Why A Checklist Should Be More Than Simply A Number Of Things To Achieve.
I’ve been thru two checklists during the last couple of days, and it has confirmed my belief in their effectiveness as a communication aid. See, there are at least 2 ways that we can look at checklists : in the strategic and tactical ways. One good example of the use of checklists could be if your organization is making an attempt to achieve ISO 22000 authorization. You’ll probably recognize the tactical advantages of using checklists : a straight-forward and logical, as well as cheap, way to draft.
However let’s take a gander at checklists from the strategic perspective today, and discover them as a tool for making our aims. Specifically, that means we’ll think about using them to reinforce or change the views of others. For instance, if you write out information about something that has to be completed, a check list sends 2 messages. One, that you are a well-organized person, and that your communication is sort of sane.
The development of a checklist, in itself, must transmit a message that you have given more than quick attention to the message. It implies that you have considered the method you are requesting others to copy. It also indicates that you’ve taken additional time to compose your message ; you have added worth by adding further structure. The receiver of your message, then, will have the sense that you take the message seriously, because you’ve taken additional trouble to create it in a controlled way. And, that sort of view, in turn will make the receiver more willing to agree with your commands. Having announced all that, we must sit back and ask ourselves where we will use checklists efficiently.
As I’ve written this article, I’ve asked myself if it shouldn’t be in a checklist format. However apparently not ; at least I can not see how it work best. That is due to the fact that checklists work well for terribly linear kinds of information delivery. The instructions for starting a computer or piece of kit, for example. In such cases, there isn’t any room for nuance or fine excellences, vs a list concerned in food certification. A switch turns on, or it turns off ; we do not discuss the way that the switch looks or sounds. Hence think about checklists as tools for developing lists or describing sequential actions.
This context also leads to another strategic use for checklists, which is to guarantee nothing is forgotten and nothing additional goes into the instructions. Make a check list of the steps concerned in a process and you have got a tool for seeing that it stays on track. You may also use checklists for inclusion and exclusion. The implementation of BRC food safety employs heavily the utilising of checklists, as well as less complicated systems. For example, when I travel, I print a packing tick list to make sure I pack the things I need, and maybe of equal importance, don’t pack items I do not need.
In this example, the checklist also acts a memory jogging tool. Having started on the packing list, some non-list items might be recalled. For example, if I am making a note to incorporate a mag to read on the airplane, then I might remember to stop delivery of the papers while I am away. That’s's then something new to add to the next iteration of the checklist.
Tagged with: brc food • food certification • ISO 22000
Filed under: Work at Home
Like this post? Subscribe to my RSS feed and get loads more!


Leave a Reply