A standard operating procedure (SOP) is a written document that describes the exact steps required to complete a recurring task. SOPs exist for one reason: to make a task reproducible by anyone on the team, not just the person who originally figured it out. They're required for ISO 9001 quality management, common in SOC 2 controls, and useful in any team where more than one person does the same thing more than once.
Glossary
What is a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)?
A standard operating procedure (SOP) is a documented set of step-by-step instructions for performing a routine task. Here's what makes a good one — and how to write yours in 60 seconds.
01
What an SOP includes
Every SOP should contain six things: a title, a purpose, an owner, prerequisites, the numbered steps, and a success criterion. Anything beyond that is optional metadata.
02
When to write an SOP
Write an SOP the second time a task gets done — not the first. The first execution is exploration; by the second, you know the shape of the task and an SOP saves the third person from re-deriving it.
03
SOP vs work instruction vs runbook
An SOP is the procedure-level document. A work instruction is the operator-level detail (often nested inside an SOP). A runbook is an SOP specifically for an operational incident or alert. All three fit cleanly in Guidyy.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Do small teams need SOPs?+
Yes — arguably more than large teams. Small teams have higher bus-factor risk; an SOP is insurance against the one person who knows the workflow leaving on vacation.
How long should an SOP be?+
As long as the task. Most well-written SOPs fit on one screen.
Who owns SOP updates?+
The team that runs the workflow most often. Assign one named owner per SOP and a quarterly review cadence.
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