Guidance documents provide instructions and suggestions for tasks related to a specific subject, often published by government entities or companies to comply with regulations. They typically include an introduction, chapters addressing key issues, Q&A section, and glossary of terms. They can be brief or complex and help companies avoid non-compliance and costly changes.
A guidance document is a type of formal publication that provides instructions and suggestions that readers can use as they engage in tasks related to that specific document. Government entities often publish documents of this type to help individuals and companies comply with regulations issued by regulatory agencies by providing valuable information in an organized format. Along with government agencies, companies also issue guidance documents that assist in managing a project or operating a branch of an established company in an international location.
While there is no universal format for a guidance document, there are some elements included in almost all publications of this type. Documents typically include an introduction that provides the reader with some information about the subject covered in later sections. It is not uncommon for the introduction to also outline the reasons for preparing the guidance document and provide an overview of the goals the editor has in terms of value to readers.
Along with the introduction, a guidance document will normally be structured into a series of chapters that address key issues related to the subject. Each topic is discussed in detail, including information on potential uses, any laws or regulations that should be kept in mind as part of that use, and what kind of penalties may be incurred as a result of non-compliance. The idea is to provide a quick and easy way for readers to find the information relevant to a proposed activity and use this data to structure the activity in a way that meets all current legal requirements.
It is not uncommon for a guidance document to include a question and answer section as well as a glossary of terms. The Q&A section will address commonly experienced scenarios when trying to perform tasks relevant to the subject of the document, pointing out ways to manage the tasks and still remain in harmony with security and other government standards. Including a glossary of terms can help readers quickly locate a definition of phrases and terms used in the main body of the guidance document, making it easier to understand the context of the information provided.
Depending on the subject of the guidance document, the publication may be somewhat brief and simplistic, or it may include a large number of pages that contain text, illustrations and anything else needed to explore a rather complex subject. Government agencies often provide these documents to companies for free or for a small fee. As a single resource containing data relevant to specific situations, a guidance document can help companies avoid failing to comply with government regulations and prevent the need to make costly changes to a business operation as a result of such non-compliance.
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