- What is a procedure manual?
- Objectives of a procedures manual
- Importance of a procedures manual
- Examples of procedure manuals
We explain what a procedures manual is and what its objectives are. Its importance for an organization and some examples.
What is a procedure manual?
A procedures manual is a document that provides information regarding the different operations carried out by an organization, business or a specific department of it. It is prepared by the same institution or organization where it is used and presents your information in a detailed, orderly, systematized and understandable way.
It is designed as an administrative tool for daily use, since it allows to guide the performance of the employee before any doubt. On the other hand, it is also an instrument that facilitates the internal control of the organization, since it details the tasks that must be carried out.
When we speak of procedures, in this area, we refer not only to specific actions and sets of tasks, but also to the materials that they involve, the order in which they must be carried out, the time they normally must take, and the systematic and concatenated set of processes. that result in the production of the company or department.
Objectives of a procedures manual
The procedure manuals have the objective from:
- They facilitate training and training of personnel.
- They specify the capacities and responsibilities of each job, department or the entire organization.
- They provide a comprehensive view of the processes that make up the work of the company or organization.
- They compose the history of the organization's procedures, later gaining documentary value.
- They allow the evaluation of the performance of workers based on the ideal expected by the company.
Importance of a procedures manual
Small businesses often lack procedure manuals. This may be because they have not had weather For this, their departmental areas or responsibilities are not fully defined (if they have departments). In other cases, they simply have not seen the need to produce a document for the future.
However when a company grows it is necessary to review, question and supervise the way the work is done. Additionally, new staff require firm, written guidelines of what their job comprises. On the other hand, procedure manuals operate like insurance: it is better to have them and not need them than to need them and not have prepared them.
Examples of procedure manuals
Some examples of procedures manuals of various kinds are:
- Procedures Manual of the Management Unit of the University of Chile
- Manual of procedures of the Spanish company of drinking water systems SCGV
- Procedures Manual of the State University of Sonora (UES)
- Procedures manual of the Ministry of Labor of the Argentine government