A core process is the high-level flow of how work gets done. Usually a team has 5-10 core processes and they include items such as
- HR
- Marketing
- Sales
- Operations 1
- Operations 2
- Accounting
A procedure is the specific steps inside one part of that process.
A policy is a rule or boundary that governs behavior. It is usually not included in process work, but lives in a handbook.
An SOP or standard operating procedure, is the detailed version of a procedure. In plain terms: the process is the what and the order, the procedure is the how, the policy is the must and must-not, and the SOP is the written record.
I am a Certified EOS Implementer® in Denver and co-author of Process!, the official EOS book on the Process Component. Most teams do not need more policies. They need a few clear processes their people actually follow.
Start with your handful of core processes, document the major steps, and keep each one short enough to use during the work.
