Re: Standards and Procedures

["Karen E. Black" <kblack_text -at- hotmail -dot- com>]

Annette, my former (national) company had extensive policies and procedures 
online that were updated regularly. The identification system was simple - 
security policies were numbered SEC-n, human resources/personnel were 
numbered HR-n, Finance, Purchasing, General all had their initialisms. When 
new policies related to current policies were added (such as achieving 
preferred vendor status to the purchasing policies), the numbering changed 
to PUR-1.2 (and .1.1 as required). You could search by policy number, 
keyword, initials (PUR, GEN, HR, FIN, etc.). They didn't bother to number by 
update; you could tell by the date/superseded-by fields at the top of the 
form. Sub-policies included how to enter required data on our information 
systems (my area).

Numbering came kinda natural to the system. Nobody had problems with it.

If a sub-policy became obsolete (by technology or regulations), numbering 
went back to the simple AAA-1 format.

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The standard of behavior we exhibit during emergencies is not scary; on the 
contrary. It is a demonstration of how pleasant life can be when people 
treat one another courteously.
--Judith Martin (Miss Manners)