Management Principles #11: Verbatim Compliance

#11 Verbatim Compliance

                  For the purpose of this portion, verbatim compliance is about following the procedures and the books.  The procedures we use and follow every day in project management have been vetted through the years. I often find that many people think they have better ways to do business other than the way that has been written.  However, their ways haven’t gone through a rigorous process to be verified prior to being written and published.  People run a risk every time they choose to not follow the book verbatim. I understand that business adapts, but one should put forth the effort to get new methods written and approved prior to using them.  There should be no argument in following procedure. You do not get to choose which ones to follow and which ones to ignore, but you always have the choice to submit a change if you feel there’s a better or different way to perform.  I understand that in creative workplaces this may not always be the case, and am open to the argument that verbatim compliance in some organizations is not effective. However, in more traditional workplaces, following the book is a necessity.