Gaps and assumptions identified in the evaluate analysis phase should be highlighted as limitations to and change agents for the analytic assessment.

• A. Gaps and assumptions
• B. Data sources
• C. Conclusions
• D. Stakeholder concerns

Answer: (A)

In the analyze process, you want to surface what isn’t known or certain and what assumptions underlie the analysis. Gaps are the missing information or unresolved questions, while assumptions are the conditions you’re taking for granted in your reasoning. Highlighting these during the evaluation of the analytic product makes clear the limitations of the assessment—where conclusions may be less certain or contingent on information that isn’t yet available. At the same time, it points to how the analysis should evolve: it flags areas where additional data gathering, new methods, or revised interpretations could strengthen the assessment. By calling out gaps and assumptions, you help decision-makers understand where caution is warranted and guide future analytic improvements.

Data sources, though important, refer to where information comes from rather than indicating the analysis’s limitations or the changes needed to improve it. Conclusions are the outcomes of the analysis, not the factors that signal its constraints or directions for refinement. Stakeholder concerns relate to how the analysis is received or used, not to the internal limitations and change prompts identified during evaluation.