Policy, Process or Procedure: Know the Difference

From the AMTA Quality Assurance Department:

Policy: The documented principles by which an organization is guided in its management of affairs and overall commitment. Policies are guidelines or business rules that drive the Processes and Procedures.

Procedure: A series of step-by-step instructions compiled by an organization to help workers carry out complex routine operations.

Process: A series or set of activities that interact to produce a result; it may occur once-only or be recurrent or periodic. Processes indicate where there is a separation of responsibilities and control points.  They are also very helpful to identify Policy and Procedure requirements.  Processes address who is responsible to perform the Process (department, division), what major functions are performed, and when the function is triggered.

Policy vs. Procedure: Policies set some parameters for decision-making but leave room for flexibility. They show the “why” behind an action. Procedures, on the other hand, explain the “how”. They provide step-by-step instructions for specific routine tasks.

Process vs. Procedure: A process is more surface level. It’s used by management to analyze the efficiency of their business. A procedure, on the other hand, is a lot more detailed, as it includes the exact instructions on how the employee is supposed to carry out the job.