IstAnalyse

IstAnalyse, also called Ist-Stand-Analyse, is a method used in business analysis and process management to document and evaluate the current state of a process, system, or organization. It provides a factual baseline of how work is actually performed, including tasks, data flows, decision points, roles, technologies, and informal practices that may not be reflected in official procedures.

Typical steps include scoping the area, gathering data through interviews, workshops, observations, and document review, and creating a current-state model such as process maps or value-stream maps. Quantitative measures may be collected, such as cycle time, lead time, throughput, error rates, and bottlenecks. Qualitative aspects, like user experience and compliance issues, are also recorded.

Outcomes include a documented current-state model, a list of pain points, risks, redundancies, and opportunities for improvement, and a basis for prioritizing change efforts. Ist-Analyses are commonly used at the start of process improvement projects, ERP or CRM implementations, or requirements elicitation for IT initiatives.

Relation to Soll-Analyses: the Ist-Analyse is typically compared with the desired future state (Soll) to identify gaps and define change initiatives. Limitations include reliance on available data, potential bias in interviews, and a snapshot in time that may change.

Terminology varies by organization; in German-speaking contexts Ist-Analyse can also be referred to as Ist-Stand-Analyse.