Harnessing the Potential of Fit-Gap Analysis for Organizational Growth

The fit-gap analysis is a simple process including identification of process and outcomes and comparing them to the ideal outcomes and then making the appropriate changes in the systems. Irrespective of being an easy process, fit-gap analysis can be really challenging when you get into it. 

It is important to pay attention to the details of the processes and detect even the slightest of the problems in them. Ignoring them can give the problems room to grow and make even more damage to the working of the organization. 

In this section we will be seeing in short the steps to conduct fit-gap analysis in your organization:

Step 1: Identify the existing process

Look through the work of your organization and point out the main processes that operate on a day-to-day basis. It may be the case that one big process consists of smaller processes handled by different personnel. Sometimes the reason the main function is not working out might be because its sub-process is not being handled in a better way. 

In fit-gap analysis, you need to figure all those processes, big or small, that you need to be evaluated. 

Step 2: Identify the existing outcomes

The next step is to look for the outcomes. Measure what results from the processes are giving and in what manner. Of course, for any organization to be a smoothly working one, it is important that its systems are in place and giving the performance that was provided to them. 

Step 3: Identify the desired outcome

When you started the systems or process in an organization, you have intended an ideal result for it to give. The whole point of fit-gap analysis is to compare the “real” and “ideal” outcomes of the processes in the organization. It measures the performance of a process based on this comparison. 

Step 4: Identify the gap and document the gap

Once you have figured out which of the processes don’t yield the desired outcomes, it goes for a gap analysis. Identify why the process isn’t working and what are the issues with the working. It may be management, administration or even risk neglection going on in the system. 

You need to identify such gaps and document them. These documentations will help you in future if similar problems arise given in any of your processes. 

Step 5: Bridge the gap

Now that you know what the problem is and what is causing it, you can take the required measure to overcome it. You can introduce new software that will help the managing and administration or appoint a new team to handle certain tasks or risk management that was going unnoticed before. 

This process of providing solutions to the gaps is called a bridge to the existing gaps. 

Step 6: Maintenance

After you have built all the bridges to the occurred gaps, your job doesn’t end there. It is important to keep an eye on the causes of the gaps and work towards providing more FIT processes for your organization.