SOPs for Process Improvement? Absolutely!

Recently an Executive coach we’ve been working with commented about how our Operations Mapping method – linking processes to detailed standard operating procedures, work instructions, and policies — is a perfect fit for improving organizational performance, process improvement and re-engineering applications. We agree. Our clients do too.

Yet, some people resist this idea.
The resistance may be linked to the misconception that standardized procedures are useless paperwork or at best are expensive door stops (if I had a nickel for every time I’ve heard that… ) (“Bad” SOPs do make good doorstops—especially if they are in white binders!) Thinking about SOPs only in terms of “documenting” and record keeping instead of looking at SOP development as an exercise in examining and understanding how your business works is old-fashioned thinking.

It may also be semantics. We recently worked with a client to develop a “process map” for automating one of their core processes. At the beginning, the client was adamant about not wanting to get into SOPs or procedural “details.” They thought they only needed to look at the “Big Picture.” However, the high-level process map ended up being very complex because the client kept adding more and more detail as they thought through the processes they needed to make automation decisions.

Surprisingly, it was the discussions about the detailed procedures the client started out not wanting to consider that revealed the fact that some managers had no clue what was really going on! And that was the biggest problem they were facing.

Standard operating procedures (SOPs) are often overlooked as a key element of Process improvement (process re-engineering). Process re-engineering typically needs to go beyond what’s on a high-level process map. And it's not always just about process automation. “People-based” operations can be improved through re-engineering too.

Mapping out your “as is” processes and SOPs is the first step in any process improvement initiative because it makes your “people operations” visible. You can’t improve what you can’t see.

To learn more about how you can build accountability into your organization and streamline operations, see operations mapping on the COMPROSE site.
Source: https://www.comprose.com/sops-for-process-improvement-absolutely/

How to Train Your Staff Using SOP Software?

Do you have an efficient staff who clearly know what is expected of them and how to perform a specific task? If not, it is important to provide them a training using SOP software. Staff education is a critical factor for standardizing and smooth functioning of a business process. Though it can be a little time consuming but the end result makes it a worthwhile task.

The purpose of Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) is to document and streamline smooth communication and operational process of your business, from macro tasks to daily ongoing duties. Many organizations develop SOP culture to reduce your time and cost invested in a given task and to enhance quality and profits. Therefore, providing a practical training to your staff is crucial for your business growth.

These smart tips will help you educate your staff using SOP software for the smooth functioning of your business.

• Preparing Training Documents and Modules
  Whether you want to hire new employees or want to train the current ones, having these training documents prepared or accessed via SOP software really helps. This will guide the internal staff to understand and fulfill the standardized expectations of your business. These documents enable employees to work independently on their tasks without seeking any supervision from management.
  
  
  Additionally, having a written training material which can be accessed by staff for seeking information eliminates the chances of any miscommunication and confusion. Circulate a single document with all the internal employees where all the changes are made to avoid any chaos among staff and management.
  
  
• Create Checklists of Tasks for Employees
  Prepare checklists using SOP software for staff and ask them to complete on a daily basis. The checklist may describe the procedure or steps employees need to follow for a specific task or may define the tasks they need to complete as a daily target. When staff members clearly understand what is expected from them, this will promote smooth training sessions and workflow.
  
  
  Moreover, it is unrealistic to always keep a check on your staff for their tasks. This is where checklists help to improve the efficiency of your business. SOP software checklists not only encourage better communication but also help management prioritize and delegate important tasks.

These useful tips clearly indicate that Standard Operating Procedure Software allows management and staff members to be on the same page, let everyone do their job productively, and prevent any mistakes or miscommunication among them. In short, having a standard operating procedure is extremely vital for a business to run smoothly.

How to Train Your Staff Using SOP Software?

Do you have an efficient staff who clearly know what is expected of them and how to perform a specific task? If not, it is important to provide them a training using SOP software. Staff education is a critical factor for standardizing and smooth functioning of a business process. Though it can be a little time consuming but the end result makes it a worthwhile task.

The purpose of Standard Operating Procedure (SOPs) is to document and streamline smooth communication and operational process of your business, from macro tasks to daily ongoing duties. Many organizations develop SOP culture to reduce your time and cost invested in a given task and to enhance quality and profits. Therefore, providing a practical training to your staff is crucial for your business growth. 

These smart tips will help you educate your staff using SOP software for the smooth functioning of your business.

• Preparing Training Documents and Modules
  Whether you want to hire new employees or want to train the current ones, having these training documents prepared or accessed via SOP software really helps. This will guide the internal staff to understand and fulfill the standardized expectations of your business. These documents enable employees to work independently on their tasks without seeking any supervision from management.
  
  Additionally, having a written training material which can be accessed by staff for seeking information eliminates the chances of any miscommunication and confusion. Circulate a single document with all the internal employees where all the changes are made to avoid any chaos among staff and management.


• Create Checklists of Tasks for Employees
  Prepare checklists using SOP software for staff and ask them to complete on a daily basis. The checklist may describe the procedure or steps employees need to follow for a specific task or may define the tasks they need to complete as a daily target. When staff members clearly understand what is expected from them, this will promote smooth training sessions and workflow.
  
  Moreover, it is unrealistic to always keep a check on your staff for their tasks. This is where checklists help to improve the efficiency of your business. SOP software checklists not only encourage better communication but also help management prioritize and delegate important tasks.

These useful tips clearly indicate that Standard Operating Procedure Software allows management and staff members to be on the same page, let everyone do their job productively, and prevent any mistakes or miscommunication among them. In short, having a standard operating procedure is extremely vital for a business to run smoothly. 

“Do You have Anything More Complex and Convoluted?” Said No Auditor Ever

Trying to get compliant and make your audit process smoother? Clearly outlining how things happen in your organization not only helps demonstrate compliance to auditors, it can actually help you be compliant. Creating SOPs that are accessible to your employees is an effective means to improve operations. At the same time, it creates an easy path for auditors and regulatory entities to follow.

In many cases, managing and disseminating information well is just as important as the actual policies and procedures themselves. There are three layers that any good SOP system must account for:

1. Writing
   You have to create good content, clearly written, easy to follow, in line with compliance.


2. Sharing
   You have to share compliance information throughout your organization. Employees need easy access to new and updated SOPs as they do their work.


3. Managing
   You have to manage your SOP content. You need to keep content up-to-date, and ensure that the latest version is accessible, and also retain change history and approval signoffs.

To support your goals of staying compliant: Write clearly. Share easily. Manage strategically.
Source: https://www.comprose.com/anything-complex-convoluted-said-auditor-ever/

Top 5 Main Benefits of an Online Policy Management Software

1. Automate Document Workflow  
   Centralizing and automating the document workflow is considered by many to be the most beneficial aspect of Policy and Procedure Management. The entire document workflow- form creation and import, to edit, review, publish, revise, and archive- can be automated. In a paper base environment, each of these steps creates opportunities for paper documents to be delayed, or worse, lost altogether. Once organizations discover they no longer need to manually gather and collaborate on multiple edits, reviews, etc., they will never go back.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
2. Centralize Repository of Documents 
   Are your policies, procedures, and other business-critical documents easy for all your employees to locate? Are certain documents stuck in certain files- perhaps on a desktop or filing cabinet- that could cost your employees time or access to the document altogether? Having a personalized, easy to access, an online repository of your documents- that can easily be searched- allows your employees to have the information they need when they need it.
   
   
3. Eliminate Paper Chase 
   Let’s face it, paper document management is a thing of the past. Numerous studies show that the cost of storing paper files, and implied labor cost of retrieving those files can be thousands of dollars per employee per year. Thousands. The implementation of an online policy management software might cost less than one or two employees worth of cost savings- just on the paper chase.
   
   
4. Detailed Audit Trails 
   As businesses are hit with more and more regulations, the implied risk of litigation goes up. Having a detailed audit log of the activity happening within your organization can protect against the risk of lawsuits, penalties, and fines. While protecting against a "what if" scenario is never something that will get people jumping for joy, you bet having an audit trail is of utmost importance if lawsuits, audits, or disputes were to unfortunately arise.
   
   
5. Up to Date Global View of Compliance 
   An online Policy and Procedure Management Software will allow you to know who has read, signed off on, and understood (via testing) your policies, procedures, and other business-critical documents. Not only can this information protect against litigation (see #4 above), but it can elucidate the entire organization's policy and procedure compliance. Knowing who has read, tested, and signed off on policies and procedures- and who has not- allows organizations to make critical judgments and corrections.

How to Grow Your Business Without Spiraling Out of Control

Growth is a BIG topic for today’s business leaders in organizations of all sizes, industries. If you’re already on a fast trajectory or in expansion mode, you’ve probably experienced some of the operational challenges in scaling an organization. 

Here’s what your C-level peers are telling us:

“We still operate off tribal knowledge.”

“There’s no standardization. What takes one person two hours to do might take someone else four hours.”

“It takes FOREVER to get anything done around here.”

Growing BEFORE you have the right structure, consistent processes, and an efficient way to transfer operational knowledge is a recipe for disaster. Things can get out of control and escalate quickly, especially if there are lots of people and moving parts to orchestrate. It’s difficult to make course corrections later.

Fortunately, the operations problems that are barriers to growth are avoidable. The challenge is, they are often invisible. Many organizations go for years – even decades – tolerating known operational issues without ever making significant headway. This problem finally gets attention when a major change or triggering event happens, such as expansion. Even the larger organizations suddenly find themselves in panic mode. Read more information about Knowledge Management Software click given the link.

Source: https://www.comprose.com/grow-business-without-spiraling-control/

Policies and Procedures in the News – CDC – Ebola – Anthrax

Policies and Standard Operating Procedures show up in the headlines from time to time, and rarely in celebration of polices and procedures well implemented. But recent headlines  regarding the break down of communicating safety protocols at the Center for Disease Control (CDC) have been persistent–and more than a little alarming. And what first appeared to be an isolated incident where anthrax (!) was mishandled is emerging systemic failure. From improper storage, including zip-lock bags and unlocked refrigerators to transportation issues, the lax standards have put the CDC squarely in the public eye and called to a congressional subcommittee to explain. Fortunately, at this stage it looks like no one has been infected.

While most of us are not handling and storing infectious diseases (thankfully) there is a big take away from stories like these.

1. Having a good system, complete with clear SOPs and a means for the conveying them and essential element of a well-run organization.
   
   
2. Taking a step back from time to time to assess and look at the bigger picture is a worthwhile exercise It can help identify gaps and places for improvement.
   
   
3. Understanding the importance of compliance to your business can help you identify ways to integrate it into daily practice and help create streamlined operations that meet both regulatory and business goals.

Zavanta software is specifically designed to make writing GOOD procedures fast and easy! If you’re unfamiliar with it, check it out. For more information about Policies and Procedures Software Visit our website. 

Source: https://www.comprose.com/policies-procedures-in-the-news/