🦾 Standard opearting procedure

A set of instructions made by an organisation to help workers carry out tasks.

It's a document that provides clear-cut out directions and instructions as to how teams and members within an organisation must go about completing certain processes.

The difference between a SOP and a procedural document is process documentation is included. This provides a high level overview of the process in question.

Formats

- Step by Step – Sufficient to create a simple numbered or bulleted list of steps
- Hierarchical – Has subsets: 1a 1b 1c...
└── It provides extra detail Suitable when more instructions are needed
- Flow chart

Step-by-Step

- May be sufficient to create a simple numbered or bulleted list of steps
- This format should only be used when the process is straightforward, including:
├── Setup instructions
└── Digital login sequences

Hierarchical

- Provides additional details within each step
- Whereas step by step lists as 1 2 3, hierarchical lists as 1a 1b 2a 2b...
- This is used when more information is needed

Flow chart

- Flowcharts are best used to illustrate SOPs when multiple outcomes are possible at certain points throughout the process.

Importance

- Ensures adherence to best practices
├── It ensures the team is always acting in the best interest of the organisation
├── It improves the changes of experiencing a positive outcome in a given situation
└── It minimses the chances of encountering obstacles throughout the process
- Ensures consistency
└── Enables your organisation to work the same way, no matter who is doing the task
├── Enables proper onboarding and training
├── Will make employee onboarding easier
└── Improves how you train staff members
- Maintains organisational knowledge

Includes

SOP's include:
- Checklists
- Tutorials
- Process maps, diagrams or flowcharts
- Photos, screenshots, or illustrations
- Videos
- Policies