Documentation is an important task in the organization.
Those who ever watch television series like CSI know that documentation is important. Documenting the crime scene is one of the first steps in solving a crime. In this step every details is pictured and or described, but also during the process, every remark from witnesses or suspect s in the crime-scene is fully documented. The goal of doing this is very simple; by documenting data and information during such a process every user or agent who is involved is able to participate in solving the crime. The better the documentation, the higher the chances that a crime gets solved.
Unfortunately this is not what we see when looking at the television because documentation o itself is time consuming and perceived to be boring.
Also in “normal” organizations the activity of documenting is quite important. Think about a call center of a large bank where under normal circumstances there is a single assignment of agents to a client, it could happen that the client calls when the dedicated agents is not around. Leaving a note in whatever form is than most adequate. This is a normal example but there are many others.
The main point behind this documenting-issue is that teamwork is more than working with others in a team. Leaving a note is rather easy to recognize as a cooperative action; you do something for someone else. In the case of the call-center you know who the other is.
In may other cases, like the documentation of the crime scene, there is no direct or visible link to your documenting the scene and others using it. One moment ten people could work on the case and some other moment one or fifteen. You do not always (have to) know them.
What must be clear is that without documentation there is no teamwork, and organizations cannot live without it.
© 2007 Hans Bool
Hans Bool writes articles about management, culture and change. If you are interested to read or experience more about these topics have a look at: Astor White or sign-up for our newsletter.
Source: www.ezinearticles.com