CSU Documentation Study: Notes

Media	Strengths	Weaknesses	Comments
Manuals, handbooks	Codify instructions, save time and trouble. Explain tested procedures. Provide constant reference. useful for orientation.	Difficult, time consuming, costly to prepare. Need constant updating. Difficult to keep current and readable.	Commonly used medium to inform and train, esp. new staff
Memos, bulletins	Flexible, quickly produced and distributed. Provide documentation, permanent record, and act as reminders. Convey or request information. Establish or confirm policy, authority. Can be formal or informal, personalized or targeted generally.	Tend to be "dashed off" and overworked. Require filing. Unless carefully tracked, can reflect inconsistances and contradictions in policy.	Backbone of documentation process. Work best if limited to a single point or theme.

(Conroy (1986), p. 44-49)