L Parker wrote:
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Subject: OPERATIONS MANUAL
> Date: Mon, 5 Jun 2000 11:13:36 EDT
> From:
YonkersCAP@aol.com
> To:
DEVELOPMENT-WRITING@CHARITYCHANNEL.COM
>
> I am looking to put together an operations manual for my agency. Does anyone
> have a model/template that they would like to share? or know where I may find
> any?
>
> Lanalle Parker, Associate Director
If you permit the translation from 'operations' to 'quality' (or more correctly,
the other way), then there are many, many such manual templates available. They
cover a great many different situations, and if you try to 'fill in the blanks'
you will wind up with what Dilbert called a 'great big honking folder that
everyone treats like a dead raccoon and passes on to the next person as fast as
possible.' (well, almost a quote.)
I predict you will be better off if you sit down, with or without outside help,
and map out the 'work flows' of what you do. It goes best if someone from
outside the department/division maps out what people say they do. This is then
reviewed and corrected until most of the people and the next level of management
agree. Then write the procedures, with necessary forms, etc., etc., around
that.
Oh, BTW, you have to have a real mission statement up front, first. That is
what we are all working to do, right?
The person documenting all this should be a fair analytical type. This is often
confused with being 'good at math.' Working knowledge of PERT/CPM charts helps,
too.
This recommended route requires that you, and any person you bring in, actually
think. Sorry 'bout that. What you do is pretty much unique, and for good
reason. If not, then this procedure can help you trim out the wasted time spent
on undesirable things.
Jay
--
Jay Warner
Principal Scientist
Warner Consulting, Inc.
4444 North Green Bay Road
Racine, WI 53404-1216
USA
Ph: (262) 634-9100
FAX: (262) 681-1133
email:
quality@a2q.com
web:
http://www.a2q.com
The A2Q Method (tm). What do you want to improve today?