What does performing a gap analysis involve in report design?

Performing a gap analysis in report design is centered on identifying the differences between the expected or desired report outcomes and the actual data that is available for use. This process involves carefully examining what information is needed to meet business objectives or stakeholder requirements and assessing whether the existing data set is sufficient to provide those insights.

By comparing desired outcomes with available data, one can pinpoint discrepancies and areas for improvement. This helps in defining data requirements more clearly and ensuring that the necessary data sources are leveraged or developed to fulfill reporting needs. This step ultimately guides the design process to align better with organizational goals and enhances decision-making by ensuring reports are relevant and comprehensive.

The other options hint at aspects of report design but do not capture the essence of what a gap analysis seeks to achieve. Eliminating unnecessary data can be a part of refining reports, determining export options is more about technical specifications rather than the content, and collecting data from different departments focuses on data acquisition rather than the comparative assessment that gap analysis entails.