Teams that skip "What-Now" (current business requirements) and jump straight to "How-Future" (new system design) build the wrong thing.

Workflow

Step 1: Define the desired future state

Document what success looks like using measurable targets:

FUTURE STATE OBJECTIVE: [what capability or performance level is needed]
BUSINESS DRIVER: [why this change is needed now]
SUCCESS METRIC: [how we will know we've arrived]
TARGET DATE: [when this must be achieved]