Which term refers to the analysis of the difference between actual and desired performance?

The term that refers to the analysis of the difference between actual and desired performance is gap analysis. This process is critical in various business contexts as it helps organizations identify discrepancies between their current performance and their goals or objectives. By highlighting the gaps, organizations can develop strategies to bridge them and enhance performance.

Gap analysis typically involves evaluating current operations, outcomes, or metrics against established standards or desired outcomes. This method allows businesses to pinpoint areas that require improvement, prioritize action steps, and allocate resources effectively to achieve their objectives.

In contrast, performance appraisal focuses on evaluating an individual's job performance, benchmarking involves comparing performance metrics to industry standards, and SWOT analysis assesses strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats. Each of these methods serves a different purpose but does not specifically target the identification of performance gaps as gap analysis does.