What content belongs in the management system?

An interactive management system that makes all company knowledge accessible — sounds almost too good to be true. And let's be honest: It's not quite that simple. Because even an interactive management system needs rules so that there is no wild growth and that it really enriches everyday working life. So which content actually belongs in Q.wiki and which does not?

Basically, what you document in Q.wiki always depends on the goal of your management system. For example, would you like to concentrate entirely on cross-departmental work in your company? Then it is perfectly okay to only document processes and omit detailed work instructions. Nevertheless, our general recommendation is: Work instructions are correct in Q.wiki, as they help your employees to correctly execute a specific process.

General recommendations for your management system

That belongs in the management system

• Knowledge of HOW to do something, e.g.
  • Process descriptions and work instructions
  • checklists
  • Additional information such as Powerpoints, PDFs...
• Knowledge that you need to carry out a process at least 50 times
• Inputs only if they are needed again and again unchanged, e.g.
  • blank templates

That doesn't belong in the management system

• Results documentation, evidence, archives, e.g.
  • Order documents
  • invoices
  • Order-specific additional information, such as emails, notes,...
• Knowledge that you need once for an acute process
• Outputs, e.g.
  • completed templates
• Everything that needs to be updated daily, hourly, minute

Conclusion: The HOW is decisive

The biggest added value of an interactive management system is that it gives you the HOW to all business processes, including the necessary tools. Your management system is not an archive for customer-specific order documents that won't help you with the next process run — there are ERP and document management systems for that.

We hope that these recommendations will help you on your way to an optimal management system. But remember: exceptions confirm the rule. For example, corporate goals or your company's values could also be seen as output — and of course still belong in a complete management system!