What is the primary difference between a policy and a procedure?

What is the primary difference between a policy and a procedure?

• A. A policy is a guideline; a procedure is a plan.
• B. A policy is a legal requirement; a procedure is a suggestion.
• C. A policy is created in response to a situation; a procedure is created to prevent a situation.
• D. A policy moves up the chain of command; a procedure moves down.

Answer: (A)

Policies establish high-level direction or rules that define what must be done and why. Procedures translate that direction into concrete steps—the how, when, who, and in what order—so the policy is actually put into practice. The correct choice captures this by describing a policy as a guideline and a procedure as a plan. For example, a policy might state that all incidents must be reported; the procedure would specify the exact steps to report, the forms to use, the deadlines, and who to notify. The other options mischaracterize the relationship: policies aren’t necessarily legal requirements, procedures aren’t mere suggestions, and the distinction isn’t about moving up or down a chain of command.

Policies establish high-level direction or rules that define what must be done and why. Procedures translate that direction into concrete steps—the how, when, who, and in what order—so the policy is actually put into practice. The correct choice captures this by describing a policy as a guideline and a procedure as a plan. For example, a policy might state that all incidents must be reported; the procedure would specify the exact steps to report, the forms to use, the deadlines, and who to notify. The other options mischaracterize the relationship: policies aren’t necessarily legal requirements, procedures aren’t mere suggestions, and the distinction isn’t about moving up or down a chain of command.