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SOP and Technical Writing

This course is designed to equip participants with the essential skills needed to write and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that are both compliant with regulatory standards and practical for everyday employee use. Attendees will learn the entire process of SOP development, from outlining requirements to writing clear, effective documents that facilitate consistent and efficient operations.

The course will cover critical aspects such as determining which processes to document, understanding the relationship between various process documents, and identifying the appropriate audience for each SOP. Participants will also delve into best practices for explaining systems, activities, and processes, focusing on proper tense and word choice to ensure clarity and precision. Additionally, the course will address the importance of a thorough review and revision process to maintain document compliance over time.

Learning Objectives:

  • Understand the regulatory requirements related to SOPs and how to ensure compliance.
  • Identify and prioritize the processes that need to be documented.
  • Analyze the relationships between different process documents to create a cohesive system.
  • Identify the target audience for SOPs and tailor the content accordingly.
  • Master the techniques for writing clear, concise, and effective SOPs, including appropriate tense and word choice.
  • Implement a structured review and revision process to keep SOPs up-to-date and compliant.

Who Should Attend:

  • Quality assurance and compliance professionals responsible for maintaining SOPs
  • Managers and supervisors tasked with documenting procedures for operational consistency.
  • Employees involved in reviewing or revising SOPs to ensure ongoing compliance and effectiveness.

This course is ideal for anyone involved in the creation, maintenance, or implementation of SOPs, providing them with the tools and knowledge to produce high-quality, compliant, and user-friendly documentation.

Overview

This course is designed to equip participants with the essential skills needed to write and maintain Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that are both compliant with regulatory standards and practical for everyday employee use. Attendees will learn the entire process of SOP development, from outlining requirements to writing clear, effective documents that facilitate consistent and efficient operations.

The course will cover critical aspects such as determining which processes to document, understanding the relationship between various process documents, and identifying the appropriate audience for each SOP. Participants will also delve into best practices for explaining systems, activities, and processes, focusing on proper tense and word choice to ensure clarity and precision. Additionally, the course will address the importance of a thorough review and revision process to maintain document compliance over time.

This course will provide attendees with information in the key areas listed below, along with key learning outcomes in each area. Participants will learn:

  1. Systems
    1. Outline regulatory requirements
    2. Determine which processes to document
    3. Evaluate the relationship between process documents
    4. Identify the audience
    5. Explain systems, activities, processes
  2. Tense and Word Choice
    1. Choose verbs to control action
    2. Utilize active voice in documents
    3. Craft documents using the present tense, correct punctuation, and written in the third person with an imperative voice
  3. Writing Effective Documents
    1. Identify the proper sequence of actions
    2. Employ consistency from document to document
    3. Construct an SOP in the appropriate format
    4. Describe language/jargon barriers
    5. Address grammar and language concerns
  4. Hands-on Writing Sessions
    1. Using skills attained, create and/or edit SOP documents
    2. Clarify language and remove redundancies
  5. Review and Revise
    1. Participate in peer review of documents
    2. Refine purpose and scope of SOP
    3. Assess and improve the flow of documents
  6. Compliance
    1. Develop review cycles
    2. Design document retention system
    3. Relate document revisions and their impact on other documents
    4. Schedule timeline to activate documents from the planning stage to implementation

 

This course will not include a final examination. Participants will evaluate the quality and structure of the course itself.

Agenda

  • Documentation Systems
    • Determining which processes to document
    • Creating systems
  • Writing Effective Documents
    • Identifying the audience
    • Tense and word choice
    • Sequencing
       
  • Review and Revision
    • Peer review of documents
    • Refine the purpose and scope of the SOP
    • Access and improve the flow of documents
  • Compliance
    • Develop review cycles
    • Document retention

Fees

  • $650-$725 in-state residents
  • $725-$880 out-of-state residents

Instructors

Lead Instructor

Kim Bukowski
Extension Associate
rdr10 [at] cornell.edu (krb14[at]cornell[dot]edu)
(607) 254-3313

 

Course Dates

  • Hybrid Course: Online content and live Zoom session 
    • Online modules and live Zoom session, November 5, 2025

Course Contact

Louise Felker
Program Coordinator
607-255-7098
lmf226 [at] cornell.edu (lmf226[at]cornell[dot]edu)