1.5 Defining Policies and Procedures
Essentially, policies are the guidelines, intentions and plans for
WHAT an organization proposes to do while procedures are an
outline for HOW these wishes and intentions are to be carried
out.
A policy can be:
- a governing principle
- a guideline or framework for carrying out work and
guide actions
- a way for the board to delegate authority and still
maintain control
- a definition of the values and philosophies, even the
goals, of the program or organization
- a boundary within which an agency operate towards a
specific end
- a clearly stated direction for implementing policies and
procedures
an expectation to guide program operations.
A procedure can tell:
- how a governing principle will be carried out
- how the rules and regulations are to be applied
- the specific activities that will support a policy position
- a course of action arising from policy decisions
- practical details regarding policy implementation such
as who, when, where, how
- what, if any, consequences will arise from
non-compliance.
(Adapted from United Way/TVO, Board Basics video and manual
series, 1995)