The problem that kills most efforts.
WHY IT IS THE HARDEST PART
Documentation is written once and the work keeps changing.
WHAT OUT-OF-DATE DOCUMENTATION CAUSES
Errors Loss of confidence in all documentation People reverting to asking
WHY WRONG INSTRUCTIONS ARE WORSE THAN NONE
They are followed.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
An owner for every document.
WHY AN OWNER
Unowned documents are updated by nobody.
WHAT THE OWNER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR
Reviewing it periodically Updating it when the work changes
WHAT TO ESTABLISH AS A TRIGGER
That changing a process includes updating the document.
WHY AS PART OF THE CHANGE
Updating afterwards does not happen.
WHAT TO RECORD ON EACH DOCUMENT
Who owns it When it was last reviewed What version it is
WHY THE REVIEW DATE
It tells the reader how much to trust it.
WHAT TO DO ABOUT DOCUMENTS NOBODY HAS REVIEWED
Review or remove them.
WHY REMOVE
An unmaintained document is a liability.
WHAT TO ESTABLISH
A review cycle proportionate to how fast things change.
WHAT TO MAKE EASY
Correcting a document when someone notices it is wrong.
HOW
A route to flag or edit it immediately.
WHY EASY
Friction means errors are noticed and left.
WHAT TO ENCOURAGE
Anyone correcting anything they find wrong.
WHAT TO AVOID
Approval processes that prevent updates.
WHY
The document stays wrong while approval is pending.
