Standard Operating Procedures(SOPs) are a set of step-by-step guidelines gathered by an organization to supportits employees to carry out regular operations. SOPs objectiveis to achieve consistency of performance, productivity andvalue output while reducing failure to comply with industry regulations and miscommunication within the organisation.

Appropriately designed SOPs define:

1. Objective of the process or activities
2. Scope of the process or activities
3. Accountability and responsibilities of the employees performing the activities,
4. Instructions to perform the task
5. Documentations that needs to be completed while performing the tasks

Standard operating procedures play key role in today’s dynamic and complex set of activities that an organisation is required to perform. It sets out clear guidance and support for the employees that what the organisation is expecting from them and how it would be executed. It defines the roles and accountabilities of each employee involved in the process or activity. Overall, the key points for the organisation to have standard operating procedures are as appended below:

1. Ensure Business Continuity: Whenever an employee is not present or absent at the organisation due to some reason, the work should not suffer. With the assistance of the SOPs, any other employee can take over the charge and complete the pending important task at the desired timelines. By referring SOPs, it will be easier for the newly joined employee to understand the processes and activities that are required to be performed. Hence, we can say that having SOPs in an organisation ensures operational continuity.

• Efficiency and Productivity: Defining the objective and scope of the tasks/activities to be performed helps employees to concentrate in the desired outcome which brings the efficiency and productivity in the work. Productivity from employees works positively towards the welfare of the organisation.

• Reduction in Errors: Setting out clear instructions to perform the task or activity help in reduction of errors in the department. In case of ambiguity to perform the task, an employee can refer standard operating procedure for easy of understanding and as a result there are minimal number of chances that errors happen in performing the task.

• Healthy and Safe Environment: Clearly setting out the roles and responsibilities are the key feature of the standard operating procedures. Defining marked roles and responsibility or accountability of each employee helps in avoiding conflict within the processes or departments. Each employee better understands its area of work and responsibilities, hence contributing to healthy and safe environment within the organisation.

• Auditing and Inspection: Having defined standard operating procedures helps in understanding the processes and activities of an organisation. It is easier for auditor or statutory bodies to carry out their auditing and inspections of the operations of organisations.

• Value addition to business:Standard operating procedures helps the possible investor to get insights of the activities and processes that an organisation is performing. Hence, it helps in value addition for an organisation to have SOPs.

Disclaimer: This content is meant for information only and should not be considered as an advice or opinion, or otherwise. AKGVG & Associates does not intend to advertise its services through this.