Which of the following describes a gap analysis?

Gap analysis is a method used to assess the difference between the current state and the desired future state within an organization. It specifically focuses on identifying gaps in performance, processes, systems, or metrics. The correct answer captures this essence by emphasizing the evaluation of standard report outputs against existing data. This allows organizations to pinpoint discrepancies and determine areas that require improvement to achieve strategic goals.

Analyzing standard report outputs helps in recognizing whether the reporting is aligned with organizational objectives and provides insights into current performance metrics. By comparing these outputs against existing data, businesses can effectively identify weaknesses or areas lacking efficiency, which is a crucial step in the gap analysis process. This leads to targeted improvements and better alignment with business goals.

The other options do not represent gap analysis accurately. While a comparison of past and future performance might offer some insights, it doesn't specifically focus on evaluating current data outputs against standards. Creating a new data set from scratch diverges from the concept of gap analysis, as it does not involve assessing existing performance. Reporting employee attendance does not relate to the comprehensive evaluation of performance or processes inherent in gap analysis.