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Criterion
Gap Analysis method illustration showing its working structure
Business Strategy
GAP Analysis
Paper illustration for Bottleneck Analysis.
Operations
Bottleneck Analysis
Paper illustration for TOWS Matrix.
Business Strategy
TOWS Matrix
Paper illustration for Constraint Analysis.
Decision Making
Constraint Analysis
Purposedifferent
GAP Analysis compares the current state with a target picture and makes the distance manageable. It becomes useful when, ahead of new initiatives, it must become clear which capabilities, processes, or resources are missing.For a flow that backs up at one point, the method looks for the capacity limit with the greatest leverage. It explains why extra effort elsewhere barely improves throughput.The TOWS Matrix connects internal strengths and weaknesses with external opportunities and threats into action-oriented strategies. It goes a step further than a pure stocktaking.When an initiative stalls, the limit often lies not in the idea but in hard or soft boundary conditions. Constraint Analysis separates these limits and shows which of them can actually be shaped.
Complexitydifferent
MediumMediumMediumLow
Timedifferent
1-3 h1-3 h1-2 h30-90 min
Participantsdifferent
2-83-83-102-8
Formatdifferent
Workshop + asyncWorkshop + asyncWorkshopWorkshop + async
Outputdifferent
Gap Matrix, Action Plan, Risk NotesBottleneck Map, Flow Metrics, Improvement Options, Follow-up MeasuresTOWS Matrix, Strategic Options, Priority ActionsConstraint List, Hard/Soft Classification, Option Impact Notes, Decision Boundaries
Tagsno overlap
StrategyAnalysisPlanning
FlowMeasurementConstraints
StrategyAnalysisOptions
ConstraintsDecisionPlanningOptions
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