Gap Analysis Matrix

The Gap Analysis Matrix is a convenient tool for analyzing model artifacts to identify potential gaps between solution architectures.

The idea is to highlight a shortfall between the Baseline Architecture and the Target Architecture; that is, items that have been deliberately omitted, accidentally left out, or not yet defined. You can then model the gaps in the repository, which can later be addressed and assigned as tasks; the identified gaps can also be used to prioritize activities.

On the Gap Analysis Matrix, you select the:

Target Architecture Package
Baseline Architecture Package
Type of Target Architecture artifact
Type of Baseline Architecture artifact
Type of element to model the gap

Access

Ribbon

Design > Impact > Gap Analysis

Operations

Once you open the Gap Analysis Matrix, you can:

Create, update and delete Gap Matrix Profiles to monitor development of the Baseline and Target Packages
Edit Gap notes during a discussion session for Gap analysis
Create elements to address gaps
Add links to existing elements to address gaps
Remove links to existing elements modeled as gaps

Operation	Description	See also
Select Package	Click on the button at the end of the 'Target Architecture' or 'Baseline Architecture' field. The 'Browse Project' dialog displays. Select the required Package and click on the OK button; by default all the elements under the Package are displayed.
Set Element Type	Click on the drop-down arrow in the 'Filter' field for the Target Architecture Package, and/or for the Baseline Architecture. Find the required element type in the list and click on it; Enterprise Architect refreshes the matrix content.
Set Gap Type	Click on the drop-down arrow in the 'Record Gap As' field. Find the required element type in the list and click on it. When you create a gap, the specified type of element is created; for example, if you want to address the gap with an issue element then select 'Issue' for this field.
Baseline Architecture	The Baseline Architecture artifacts are listed along the rows of the matrix. The last row is for capturing the new elements in the target architecture along the columns but not in the baseline architecture, hence the name New.
Target Architecture	The Target Architecture artifacts are listed along the columns of the matrix. The last column is for capturing the missing or intentionally eliminated elements in the baseline architecture along the rows but not in the target architecture; hence the name Missing / Eliminated.
Modeling Gap	Right-click on a cell in the 'New' row or 'Missing / Eliminated' column. The context menu displays options to: 'Create a Gap element' 'Add a link to an existing Gap element' If a link to Gap element already exists in the cell, these options are displayed: 'Edit Gap element' 'Find in Project Browser...' 'Remove Gap element link'
Create Gap	Right-click on the cell and select the 'Create Gap Element' option. The 'Browse Project' dialog displays. Select the Package in which to create the Gap element and click on the OK button; a Gap element is created in the selected Package and its 'Properties' dialog displays to enable you to enter the element name and other required properties.
Link to Existing Gap	If you intend to use a Gap element that is already available in the model, right-click on the appropriate cell in the 'Missing / Eliminated' column or 'New' row and select the 'Link to Existing Gap Element' option. The 'Select Classifier' dialog displays, enabling you to select the existing Gap element.
Remove Link to Gap	If you intend to remove a link to the Gap element in a cell, right-click on the appropriate cell in the 'Missing / Eliminated' column or 'New' row and select the 'Remove Link to Gap Element' option. The link is removed from the cell but the element still exists in the Project Browser.
Review Gap Element	Right-click on the appropriate cell in the 'Missing / Eliminated' column or 'New' row and select the 'Edit Gap Element' option. The 'Properties' dialog displays, enabling you to edit the selected Gap element. To locate the element in the Project Browser select the 'Find in Project Browser...' context menu option, which highlights the element in the Project Browser.
Gap Analysis Matrix Profiles	On the Gap Analysis Matrix, you can create and manage profiles to save commonly-used combinations of Target Architectures, Baseline Architectures and stereotypes. To work on Gap Analysis Matrix profiles, click on the Options button in the top right corner of the matrix; a submenu displays, listing options to: Create / Save the current matrix settings and content Update the currently selected profile in the 'Profile' field Delete the currently selected profile in the 'Profile' field
Open a saved Profile	The 'Profile' field drop-down list shows all the saved Gap Analysis Matrix profiles. Click on the drop-down arrow in the 'Profile' field, find the required Profile in the list and click on it to load the content of the selected profile in the matrix.

Notes

The Gap Analysis Matrix is available in the Corporate, Business and Software Engineering, System Engineering and Ultimate editions of Enterprise Architect
You can transport your Gap Analysis Matrix profiles between projects, using the 'Configure > Model > Transfer > Export Reference Data' and 'Import Reference Data' ribbon options

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