http://tc.eserver.org/publisher/Policies_and_Procedures_Authority,_The A listing of works published by Policies and Procedures Authority, The in the field of technical communication. en-us Copyright (c) 2005-08 by the EServer. All rights reserved. tclib-editorial@eserver.org (TC Library Editorial Board) webmaster@eserver.org (Geoffrey Sauer) http://tc.eserver.org/images/newlogo.gif http://tc.eserver.org/dir/Policies_and_Procedures_Authority,_The http://tc.eserver.org/35400.html http://tc.eserver.org/35400.html How prepared are you, as a policies and procedures (P&P) professional, to draw the line if you are asked to change hats from your analyst role to the role of performing the tasks of the organizational practices you are documenting? http://tc.eserver.org/35401.html http://tc.eserver.org/35401.html As a policies and procedures (P&P) practitioner, do you delve into P&P content development projects without a clear understanding of the organizational context? Astute P&P practitioners add more than documentation skills to assignments--they apply an understanding of the organizational context from three perspectives. http://tc.eserver.org/35402.html http://tc.eserver.org/35402.html Have you struggled with job position names and titles in your policies and procedures (P&P) content? Here are several style rules to follow. http://tc.eserver.org/33850.html http://tc.eserver.org/33850.html The Policies & Procedures Authority is a quarterly newsletter, published by Urgo & Associates, for executives, managers, consultants, performance improvement specialists, instructional designers, policy and procedure analysts, technical writers, or other professionals. http://tc.eserver.org/33851.html http://tc.eserver.org/33851.html Most people, including P&P practitioners, define P&P on a micro level, primarily because they have not considered other perspectives. Here are three perspectives about policies and procedures by which you can think, speak, and act in today’s workplace. http://tc.eserver.org/33854.html http://tc.eserver.org/33854.html What’s causing the buzz of interest in P&P? Here are five trends that contribute to the growing popularity. http://tc.eserver.org/33855.html http://tc.eserver.org/33855.html For many years, employee retirement was considered a normal part of attrition. Today, however, that attrition is becoming a major concern in organizations. In the United States alone, the so-called “baby boomer” generation (those born between 1946 and 1964) has already begun retiring. This concern is one for which policies and procedures (P&P) communication is being called to the rescue. http://tc.eserver.org/33856.html http://tc.eserver.org/33856.html Mention the words, “media for communicating policies and procedures (P&P),” and most people automatically think of printed bound manuals or binders, electronic document files on a server or intranet, or content on a Web site. Although these media are popular and often formal in nature, let’s not forget that there are other types of media that organizations may use to communicate their P&P. http://tc.eserver.org/33857.html http://tc.eserver.org/33857.html Who should you contract to update an outdated policies and procedures manual–subject matter expert or a policy and procedure writer? http://tc.eserver.org/33858.html http://tc.eserver.org/33858.html Increasing competition, generational differences, widespread social awareness, and customer demand for higher quality products and services make it necessary to ensure that the right protections are in place. Other reasons for the increased attention include the numerous reports of corporate scandals and corruption, along with ensuing legislative regulations in today’s global economy. This article describes some of the specific causes. http://tc.eserver.org/33859.html http://tc.eserver.org/33859.html Organizations develop policies and procedures to support industry certification and compliance requirements. Unfortunately, companies often develop P&P information that is not helpful to all employees who must use the information. In fact, one study found that 40 percent of U.S. companies failed ISO certification because of problems with unclear or missing P&P documentation, resulting in wasted time, money, and effort. http://tc.eserver.org/33860.html http://tc.eserver.org/33860.html Because the nature of ethics information is highly abstract and related to integrity, it is based upon judgment and therefore subject to varying interpretations by employees. To increase common understanding and consistent interpretations, the use of language, choice of words, sentence formation, and presentation style are important. http://tc.eserver.org/33861.html http://tc.eserver.org/33861.html Auditing and enforcing compliance with P&P content should not be the responsibility of a P&P group or included in the job description of a P&P practitioner. However, the charter or job description may state that P&P practitioners are responsible for supporting compliance efforts. http://tc.eserver.org/33862.html http://tc.eserver.org/33862.html Three workplace trends are driving policies and procedures (P&P) communication to be more suitable for learning than classroom training: changing workforce needs; e-content availability; and changing organizational needs. http://tc.eserver.org/33863.html http://tc.eserver.org/33863.html Should an organization maintain two sets of policies and procedure (P&P) information—one that is developed for training and another that is developed for on-going reference?