Gap Assessments

9/9/10...To begin a strategy, a gap analysis is, in my opinion, paramount. When looking at the culture of a company, the gap analysis will provide insight for the leadership team regarding present state. Sometimes it will not paint a pretty picture. Sometimes it will require brutal honesty and a letting go of pride to admit we may not be where we want to be. Some gap assessments are:

Lean Self Assessment

Quality Management System

Safety (VPP)

Employee Opinion Survey

This is not an all inclusive list, but I think they represent some key ones to consider. One of the takeaways of a gap assessment is establishing a benchmark rating. This can in turn create a rallying point or a focus regarding present state and desired future state. For whatever reason, people seem to rally around getting rated on something or achieving something. Where there is no measurable goal or objective to obtain, then it sometimes leads to floundering or apathy. With that said...I wonder if this also goes back to a focus on a false motivation. Once achieved, the energy level seems to dissipate, thus requiring another avenue to raise energy levels. Deming also warned us against the following:

Setting Arbitrary Goals

Management by Objective (MBO)

Hope for Instant Pudding

Short Termism

Another thread...I write something, it marinates for a while, and then a thought hits me. What would a spiritual gap assessment look like? There are ones out there I am sure. However, it would be very easy to make up one. Some categories might be; Bible study time, Prayer life, Journaling, Spritual Gift outreach, Small Group, Missional, Husband/Wife relationship, Friends, etc. If I put one of these together for myself, how would it look? Then I wonder, does my relationship with God then get replaced with a works based achievement plan? Does it narrow my life to where God cannot open me to bigger things? After all, God does not operate in a box, nor in a gap assessment. Alot of questions, alot of potential danger, alot of potential good.