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Sr. Systems Engineer\/Data Center Manager<\/strong><\/p>\n In the previous articles on policies, processes, and procedures, I defined policies as guidelines or rules for all work impacting the data center.\u00a0 Processes are high-level steps needed to perform a desired output.\u00a0 Procedures serve the distinct role of explaining in detail how to perform tasks.\u00a0 Procedures minimize error by ensuring work is performed consistently, efficiently, and conforms to best practices.\u00a0 Within this fourth and final article on policies, processes and procedures, I will offer the following tips for creating effective procedures.<\/p>\n Determine the Right Amount of Detail:\u00a0 <\/strong>As mentioned, the goal of procedures is to provide detailed instructions for completing activities.\u00a0 A big challenge when writing procedures is determining the right amount of detail to include.\u00a0 When documenting how to use particular software, do you need to explain how to turn on the computer and launch the software?\u00a0 Or, do you skip over those details and just include steps necessary to use the software? \u00a0The amount of detail to include depends on your audience.\u00a0 For example, if you are writing cable installation procedures intended for certified cable installation vendors, skipping details on how to terminate cables ends makes sense.\u00a0 Instead, focusing on your organization\u2019s unique cable labeling standards is more appropriate.\u00a0 However, if the cabling procedures are intended for data center technicians who only have basic cabling skills, including \u201cstep by step\u201d instructions on terminating cable ends makes sense.<\/p>\n Use Fewer Words:\u00a0 <\/strong>I remember my English teachers telling everyone in class to write more clearly and concisely.\u00a0 Clear and concise writing is especially important when creating procedures. Staff members shouldn\u2019t have to waste time sifting through pages of extraneous text when searching for something.\u00a0 Make your procedures manuals user-friendly by reducing the number of words while preserving the content\u2019s meaning. Here\u2019s an example of a wordy procedure:<\/p>\n Here\u2019s the same procedure written more concisely:<\/p>\n Add More Pictures:\u00a0 <\/strong>The old clich\u00e9 \u201ca picture is worth a thousand words\u201d <\/em>truly applies to procedures.\u00a0 Words used to describe or explain something may make perfect sense to the author.\u00a0 However, a person reading the procedure may not fully understand or misinterpret the written explanation.\u00a0 Diagrams and pictures help avoid any misinterpretations and can dramatically reduce the amount of text needed.<\/p>\n The following is a procedure that effectively uses pictures while keeping the amount of words written to a minimum:<\/p>\n Parting Words:\u00a0 <\/strong>Procedures explain how to perform specific tasks. One tip for creating effective data center procedures is to know your audience and provide the appropriate amount of detail based on their skill level and expertise.\u00a0 Another tip is to use clear and concise wording to make it easy for users to quickly comprehend the content.\u00a0 Finally, use pictures and diagrams to ensure readers understand the content. \u00a0Utilizing these tips will help you create effective procedures that will aid in reducing error and increasing uptime for your data center.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Be sure to check back here soon for the next installment on Tips From A Data Center Manager.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Written by Nate Josephs Sr. Systems Engineer\/Data Center Manager In the previous articles on policies, processes, and procedures, I defined policies as guidelines or rules for all work impacting the data center.\u00a0 Processes are high-level steps needed to perform a desired output.\u00a0 Procedures serve the distinct role of explaining in detail how to perform tasks.\u00a0 Procedures minimize error by ensuring work is performed consistently, efficiently, and conforms to best practices.\u00a0 Within this fourth and final article on policies, processes and procedures, I will offer the following tips for creating effective procedures. Determine the Right Amount of Detail:\u00a0 As mentioned, the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":5950,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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