Writing Policy

Started by JamesA1 • 4 replies • 592 views

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JamesA1 (Maryland)
Posts: 21

Posted:

We are debating the differences between policy and procedure.
Does anyone have a good on-line reference on what a policy should contain.
Thank you

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

Without visiting Google, our friend, I'd say policy is what must be done in a situation or setting. Procedure would be how to do it.

RichardB37 (South Carolina)
Posts: 29

Posted:

What we do in cases where behavior is not subject to ByLaws or Covenants is to construct a guideline document. In your case, call it a policy statement. We try to get out ahead of potential issues, and circulate the guideline to the neighborhood. We manage using this guideline by influence rather than hard line regulation. When a question comes up regarding behavior related to the guideline, we refer to it. Over time it becomes easier and easier to get compliance with the guideline. The guideline document is typically one page and explains the Associations position relative to a specific issue. Take ARB, for example. We have been able to coach residents to follow a guideline on subjects not covered in Covenants. It takes some practice and a cooperative approach, but it can work.

GenoS (Florida)
Posts: 4,276

Posted:

Quote:

Posted By JamesA1 on 02/15/2019 1:47 PM
We are debating the differences between policy and procedure.
Does anyone have a good on-line reference on what a policy should contain.
Thank you

That's a good question. There's often a slim distinction, if any. We've been slowly updating our 90-page binder of "Rules & Regulations" and there's a lot of redundancy, meaning the procedure just echoes the policy. I think we're going to overhaul our procedures and have one simple blanket policy: "Our policy is to follow these procedures." The more we look at it the more it appears that outside of our procedures there's not a lot of policy to worry about. A Late Payment and/or Collections Policy is one that stands out as necessary.

TimB4 (Tennessee)
Posts: 21,059

Posted:

From the internet:

A policy is a guiding principle used to set direction in an organization. A procedure is a series of steps to be followed as a consistent and repetitive approach to accomplish an end result.

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