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    Default How detailed are your processes and procedures?

    In my last company, we had plenty of detailed specifications. Our materials used, our project deliverables, including cad/bim standards, etc.
    The only processes and procedures we had (outside of preventative maintenance checklists on our equipment) were the ones we had to make for the disaster recovery plans (aka, we lose some part of our system, here's how we'd maintain and replace X function for 1 day, 2 day, a week, etc).

    As I was wrapping up my employment there, I started writing processes and procedures for my role(s). I say plural, because a lot of my duties were shuffled off onto other people, because they really had nothing to do with the job I was hired to do and wouldn't be foisted on my replacement. As I was writing those, I tended to organize it like the No Experience Required book that I edit. Like...

    Overview of the topic / Goal of process - what
    Explanation of why we're taking action a certain way - why
    Step by Step procedure - who/where/how
    *any applicable caveats/warnings, etc

    Since it was such a massive brain dump, trying not to lose the benefit of all of my work and avoiding overwhelming the person(s) who would come along later so they didn't waste time floundering (or, more likely, get frustrated and overwhelmed and leave), I decided that in my new role, I would document as I went along. My first three months here were really slow, as I waited for a system upgrade to take place, I took all of the notes my consultant had given me when interviewing each of my users, and started clarifying them.
    Obviously, one huge benefit to me as well, was ensuring that I understood everything, by writing an explanation myself.
    As the old aphorism goes, 'if you can't explain it simply, you don't understand it well enough.'

    A few months ago, my company started an initiative to formalize processes and procedures for the support departments (our money-making areas already had these well established). I took my processes and fit them into my boss's template and boom, 15 pages of documentation, containing what/why/who/where/how. He did comment to me recently, as I'm taking on some more tasks from our corporate facilities manager, who has been too busy to do more than the basics on those p&p docs, that he viewed the manual as more of a workflow guide, and not necessarily something that would provide us with step by step instructions.

    I kind of boggled at that, of course. I don't think it does much good to say 'import employees and update space records and run occupancy report', when you're not even saying what employee data you need, where it comes from, who it goes to, how it gets into the system and how and why we run each of our reports.

    Not sure I've really got a point here. I'm not going to change the 'no experience required' way that I'm documenting and/or editing these processes, but, I would like to hear from others.
    1. Do you have processes and procedures for your company/department?
    2. If so, does it contain an overall workflow?
    3. Explanations of why things are set up the way they are?
    4. Step by step instructions which could actually serve as training if need be?


    Would really love to hear any other comments you've got about processes and procedures. Graphics heavy? Flow charts to make things simple? All text? Or text interspersed with graphics?
    Melanie Stone
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    Default Re: How detailed are your processes and procedures?

    So, can I take the deafening silence on this issue to mean that people do not have formally documented Processes and Procedures?
    Melanie Stone
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    Archibus, FMS/FMInteract and AutoCAD Expert (I use BricsCAD, Revit, Tandem, and Planon, too)
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    Certified AUGI Addict cadtag's Avatar
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    Default Re: How detailed are your processes and procedures?

    Most of my jobs are wildly different from each other -- and the boss tends to wing it a lot

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    Default Re: How detailed are your processes and procedures?

    Quote Originally Posted by cadtag View Post
    Most of my jobs are wildly different from each other -- and the boss tends to wing it a lot
    I am familiar with that approach as well.

    I am taking on some tasks from a busy project manager right now, and she gets things done, but, tends to wing it AND keep a ton of knowledge in her head. So, I am sure I've been annoying her by my insistence on detail and doing things correctly from the beginning of taking this stuff on. She finally told me 'it doesn't matter, you decide, and then we'll always do it that way.' So... if all else fails, be pushy. ~taking notes~ I'm gonna have to work on this one, believe it or not.
    Melanie Stone
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    Archibus, FMS/FMInteract and AutoCAD Expert (I use BricsCAD, Revit, Tandem, and Planon, too)
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    Administrator rkmcswain's Avatar
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    Default Re: How detailed are your processes and procedures?

    Quote Originally Posted by Wanderer View Post
    So, can I take the deafening silence on this issue to mean that people do not have formally documented Processes and Procedures?
    To answer your questions 1-4 from the original post...

    1. Yes.
    2. Generally, yes.
    3. Not really.
    4. Some of the processes, yes. Others, no.

    The ones we have a fairly general and not terribly specific because each project varies and there are other factors such as regulatory agency requirements that vary by project, etc.
    I know that probably doesn't help much, but if you have some specific questions, I'll try to answer them.
    R.K. McSwain | CAD Panacea |

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    Default Re: How detailed are your processes and procedures?

    Quote Originally Posted by rkmcswain View Post
    To answer your questions 1-4 from the original post...

    1. Yes.
    2. Generally, yes.
    3. Not really.
    4. Some of the processes, yes. Others, no.

    The ones we have a fairly general and not terribly specific because each project varies and there are other factors such as regulatory agency requirements that vary by project, etc.
    I know that probably doesn't help much, but if you have some specific questions, I'll try to answer them.
    Oh, thanks.
    That does make sense. I really shouldn't expect 3, or 4, from typical processes and procedures.

    Unfortunately, I got in the habit of including explanations of 'why' after having CAD/BIM Standards in my lap for so long.
    All of our contractors, archies, engineers, etc think owners are stupid and their cad standards make no sense, so, after having a few come-to-jesus meetings, as my director called them, when I explained using very small words precisely WHY we needed things the way we did, I just put it in the documentation, so I'd stop getting lectured on autocad by... people who obviously don't spend enough time on AUGI.
    Once people understand why, they're more likely to go ahead and do it, instead of blowing it off (in my experience).
    Melanie Stone
    @MistresDorkness

    Archibus, FMS/FMInteract and AutoCAD Expert (I use BricsCAD, Revit, Tandem, and Planon, too)
    Technical Editor
    not all those who wander are lost

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    Default Re: How detailed are your processes and procedures?

    1. Do you have processes and procedures for your company/department?
    Yes, though they are broken, outdated, and generally behind today's accepted/required processes procedures.

    2. If so, does it contain an overall workflow?
    No, though some processes should.

    3. Explanations of why things are set up the way they are?
    No, though I actually believe that some things should be explained in the manual because I can then either refer them to the "why", or eliminate a question all together.

    4. Step by step instructions which could actually serve as training if need be?
    No, but again, some things should. Company specific processes should be broken down to easily understandable steps so that new hires aren't overwhelmed trying to remember tiny details.


    I am at a new company with a new role after a very long time with my previous employer. All of the things above fall into one of my side roles here and will eventually be addressed. The good thing is that there are standards and processes in place, the bad news is that every time they are supposed to be updated the information doesn't make it to every end user.

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    Default Re: How detailed are your processes and procedures?

    Quote Originally Posted by Coloradomrg View Post
    1. Do you have processes and procedures for your company/department?
    Yes, though they are broken, outdated, and generally behind today's accepted/required processes procedures.

    2. If so, does it contain an overall workflow?
    No, though some processes should.

    3. Explanations of why things are set up the way they are?
    No, though I actually believe that some things should be explained in the manual because I can then either refer them to the "why", or eliminate a question all together.

    4. Step by step instructions which could actually serve as training if need be?
    No, but again, some things should. Company specific processes should be broken down to easily understandable steps so that new hires aren't overwhelmed trying to remember tiny details.


    I am at a new company with a new role after a very long time with my previous employer. All of the things above fall into one of my side roles here and will eventually be addressed. The good thing is that there are standards and processes in place, the bad news is that every time they are supposed to be updated the information doesn't make it to every end user.
    Interesting and good.

    This brings up a good question to discuss as well.
    5. How do you distribute/access your processes and procedures?
    Our Processes and Procedures are on the server where we host our department's files.
    "Processes and procedures" is one of the few folders in the top of the directory structure. Anyone can download a copy and make edits, but, they're all sent through a Manager for approval and re-posting. There are no hard copies kept here (though I believe our CAO keeps electronic and hard copies for all divisions reporting to her).
    Melanie Stone
    @MistresDorkness

    Archibus, FMS/FMInteract and AutoCAD Expert (I use BricsCAD, Revit, Tandem, and Planon, too)
    Technical Editor
    not all those who wander are lost

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    Default Re: How detailed are your processes and procedures?

    In my company, almost all the processes are described
    All could be divided into several groups.

    1. ISO
    Manual ISO provides a general work flow and have the least detail as possible.
    No one would be able to learn about the process , if it were written down exactly.
    The company is audited every year of compliance with these procedures . If the process would be more accurately described, the harder it was to us to pass the audit :)

    2. More detailed procedures.
    Several stages of the process, is described very accurately.
    "Manual handling of incoming documents"
    This is described by the points what user should do with documents, but without details.: "...move files to INCOMING folder" ther is now explementation, how to move files to other folder :)

    3. Instruction "how to"
    For some FAQ we prepare wery detailed instructions (with arrows, and print screen). For example: "How to purge drawing's", "how, to publish drawings to pdf"

    4. CAD Standard.

    5. Maintance and administration manuals
    This is not for end user. This is for administrators and for "internal security" If i'm on vacation (or I decide do change my work :) ), someone needs to know as it all works.
    Of course this help me too. If I need to set something once a year is more than likely that I forget how I set this before :)

    Not explain anything in the instruction. In CAD Standard is a few sentences, why wy have CAD standard. But I put it there to make it look nice :)
    I am sure that few people read it :)
    I try to explain "why", during training course.

    Currently, we have all the documents pdf.

    In my opinion, ther is nothing bad having procedures and manuals for everything.
    Of course ther is lot of work with keeping everything updated.

    More "intelligent" supervisor and employees, less precise instructions. :D

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