What is SOP?
Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) are documented processes put in place to make decision-making simple and to standardize predictable and repeatable tasks.
The term was first recorded in the mid-twentieth century and is popular in a variety of industries, from healthcare and research to the military and IT.
In the past, SOPs were written lists of text, but in the last few years, they’ve grown in sophistication. Automated tools can help design and enforce SOPs and make them dynamic, organized lists.
Why Does it Matter?
One business article states that “the fastest route for any manager to assure that they are proficiently allocating time is to establish standards of operation.” Some believe SOPs reduce individuality by generalizing processes, but experts overall agree that SOPs can help enhance communication, drive consistent results, and set proper work standards in companies of all sizes.
