Operational Capture
This page explains Operational Capture and its relevance to business operations.
D01 - Process Documentation Coverage
Definition
The act of converting tacit operational knowledge — the informal expertise held by a specific person, into written, testable documentation with a named owner before that person departs, changes roles, or becomes a single point of failure.
Institutional knowledge that isn't documented is not institutional. It is personal. Every hour spent on operational capture is insurance against the cost of losing the person who holds that knowledge.
Most organizations only recognize the need for it after the departure has already occurred.
Indicators
- A specific team member's absence would require you or another senior leader to personally absorb critical operational functions.
- Onboarding a new hire takes longer than it should because critical process knowledge can only be learned by working alongside existing team members.
- No documentation project has ever been triggered by a team member's upcoming departure.
Quick Win
- Name one person whose absence would take critical knowledge with them.
- Ask them to write one paragraph on the thing only they know how to do.
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