We explain what a procedure manual is and what its objectives are. Its importance for an organization and some examples.
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What is a procedure manual?
A procedures manual is a document that provides information regarding the different operations performed by an organization, company or a specific department. It is prepared by the same institution or organization where it is used and presents its information in a detailed, orderly, systematized and understandable way.
It is designed as an administrative tool for everyday use, as it allows to guide the performance of the worker in case of 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 talk about procedures, in this area, we refer not only to concrete actions and work sets, but also to the materials that they involve, to the order in which they should be performed, to the time they should normally take and to the systematic and concatenated set of processes which result in the production of the company or department.
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Objectives of a procedure manual
Procedural manuals are intended to:
- They facilitate the training and training of staff.
- They specify the capabilities and responsibilities of each job, department or the entire organization.
- They provide an integral vision of the processes that make up the work of the company or organization.
- They compose the history of procedures of the organization, then gaining documentary value.
- They allow the evaluation of the performance of the workers based on the ideal expected by the company.
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Importance of a procedure manual
It is common for small businesses to lack procedural manuals. This may be due to the fact that they have not had time for it, nor are their departmental areas or responsibilities 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 monitor the way in which the work is done . In addition, the new staff requires firm, written guides of what your work includes. On the other hand, procedural manuals operate like insurance: it is preferable to have them and not need them to need them and not have developed them.
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Examples of procedure manuals
Some examples of manuals of different types of procedures are:
- Manual of procedures of the Management Unit of the University of Chile
- Procedures manual of the Spanish company of drinking water systems SCGV
- Manual of procedures of the State University of Sonora (UES)
- Procedural manual of the Ministry of Labor of the Argentine government.
