Free Process Documentation Templates

Learn how to start documenting processes with ease and discover the best way to document processes using templates. Find out how to write a process document for your business.

Process Documentation Template

This simple process document template contains helpful instructions on what to put for each item to guide managers in documenting the process. With this template, you can do the following and more:

1. Define the process, project objective, process documentation goal, and focus areas.
2. Identify key stakeholders, assign their responsibilities, and get their contact numbers.
3. Describe process boundaries and list activities included in the process scope.
4. Add a visual aid to each process step and determine process inputs and outputs.
5. Come up with a revision schedule before completing the process documentation.
6. Generate process document template reports in formats such as CSV (Excel), PDF, or Word.

What is a Process Documentation Template?

A process documentation template is a tool that helps managers document processes more efficiently. With the pre-existing framework of a process documentation template, managers need only fill out the required fields to document all kinds of processes cohesively. Using process documentation templates, managers can standardize and optimize processes effortlessly.

3 Process Documentation Templates You Should Check Out

Below are previews and descriptions of process documentation templates that you can download, use, and print as PDFs.

Process Documentation Template

The process documentation template, which is also the featured template, is ideal for beginners or those who aren’t yet that familiar with process documentation. Managers can learn more about what is meant by process documentation in this guide .

• The Process
• Project Objective
• Process Documentation Goal
• Focus Areas
• Key Stakeholders
• Responsibilities
• Process Boundaries
• Process Activities / Process Scope
• Process Inputs
• Process Steps – Visual aid & description
• Process Outputs

• Situations that would lead to process exceptions
• What needs to be done and risks to manage should exceptions occur
• Process documentation approval signature (time-stamped)
• Expected and actual challenges regarding the process
• Process documentation review date
• Planning for process documentation revision

Business Process Documentation Template

The business process documentation template is ideal for managers of businesses that need to document a specific business process. You can also duplicate the template if you want to record another business process. Doing this ensures that process documentation for your business is organized and makes getting important information on a business process much easier.

Project Process Documentation Template

The project process documentation template is ideal for professionals in project-based businesses and freelancers. The template contains the following sections for each of the 5 process groups in project management:

Typical Features of a Process Documentation Template

A process documentation template should have these basic elements:

• Process Boundaries – describes when the process starts and when the process ends
• Process Activities – an overview of what is included in the scope of the process
• Process Inputs – identifies the triggers and requirements for the process to start
• Process Outputs – identifies the expected outcome or result of the process
• Process Steps – set of instructions for how to execute the process from start to finish
• Process Exceptions – explains what to do in case of deviations from the process steps
• Revision Schedule – includes date of review and what needs to be done before revision
• Key Stakeholders – their role in the process and a list of their responsibilities

How to Use Process Documentation Templates

Below is a guide on the best ways to use process documentation templates based on the process documentation goal or purpose:

If you want to document an existing process :

1. Secure the involvement of employees who execute the process repeatedly or are experts in the process.
2. Devote time to interviewing these employees on how they execute the process and getting as many details as possible.
3. Observe employees as they execute the process and note any differences between what employees said in their interviews and how they actually do it.

If you want to document a new process :

1. Finish developing the process details before you begin process documentation.
2. Ensure that everyone who was involved in process development also participates in process documentation.
3. Add any changes to the process upon first implementation, but do not delete the initial documentation.

If you want to improve an existing process :

1. Collect feedback from employees who have different knowledge and skill levels when it comes to executing the process (e.g., first-timers, verified experts, and even those with medium or average proficiency).
2. Identify the struggles that each set of employees have with the process and also note how many employees are first-timers, etc.
3. Modify the process to address the struggles of the employees that make up the biggest percentage of your business.

Whether documenting new, existing, or changes in an existing process, getting employees actively involved in documentation can help not only in the efficient documentation of processes but also in their effective implementation.

Free Process Document Templates

Business Process Documentation Template

This business process documentation template helps managers comprehensively record the outline of a business process from beginning to end. Managers can add photos, notes, and actions to each template item. They can also do the following:

1. Specify the process owner or the person responsible for overseeing the process.
2. Add multiple process roles, which include the person’s title, name, and responsibility.
3. Determine the what, who, when, and how of each process step and include photos.
4. Identify how exceptions will be detected, managed, and controlled or prevented.

Project Process Documentation Template

This project process documentation template is ideal for project managers who need to accurately document project processes. It has separate pages for the 5 process groups in project management—initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and closing. Each page contains different sections that include the following process documentation elements:

• Owner
• Boundaries
• Inputs
• Outputs
• Activities
• Tasks
• Steps

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Business Process Documentation Template

This business process documentation template helps managers comprehensively record the outline of a business process from beginning to end. Managers can add photos, notes, and actions to each template item. They can also do the following: Specify the process owner or the person responsible for overseeing the process. Add multiple process roles, which include the person’s title, name, and responsibility. Determine the what, who, when, and how of each process step and include photos. Identify how exceptions will be detected, managed, and controlled or prevented.

Project Process Documentation Template

This project process documentation template is ideal for project managers who need to accurately document project processes. It has separate pages for the 5 process groups in project management—initiation, planning, execution, monitoring, and closing. Each page contains different sections that include the following process documentation elements: Owner Boundaries Inputs Outputs Activities Tasks Steps