Why I Don’t See the Value in Traditional ISO Gap Analyses

As an ISO consultant, I frequently encounter businesses that believe a gap analysis is essential before starting an ISO project. But in my experience, traditional gap analyses often provide little real value, and sometimes, they even distract from what really matters.

Gap Analyses: Who Are They Really For?

Most businesses operate with one goal in mind: making money. ISO compliance is important, but it isn’t the driver of daily decisions. Companies already manage operations, satisfy customers, and solve problems every day. The so-called “gaps” in ISO documentation often reflect processes that already exist, they just aren’t formalised on paper.

Traditional gap analyses tend to be a consultant-focused exercise. You ask a long list of questions, generate a report, and mark off where the business doesn’t meet the standard. But this approach doesn’t help the business improve in real time. It can feel bureaucratic and disconnected from the reality of running operations.

A logical Approach to Implementing an 'ISO' Management System

Instead of performing a bulk gap analysis, I work with businesses to:

• Observe what they actually do and how their processes function.

• Ask targeted questions that uncover where ISO requirements intersect with real operations.

• Provide immediate, actionable guidance to fill gaps or improve processes.

 For example:

• Interested parties? Most businesses already know who affects their operations.

• Internal audits? Companies already perform audits; we just help align them with ISO requirements.

• Management reviews? Businesses review performance regularly, we help capture what’s needed for ISO without creating unnecessary work.

By addressing gaps in real time, businesses can implement meaningful improvements immediately, instead of waiting for a report that may never be read.

The Bottom Line

Conforming to (voluntary) ISO standards shouldn’t be about ticking boxes, it’s about embedding improvement into what you already do. Real-time guidance, tailored to your business, provides far more value than a traditional gap analysis ever could.

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