Final answer:
The purpose of the performance audit and GAP analysis stage of strategic planning is to identify areas of improvement and align current performance with desired goals. This stage involves assessing the organization's current performance against its objectives and identifying any gaps or areas of improvement that need to be addressed.
Step-by-step explanation:
The purpose of the performance audit and GAP analysis stage of strategic planning is to identify areas of improvement and align current performance with desired goals. This stage involves assessing the organization's current performance against its objectives and identifying any gaps or areas of improvement that need to be addressed.
By conducting a performance audit, organizations can identify strengths and weaknesses in their operations, processes, and strategies. The GAP analysis then allows them to determine the steps needed to bridge the gap between the current performance and the desired goals. This stage helps organizations make informed decisions and develop strategies that will drive them towards achieving their desired outcomes.
For example, a performance audit may reveal that a company's sales department is not meeting its targets. The GAP analysis would then help identify the reasons for this performance gap, such as a weak sales strategy or inadequate training. Based on this analysis, the company can develop strategies to improve the performance of the sales department and align it with the overall organizational goals.