DEVELOPING POLICIES, PROCEDURES & STANDARD OPERATING GUIDELINES (SOPs)
“Creating Clear, Compliant, and Actionable Documents to Drive Operational Excellence and Accountability”
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Course Schedule
| Date | Venue | Fees (Face-to-Face) |
|---|---|---|
| 20 – 24 Apr 2025 | Doha, Qatar | USD 3495 per delegate |
Course Introduction
Well-structured policies, procedures, and standard operating guidelines (SOPs) form the foundation of operational consistency, compliance, and performance. Yet, many organizations struggle to draft documents that are clear, relevant, and aligned with organizational goals. Poorly written or outdated SOPs create risk, confusion, and inefficiency across departments.
This comprehensive 5-day course equips professionals with the skills and tools to develop and manage high-quality policies, procedures, and SOPs. It emphasizes clarity, structure, regulatory alignment, and user engagement to support both strategic direction and day-to-day operations.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
• Understand the differences and relationships between policies, procedures, and SOPs
• Apply best practices in drafting, formatting, and structuring operational documents
• Align documentation with regulatory, quality, and strategic requirements
• Facilitate stakeholder reviews, approvals, and implementation processes
• Establish a document control system for versioning, access, and updates
Key Benefits of Attending
• Gain practical skills to write clear, actionable, and compliant documents
• Reduce risks caused by ambiguity, non-compliance, and outdated procedures
• Improve internal communication and cross-functional clarity
• Learn how to create SOPs that support audits, onboarding, and quality assurance
• Enhance operational efficiency and organizational learning
Intended Audience
This program is designed for:
• Policy and procedure writers and reviewers
• Department heads and operations managers
• Quality assurance and internal audit teams
• HR, compliance, and governance professionals
• Anyone responsible for maintaining organizational documentation
Individual Benefits
Key competencies that will be developed include:
• Technical and business writing for clarity and action
• Structuring and formatting professional documents
• Document lifecycle management and change control
• Cross-functional coordination and stakeholder alignment
• Compliance alignment with ISO, internal standards, and regulations
Organization Benefits
Upon completing the training course, participants will demonstrate:
• Consistent and standardized processes across departments
• Improved readiness for audits, certifications, and inspections
• Clear accountability and role-based guidance
• Enhanced knowledge retention and business continuity
• Reduced operational risk and improved process efficiency
Instructional Methdology
The course follows a blended learning approach combining theory with practice:
• Strategy Briefings – Policy hierarchy, governance, and alignment
• Case Studies – Real-life successes and failures in documentation
• Workshops – Writing exercises, formatting sessions, and peer review
• Peer Exchange – Review and feedback on participant documents
• Tools – Templates for policies, procedures, SOPs, and document control logs
Course Outline
Training Hours: 07:30 AM – 03:30 PM
Daily Format: 3–4 Learning Modules | Coffee Breaks: 09:30 & 11:15 | Lunch Break: 01:00 – 02:00
Day 1: Foundations of Policy and SOP Development
Module 1: Defining Policies, Procedures, and SOPs (07:30 – 09:30)
• Purpose and structure of each document type
• The role of documentation in governance and operations
Module 2: Policy and SOP Lifecycle (09:45 – 11:15)
• From creation to retirement
• Stakeholder roles in drafting and approval
Module 3: Workshop – Policy Structure and Mapping (11:30 – 01:00)
• Draft a policy outline based on organizational need
Day 2: Writing with Clarity and Purpose
Module 4: Writing Guidelines and Language (07:30 – 09:30)
• Plain language, tone, and action-oriented writing
• Avoiding jargon and ambiguity
Module 5: Formatting and Visual Standards (09:45 – 11:15)
• Headers, numbering, version control, and references
• Use of flowcharts, forms, and visuals
Module 6: Workshop – Drafting a Procedure (11:30 – 01:00)
• Convert a process into a clear, structured procedure
Day 3: SOP Development and Process Integration
Module 7: SOP Development Standards (07:30 – 09:30)
• ISO, quality, and regulatory alignment
• Process mapping as a base for SOPs
Module 8: Process Ownership and Controls (09:45 – 11:15)
• Linking SOPs to roles and responsibilities
• Escalation points and exception handling
Module 9: Workshop – Creating a Full SOP (11:30 – 01:00)
• Draft an SOP using provided templates and flow diagrams
Day 4: Review, Approval, and Implementation
Module 10: Review and Sign-off Protocols (07:30 – 09:30)
• Internal review workflows and cross-functional input
• Legal, regulatory, and executive approval
Module 11: Communication and Training Strategies (09:45 – 11:15)
• Launching and embedding new SOPs
• Staff onboarding, coaching, and assessments
Module 12: Workshop – SOP Rollout Plan (11:30 – 01:00)
• Develop a communication and training plan for a new SOP
Day 5: Document Control and Governance
Module 13: Document Management Systems (07:30 – 09:30)
• Version control, access rights, and archiving
• Policy management platforms and audit trails
Module 14: Auditing and Continuous Improvement (09:45 – 11:15)
• KPI monitoring and review cycles
• Lessons learned and document updates
Module 15: Final Workshop – Document Audit Simulation (11:30 – 01:00)
• Conduct a mock review of documentation compliance and currency
Certification
Participants will receive a Certificate of Completion in Developing Policies, Procedures & Standard Operating Guidelines (SOPs), validating their expertise in drafting, managing, and implementing professional documentation to support operational excellence and compliance.