Course Outcomes

This policy and procedure writing course will:

  • Differentiate policies, procedures, and processes.
  • Offer steps for creating the three types of documents.
  • Outline ways to visualize processes.
  • Suggest methods for keeping documentation fresh and relevant.

Course Overview

This three-part virtual classroom course will increase participants’ understanding of policy, process, and procedure documentation. In the first segment, we will differentiate these concepts and explore a systematic approach to policy development.

Segment Two focuses on practical aspects of policy creation. Here, participants will practice creating clear, easy-to-understand policies and test their effectiveness.

Finally, the third segment provides insights into the specifics of procedure documentation and process mapping, along with guidelines for maintaining up-to-date documentation. Participants will leave this course with a basic toolkit for crafting and maintaining policies, procedures, and processes.

Segment One Objectives

At this segment’s conclusion, participants should be able to:

  • Differentiate policy, process, and procedure.
  • Identify the risks of not having clear policy, procedure, and process documentation.
  • Discuss ten benefits strong documentation can offer.
  • Outline eight steps for policy development.
  • Evaluate a policy for effectiveness.
  • Discuss ten steps for writing policies.
  • Answer questions related to best practices for crafting policies and documenting procedures and processes.

Segment One Modules

  • Friends of Distinction: Policies, Processes, and Procedures
  • You Need Me, and I Need You: Why Policies?
  • The Time Is Now: When to Codify or Revise
  • Creating a Hit: Characteristics of Well-Crafted Policies
  • 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10: Steps for Writing Policies
  • Q&A: A Baker’s Dozen

Segment Two Objectives

At this segment’s conclusion, participants should be able to:

  • Create a policy outline using a mind map.
  • Develop stakeholder questions.
  • Decide if a policy should answer stakeholder questions or if there is a more appropriate communication vehicle.
  • Identify choices writers can make to make policies easier to read and easier to understand.
  • Discuss seven areas to consider when testing a policy.
  • Test a policy.

Segment Two Modules

  • Building the Skeleton: Policy Outlines
  • Another Road to the Same Destination: Stakeholder Questions
  • Strong Choices: Improving Policy Comprehension
  • Thoughts?: Questions to Ask the Testing Group

Segment Three Objectives

At this segment’s conclusion, participants should be able to:

  • Identify instances where people use procedures.
  • Discuss actions writers can take to increase the likelihood others will follow procedures.
  • Outline actions others can take to increase procedure adherence.
  • Explain the procedure creation process.
  • Describe common mistakes writers make when documenting procedures.
  • Explain when writers should choose numbers and bullets.
  • Document a process.
  • Summarize steps organizations should take to keep their documentation relevant.

Segment Three Modules

  • Here, There, and Everywhere: Everyday Procedures
  • In Good Order: Twelve Steps for Writing Procedures
  • Mistakes and Bad Takes: Mistakes Procedure Writers Make
  • Sequential Significance: Bullets or Numbers
  • A Higher Level: Process Documentation
  • Remaining Relevant: Ideas for Staying Current

By course completion, participants should be better able to document policies, procedures, and processes.