---
name: okhp3/okhp3-process-gap-analysis
source: https://app.decimal.ai/s/okhp3-okhp3-process-gap-analysis@1/SKILL.md
source_sha256: 2d5ea0ec4482
---

# okhp3-process-gap-analysis

**OverKill Hill P³** · [overkillhill.com](https://overkillhill.com) · [github.com/OKHP3](https://github.com/OKHP3)

## Purpose

Systematically identify gaps, deviations, and exception paths in a captured as-is process. The analysis distinguishes:

1. **Structural gaps** — missing steps, undefined roles, absent inputs or outputs
2. **Execution gaps** — steps performed inconsistently or only by specific individuals
3. **Exception gaps** — failure paths with no documented handling
4. **Compliance gaps** — steps missing required controls or policy references

---

## When to use this skill

- You have an `as-is-process.yaml` and want to identify improvement opportunities
- User asks where the current process fails, slows down, or creates risk
- Preparing the input for `future-state-and-change-strategy`
- User needs a root cause analysis of a known process failure

## When NOT to use this skill

- No as-is capture exists — run `as-is-process-capture` first
- User wants to design the future state immediately — note the gap analysis is needed first, then run `future-state-and-change-strategy`
- Do not propose solutions here — record gaps only; solutions belong in the future-state skill

---

## Gap Analysis Framework

`scripts/analyze-gaps.mjs` analyses the as-is process for the following gap types:

### Type 1 — Structural gaps

| Pattern | Gap description |
|---|---|
| Step with no `actor_role_id` | Unowned activity |
| No start event or end event | Missing process boundary |
| Input with no `source` | Untraced input |
| Output with no `consumer` | Undelivered output |
| `business_rules` empty | Undocumented constraints |

### Type 2 — Execution gaps

| Pattern | Gap description |
|---|---|
| `capture_quality: low` on step | Poorly understood activity |
| Step with `notes` containing "usually" or "sometimes" | Inconsistent execution |
| Single person as sole performer across >50% of steps | Key-person dependency |

### Type 3 — Exception gaps

| Pattern | Gap description |
|---|---|
| Decision point with no exception path | Unhandled failure branch |
| Exception in PIR with no `handling` | Undefined recovery procedure |
| Exception path with `owner_role_id` empty | Unowned error handling |

### Type 4 — Compliance gaps

| Pattern | Gap description |
|---|---|
| `controls` empty on process | No governance controls |
| Approval step with no `approver` role | Missing segregation of duties |
| High-risk exception with no escalation path | Escalation path undefined |

---

## Severity Classification

| Severity | Description |
|---|---|
| `critical` | Process cannot complete without this being resolved |
| `major` | Significant risk of nonconformity or failure |
| `minor` | Inconsistency or improvement opportunity |
| `observation` | Informational — no immediate action required |

---

## Exception Catalog

For each exception found, record:
- `exception_id` — stable identifier
- `description` — what goes wrong
- `trigger_condition` — what causes this exception
- `affected_steps[]` — which `act-NNN` IDs are affected
- `current_handling` — what the process does today (if anything)
- `severity` — critical | major | minor | observation
- `recommended_action` — brief description (not a full solution)

---

## Handoff Instruction

Pass `gap-analysis.yaml` and `exception-catalog.yaml` to `future-state-and-change-strategy` to prioritise gaps and design the target state.

Also use `exception-catalog.yaml` to enrich `exception_paths[]` in `process-narrative-authoring`.

---

## References

Load on demand:
- `references/gap-analysis-framework.md` — gap type taxonomy, severity classification, and root cause analysis templates

## Scripts

- `scripts/analyze-gaps.mjs` — detects structural, execution, exception, and compliance gaps from as-is-process.yaml

## Assets

- `assets/fixtures/gap-analysis-example.yaml` — canonical gap analysis for purchase-approval as-is process

## About

Built by [Jamie Hill](https://overkillhill.com) · [OverKill Hill P³](https://overkillhill.com)
Published at [github.com/OKHP3](https://github.com/OKHP3)
Part of the [OKHP3/skillz](https://github.com/OKHP3/skillz) Agent Skill library.
MIT License -- free to use, fork, and adapt. A nod to the source is appreciated.