guide

If you’re confused about the difference between protocols and policies, this article is for you.

Does your company lack structure when doing simple tasks? Are your staff members too dependent, seeing the need for them to be more self-reliant? Do you find yourself pondering streamlining the processes of your rapidly expanding company? Then you will begin to understand the question: why is it important to have standard operating procedures?

Many get these terms mixed up: policy, business Process, Procedure, and Work Instruction. In truth, most people create work instructions and refer to them as procedures. Or they will write a procedure, which is really a process. Some think of these terms as interchangeable. What is a work instruction?

Are you struggling to gain a competitive edge against your counterparts? Or is the disconnect between your business and customers widening every day? This could be a problem with your brand’s public image. How do you build a strong brand image?

The ultimate style guide for your policies and procedures is the user — the employee responsible for the process.