Procedures Documentation Ought to be Illuminative,Not Just Archival

The article starts by comparing the original and the current status of procedures documentation, a business communication genre. Seen as merely archival afterthoughts, procedures manuals have turned into neglected tools that are rarely used even though well-written current documentation can play many useful roles. Although speculating about the possible reasons for the decline, the article does not try to trace its sources; nor does it merely advocate a greater respect for the genre. Instead, this article seeks to change the very perception of what the genre ought to be by looking not only at the end product being created but also at the process that created it. The justification for such a shift lies in the changes taking place in the global environment, in what are coming to be seen as effective management practices, and in emergent information technology. Changing the perception of how the documentation process is viewed can help make it an occasion for institutional learning. That such a shift in perception is practical is evidenced by the success of what has come to be known as process redesign. If it is possible, practical, and profitable to redesign procedures and processes, why not do the same for the process involved in their documentation?