Using Policies and Procedures Samples to Speed Up Writing Policies and Procedures

Make use of policy and procedure sample documents to speed up your writing of policies and procedures. Don't re-invent the wheel and do massive research without first checking out the Internet to see if you can find policy and procedure samples. Use the following keyword phrase to search: "policies and procedures manuals" or "[name of your topic] policies and procedures". Or find books from online bookstores or the Internet that offer samples of policies and procedures documents.

Use the samples to:
Compare your research with the content contained in the sample; Compare your written policy or procedure draft with the content contained in this sample; Glean ideas from the content to see if you might have missed something (of course, your policy or procedure might be much better); Use ideas from another's policy or procedure to ask questions of YOUR USERS; this technique can often lead to more ideas from your users; and Best, use the samples as your own: Add a logo, change the company name, and call the sample your own. Most writers of sample documents don't have any copyright claims to the samples.

SAMPLE QUESTIONS

While there are many sponsored sites on the Internet that offer policies and procedures samples, do remember that sponsored sites are "pay-per-click" and not sponsored by any one or any company. Look for non-sponsored sites and read the Internet description to make sure the company has been around for a long time before buying any sample policy or procedure documents.

Also, before buying lots of samples, buy one and see if the information is worthwhile. I have purchased some samples in the past but I have found that when the author of these documents ARE NOT full-time policies and procedures writers, the content contained in the samples are often quite vague and not really very useful.

Look for BOOK AUTHORS that offer policy and procedure samples. These sample policies and procedures are apt to contain substance in their documents as they might be samples from current or past companies where the research, review, and approval process might have been substantial versus the company that simply writes minimal information to get a sale.

Look for authors that offer complete policy and procedure programs that teach you how to use writing formats for organizing your policy and procedure content. Look for MS Word templates to help you write your policies and procedures.

Look for authors that have a substantial background in policies and procedures (preferable, a full-time policies and procedures writer) and can both offer you advice on your current project but also offer you sample policies and procedures.

VERY IMPORTANT. While your intent might be to find samples that contain "lots of verbiage" that you think you need, keep in mind that your primary interest in samples should be format. For example, how are forms used or how are graphics used or how much detail is included in certain sections. Often, the way a policy or procedure document is laid out will help you as much as will the content itself.

SUMMARY: Don't re-invent the wheel. Use policy and procedure samples whenever possible.

Using Policies and Procedures Samples to Speed Up Writing Policies and Procedures

SAMPLE QUESTIONS