Both GAP analysis and SWOT analysis are used to evaluate businesses, but different aspects of businesses. However, the output from one can be used as input for another and vice verse. This article will give a brief introduction to both techniques, how both connect with each other and give you some guidelines to draw these diagrams. SWOT analysis is frequently used by companies while GAP analysis is not used frequently.
What is GAP Analysis (GAP Analysis Definition)
In a business or a company, GAP analysis compares the actual performance with the potential performance. Sometimes it is referred as need-gap analysis, need analysis or need assessment. A company will determine the factors that define its current state, list down the factors needed to reach its target state and then plan on how to fill the gap between the two states. This is important because it helps to identify if a company is performing to its potential and if not performing, why it is not performing to its potential. This helps to identify flaws in resource allocation, planning, production etc.
Related Reading: 5 Gap Analysis Tools to Identify and Close the Gaps in Your Business
What is SWOT analysis
SWOT stands for strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. It is sometimes referred as SLOT analysis with liabilities coming in place of weaknesses.
- Strengths – Advantages the company has over other competitors
- Weaknesses – Areas that need improvement compared to competitors
- Opportunities – Trends and market gaps to take advantage of
- Threats – External factors that can threaten your business
Identifying these factors and considering all of them together makes it easier to plan your future activities. Creately’s SWOT analysis software makes it easier to visualize them in one single diagram. You can even edit it together with your peers using our real-time collaboration capabilities.
Click on the below image to edit the diagram using our tool. Or you can browse more SWOT templates by clicking on the below link.
GAP Analysis vs SWOT Analysis
SWOT analysis and GAP analysis can be used in different context and they might give a different meaning in those contexts. Below is a breakdown of SWOT analysis vs GAP analysis in the context of a company.
- SWOT analysis evaluates a company against its peers, while GAP analysis is an internal evaluation to identify performance deficiencies.
- SWOT analysis is done for long-term planning while GAP analysis is often done to reach short term goals.
- SWOT analysis is often a comprehensive study evaluating many aspects and many competitors. GAP analysis can be very simple targeted towards fine-tuning one process.
Related Reading: SWOT analysis vs PEST analysis
Visualization and Collaboration in Planning
When coming up with SWOT and GAP anaysis diagrams collaboration and visualization plays an important role. For example in the case of SWOT analysis, you need input from many people so the process should be transparent to everybody. This is where Creately’s real-time collaboration tools play a critical role. You can share the SWOT or GAP diagram with a set of peers and edit it simultaneously. Because of real time collaboration, you can see each other’s changes instantly, making it very easy to correct them. Check out SWOT diagram tools by Creately.