Background:
Think of all the instructions and process descriptions you have read in your lifetime—instructions for games, recipes, how to assemble furniture, how to take your medication, on the job training materials, etc…. Standard Operating Procedures are a subset of instructions and process descriptions. SOPs are often used to train employees on new procedures or processes, maintain consistent standards in a business or organization, and to provide transparency to stakeholders.
Now think of how often these documents are written well. Not very often, right? Standard Operating Procedures are difficult to write and take skill, patience, and testing to be sure they are logical and easy to follow. You want your audience to be able to accomplish what they set out to do from reading your document.
Your task is to create a model document demonstrating the best-practices in writing Standard Operating Procedures. This means you should attempt to incorporate as many of the standard features of instructions and process descriptions as possible in this document.
Instructions:
Choose your topic. Conduct some preliminary research on SOPs. Avoid topics that are commonly known or that usually already come with a manual or list of instructions. What is a set of instructions or a process that not many people are familiar with? What kind of SOPs might be needed in your current job? What about at a future position within your industry?
Here are a few sample topics:
SOPs for breaking down and cleaning equipment in a restaurant or cafe
SOPs for writing a proposal or other lengthy document at work
SOPs for complex tasks at work like training a new hire, how to conduct a professional workshop or conference, setting up/breaking down for a special event…