6 Tips for a Good Process Description

One misconception we often encounter in our consulting projects: “Once you implement Q.wiki, your management system becomes lively and valuable on its own.”

Not quite. While the software lays the foundation, the decisive factor is the quality of your content — especially your process descriptions. Because even the best tool is useless if the documented processes don’t reflect reality or support daily work. So, what does a good process description look like?

Let’s dive into our experience from hundreds of Q.wiki projects and explore how to write documentation that adds real value — and becomes the cornerstone of your process-oriented knowledge portal.

Define Your Goal Before You Write

Before documenting a process, ask yourself:

• Who is the process description for? Experts or non-specialists?
• Is the process complex or largely self-explanatory?
• Do you just want to get certified — or create a truly useful, participatory system?

These questions help determine the right level of detail. The rule of thumb: As detailed as necessary, as lean as possible.

If a process runs smoothly already, minimal documentation is fine. If it frequently causes confusion or errors, more detail is needed. Q.wiki is designed for a process-oriented knowledge portal, not just for certification. So you’ll often go beyond simply answering “What needs to be done?” and also document how something is done — with templates, linked tools, and additional work instructions.

Thanks to Q.wiki’s decentralized structure, employees can continuously expand and improve process documentation themselves. This transforms static documentation into a living, evolving system tailored to real needs.

How to Make Detailed Documentation Clear

High detail and clarity can go hand in hand — if you follow these best practices:

• Use bullet points instead of long paragraphs.
  This avoids complex sentence structures and makes updates easier and faster.
• Write in an active voice.
  Use “train employees” instead of “employee training”. Clear actions reduce ambiguity.
• Focus on standard cases, not exceptions.
  Don’t document every rare case. Prioritize how the process works most of the time.
• Structure steps chronologically.
  Describe who does what and when — in clear order. Attach relevant files directly to the step where they are needed.
• Limit yourself to 15 process steps.
  More than that overwhelms users. Break long sequences into separate processes or link detailed work instructions.
• Create clear boundaries between steps.
  A new step is needed when responsibility shifts (e.g., to another department) or when tasks are not time-bound to each other.
• Link upstream and downstream processes.
  Also connect to relevant documents, templates, systems, or work instructions. This builds a seamless navigation structure and turns your management system into a company-wide process map.

Why Good Process Descriptions Matter

Well-structured and relevant process documentation:

• Increases usability for everyday work
• Reduces maintenance effort and redundant updates
• Encourages employee participation, making the system grow organically
• Turns certification into a byproduct — not the only goal

Think of your process knowledge like a campfire: If everyone contributes a log, everyone enjoys the warmth.

With well-crafted process descriptions, your management system becomes more than documentation. It becomes a collaborative platform for knowledge, improvement, and sustainable success.