Desk Manual
Desk Manual Development A “desk manual” is a document that should be developed for every position in your organization, especially those where multiple people do the same job with specific expectations, or there is only one employee with specific content knowledge. Desk manuals include information and step-by-step processes that a particular staff member uses to get their specific job done. A properly written desk manual can serve as a virtual back-up employee, in the event someone on your team becomes ill or leaves the organization. It's your best insurance against the loss of valuable institutional knowledge. Desk manuals can assist you with any of the following:.
to develop their own desk manuals. Be an “accountability helper” to ensure that desk manuals are completed by a specific deadline. Complete a position analysis worksheet identifying all of the major functions associated with a position (that would then allow the staff members to document specific tasks). Create the entire manual including documenting major functions, tasks and information related to performing the role Desk manuals are also great training tools when you are orienting a new team member. They give the new staff person an easy tool to reference as they learn the requirements associated with a job and cut your training time significantly. CASE STUDIES.
Desk Manual Templates Free
How to create a Desk Manual We all like to think we're irreplacable, but let's face it keeping information organized in such a manner that a Temp can come in to your desk or department and perform is the mark of a true Office professional. One of the best ways to organize information for those you support, and therefore those who might be sitting at your desk one day completely clueless, is a little known document called the Desk Manual.
Desk Manual?! What is that?! A desk manual is just that, a document that gives a temporary replacement enough information to be productive.
After all, every company has their own way of doing things and ensuring a temporary replacement is able to work effectively speaks volumes about the person who left the manual behind 'just in case'. Formatting your Manual If you're a ringed binder kind of Administrative Professional, then by all means, go ahead. We've seen them in notebooks, binders, and spiral bound books, the format you decide to use is generally up to you, but here's where it shouldn't be: In the computer. At least not exclusively.
Because in most cases your replacement won't even have a log in password. This is one case where electronic isn't better, though you should certainly keep your master document in electronic format for easy revision (And if this will be your first Desk Manual, there will be revisions aplenty!). Use tabs, title pages, and table of contents. You can make your Desk Manual as elaborate as you like, however, what is really important is that the information it holds is clearly organized and easy to cross-reference.