C
I think AndyN's main point got lost in the is-a-process/is-not-a-process discussion.
The big 6 are activities that many companies do not do very well and that many managers would like to avoid. In its wisdom, therefore, the TC has mandated a control measure (documented procedures) for these six activities/procedures/tasks/systems/whatever.
Also, sometimes managers can ignore the big 6 because employees have been taking care of business. For example, the manager may think document control is not an issue because the informal methods used by his employees have been effective. The problem, of course, is that the system is not robust. So, if the one guy that has been making document control work gets run over by a beer truck, things go down hill fast.
In a sense, the big 6 are a somewhat like a colonoscopy:
1. Nobody wants to have one.
2. Some people never have one and yet live a long and happy life.
3. A problem in that area can cause real harm eventually, so prudent people have it done.
The big 6 are activities that many companies do not do very well and that many managers would like to avoid. In its wisdom, therefore, the TC has mandated a control measure (documented procedures) for these six activities/procedures/tasks/systems/whatever.
Also, sometimes managers can ignore the big 6 because employees have been taking care of business. For example, the manager may think document control is not an issue because the informal methods used by his employees have been effective. The problem, of course, is that the system is not robust. So, if the one guy that has been making document control work gets run over by a beer truck, things go down hill fast.
In a sense, the big 6 are a somewhat like a colonoscopy:
1. Nobody wants to have one.
2. Some people never have one and yet live a long and happy life.
3. A problem in that area can cause real harm eventually, so prudent people have it done.
