EVERY business should have a document that clearly states how things should be done. This is essential for all companies for smooth running of the business. Every company faces difficulties in its operations and a document which spells out its policy and procedures helps to deal with such. Does your business have a policy and procedure manual that covers company rules and employee guidelines? If not, it is time to develop one. guest column:Emmanuel Zvada What is a policy and procedure manual? Policy and procedure manuals are codified documents that outline all the necessary policies, procedures, SOPs, best practices, and rules that the employees of the organisation have to follow. They are designed to regulate all major decisions, actions, and principles of an organisation. These documents provide authority and necessary guidance to an employee or a department on various processes and procedures of the company. Policies contain high-level principles or requirements that a certain department or functional area of the organisation must follow, as formally agreed upon by management. These policies set the directional tone for individual departments or areas of the business. Procedures are in line with particular policies and define lower-level processes, such as daily, weekly or quarterly functions and job activities. Procedures bring a set of related functions and organisational processes together, which can then be consolidated in a well-defined category. Processes are typically contained in procedures, defining in detail how regular business functions are performed. A process has both a starting and finishing point, and shows interrelationships and dependencies with other processes and organisational areas. It also provides insight into standard functions and key risk and control points that need to be monitored and taken into consideration for risk assessment. A policy sets the expected employee behaviour and the procedures outline the steps in relation to that. It is also important to note that Policies are not just the written word. A critical aspect of policy is the way in which it is interpreted by various employees and the way it is implemented. For example, the organisation may have a written policy which says staff meetings occur once every week. However, what you normally notice is that all staff members go to the staff room and have an informal catch-up about recent events and team tasks, policies should bring results. The more organised, systematic and thorough you are in the initial entry and assessment process, the less capacity for misunderstanding later on. Why policies and procedures are important Every company needs a policy and procedure manual to guide its operations, strategy, and workflow. Where policies set the expected employee behaviour, the procedures outline the steps for that. This ensures consistency in practice and helps in maintaining quality. An effective policy and procedure manual is an essential management tool. A must red for all employees, it states business goals and policies and