Glossary

What is work instructions?

Definition

Work instructions are step-level directions for performing a single task — more granular than an SOP, which describes a whole procedure. They state exactly what to click, enter or check, in order.

Work instructions vs. SOPs

An SOP says what the procedure is and who owns it; work instructions say precisely how each task inside it is executed. In software teams, work instructions are best captured as a recording of the task with numbered steps generated from it.

Related terms

See it in practice

Explaino turns one screen recording into a narrated how-to video, a step-by-step article and translations.

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