What is the difference between a process and a

standard operating procedure?

Processes and procedures each include step-by-step instructions to
help you to correctly perform a specific task. A process usually
works at a higher level while a standard operating procedure takes
the elements of a high-level process and adds more detail, specific
assignments, and workflows to conform with company or industry
standards.

You may only need a process when you only need your audience to
know what needs to be done to achieve the desired outcome.

For example, you don’t need an SOP to program a drum machine

because there are too many variables. There are no standard drum
sounds that you have to use to create a beat. All you need is a step-
by-step process describing how to select a time signature, a tempo,
and the specific sounds you want to use and how to arrange those
sounds in a pattern that sounds good to you. This basic process
leaves it up to you to unleash your own creativity.

In an SOP, you also describe what needs to happen for an outcome.

In addition, you would include more detailed steps and information
such as who, when, and where. Here are a few reasons you may
need an SOP:

 To ensure compliance standards are met

 To maximize production requirements
 To ensure the procedure has no adverse impact on the
environment
 To ensure safety
 To adhere to a schedule
 To prevent manufacturing failures
 To be used for training
For example, you may need to create an SOP for people who
produce release notes. The SOP could include:

 Which information should be included (bug fixes, new

features, known issues)
 Which information shouldn’t be included (fixes or
improvements that are not customer-facing)
 When information should be collected (how many weeks or
days before release)
 Who collects the information (writer, product manager,
testers)
 Which format to use for the output (HTML, PDF)
 How the review cycle works (when the document is sent for
review, who reviews the document, how much time to review,
how much time to implement edits)
 Who needs to approve the document (team leads, product
owners, senior managers)

How do you write a standard operating procedure

document?
No matter what kind of business you are in, you should have well-
defined SOP documents that will help your employees understand
how to perform routine jobs safely, in compliance with regulations,
and consistently no matter who completes the task.

There is no official standard operating procedure document that will

teach you how to write an SOP. But there are some steps you can
follow that will help you to organize your thoughts and plan the
most effective path to standardizing your procedures.

Step 1: Begin with the end in mind

Define what the end result or the goal is for the SOP you are
writing. For example, if you are writing a document that describes