Queensland Government Enterprise Architecture

Gap analysisDigital and ICT strategic planning framework

Final

October 2018

v1.0.0

OFFICIAL - Public

QGEA OFFICIAL – Public Gap analysis

Document details

Security classification OFFICIAL - Public

Date of review of security classification

October 2018

Authority Queensland Government Chief Information Officer

Author Queensland Government Chief Information Office

Documentation status Working draft Consultation release Final version

Contact for enquiries and proposed changesAll enquiries regarding this document should be directed in the first instance to:

Queensland Government Chief Information Officeqgcio@qgcio.qld.gov.au

AcknowledgementsThis version of the Digital and ICT strategic planning framework was developed and updated by Queensland Government Chief Information Office.

Feedback was also received from a number of agencies, which was greatly appreciated.

CopyrightDigital and ICT strategic planning framework

© The State of Queensland (Queensland Government Chief Information Office) 2018

Licence

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International licence. To view the terms of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/. For permissions beyond the scope of this licence, contact qgcio@qgcio.qld.gov.au.

To attribute this material, cite the Queensland Government Chief Information Office.

The licence does not apply to any branding or images.

Information securityThis document has been security classified using the Queensland Government Information Security Classification Framework (QGISCF) as OFFICAL - Public and will be managed according to the requirements of the QGISCF.

Final | v1.0.0 | October 2018 Page OFFICIAL – Public

QGEA OFFICIAL – Public Gap analysis

PurposeThis guideline describes, at a general level, the activities required to conduct an architecture gap analysis. Any activity that involves comparing the present state of the business with a conceptual and desired future state, with the objective of ‘closing the gap’ can be considered a gap analysis. Gap analysis can also be a technique used to assess the extent to which an agency can meet its needs using its present capabilities. The capabilities include but are not limited to lines of business services, processes, staff and workforce competencies, facilities, information, applications and underpinning ICT infrastructure.

Other frameworks such as The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF), provide greater detail on how to develop a gap analysis. Agencies may also have their own enterprise architecture framework.

AudienceA practitioner in the context of this guideline can include one or more of the following roles:

Enterprise architects Digital or ICT strategic planners Information managers.

Gap analysisThe development of the gap analysis should be led by an enterprise architect operating as part of an integrated planning team. By defining and analysing gaps, a planning team can create a roadmap to move the business forward and fill the potential gaps.

Final | v1.0.0 | October 2018 Page OFFICIAL – Public

A gap analysis will ensure that the proposed architecture is complete and highlight the areas of business, information, application or technology capability required that need to be included on associated roadmaps and implementation plans.

A link to The Open Group Architecture Framework is provided in the Resources section of this guideline.

QGEA OFFICIAL – Public Gap analysis

Completing a gap analysis requires information from two sources including:

1. Accurate definition of the required future change. This information is available in the digital vision or ICT strategy or plan as well as the target state architecture.

2. Identifying the current scenario and associated capability. To reach ‘where the agency wants to be’, it is necessary to assess the current capability. This information can be derived from the current state analysis.

Once the current and future expectations are known, the gaps can be identified as well as actions for closing the identified gaps. The gaps may arise from many areas and can include but are not limited to:

workforce gaps (e.g. skills and capability gaps, training requirements, recruitment or sourcing of new skills)

process and service gaps (e.g. process inefficiencies or new or improved services) information gaps:

- information not of sufficient currency

- information not located or available where it is needed

- information not available when needed or not the right information

- information not yet created

- information not yet consumed

- information and data relationship gaps. application gaps including applications that are impacted, eliminated or are new technology gaps including technologies that are impacted, eliminated or are new measurement gaps financial gaps facilities gaps (buildings, office accommodation, etc.).

The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF) recommends a process of including the elements or domains of the current state architecture on the vertical axis of a matrix and elements or domains of the target state architecture on the horizontal axis of the same matrix. Capability matches, enhancements, new capability and exclusions can be documented as part of the matrix, forming the basis of action plans and roadmaps.

Final | v1.0.0 | October 2018 Page OFFICIAL – Public

Refer to the following guidelines for more information.Discover: Agency services and processesDiscover: Information, applications and technologiesStrategy: Digital or ICT strategyStrategy: Target state architecture

QGEA OFFICIAL – Public Gap analysis

Another method of representing the gap analysis is to use the target state architecture and highlight or shade the domains that represent enhancements or new capability. These methods can be applied at the information, application and technology layers of an architecture.

Next stepsOnce the Current state architecture, Target state architecture, and gap analysis have been conducted roadmaps can be developed that demonstrate the sequencing and priority of activities over the focus areas or planning horizons of the digital or ICT strategy or plan.

Resources

Resource Link

The Open Group Architecture Framework

Link - The Open Group Architecture Framework (TOGAF)

Gap analysis Link - TOGAF gap analysis

Final | v1.0.0 | October 2018 Page OFFICIAL – Public

A link the The Open Group Architecture Framework method for conducting a gapa analysis is provided in the Resources section of this guideline.

Samples of gap analysis are provided in the Resources section of this guideline.