What Is Training Documentation? Types & How to Create One With Examples

Training documentation is indispensable for any organization looking to enhance the effectiveness of its training programs. 

These documents streamline the learning experience and ensure consistency and quality across training sessions by meticulously outlining the training process, objectives, and resources. 

According to a LinkedIn report, around 93% of employees will stay longer in a company, provided the due focus is given to their career progression and skill enhancement.

In this blog, we will discuss the importance and types of training documentation. We will also learn how to create effective training documentation and how training documentation software can help. 

What Is Training Documentation?

Training documentation refers to the content resources that educate employees, customers, or users about a product, service, or organizational process. It helps ensure that the knowledge delivery is consistent, comprehensive, and accessible to all relevant parties. 

Training documentation usually includes training manuals, user guides, course materials, online learning modules, and assessment tools. Its primary purpose is to provide a structured and replicable approach to learning, enhance training effectiveness by giving clear and detailed information, and serve as a reference that trainees can revisit after the training session. 

For example, consider a training manual of a heavy machinery manufacturer. The manual would provide step-by-step instructions on operating the machinery, each accompanied by diagrams or photos to aid visual understanding. 

It would also include guidelines on safety procedures to prevent accidents and ensure compliance with regulatory standards. It could feature a troubleshooting section that helps operators diagnose and resolve common problems that occur during the operation of the machinery. 

What Is the Importance of Creating Training Documentation?

Creating training documentation contributes to the effectiveness, efficiency, and continuity of training programs within an organization. 

Let’s discuss its many benefits.

Standardizes Training

Training documentation ensures that every user has the same information, instruction, and resources, regardless of the trainer or the training session’s timing. 

This standardization helps maintain consistent quality, especially in larger companies with multiple branches or international offices. 

It eliminates the variability caused by different trainers’ styles and expertise levels, ensuring all employees understand their roles and responsibilities.

Improves Effectiveness of Training

Training documents, like manuals, guides, and e-learning modules, are designed to convey information in a clear, concise, and engaging manner. 

This structured approach helps users absorb and retain information more effectively. Effective documentation uses pedagogical principles that cater to various learning styles, such as visual, auditory, and kinesthetic. 

It can also incorporate assessments to evaluate understanding and reinforce learning, which enhances the overall effectiveness of the training.

Serves as an Ongoing Resource

Training documentation helps during formal training sessions as a valuable reference tool for employees long after the initial training is complete. 

For example, when faced with a task they don’t frequently handle, employees can refer back to the documentation for step-by-step guidance. 

This ongoing access to essential information helps staff perform their jobs more effectively and confidently, minimizing downtime and the likelihood of errors.

Enables Quick Onboarding

Comprehensive training documentation can significantly shorten the onboarding process for new hires.

It enables new employees to learn about their job functions and the company’s policies at their own pace, and interactive documentation tools like digital platforms can make this process even more efficient. 

This faster ramp-up time for new staff members leads to enhanced integration into productive roles within the company, maximizing human resource efficiency.

Enhances Employee Productivity

According to a report by McKinsey, employees spend 19% of their work time searching for information. If tasks like gathering information and collaborating with colleagues consume most of an employee’s day, it’s likely to dwindle his or her productivity.

This problem can easily be solved with the help of online training documentation. When critical information related to work processes, policies, clients, products, etc., is documented on a centralized platform, it gets easy for employees to get what they need in a jiffy. 

They don’t have to approach multiple people to receive information or send emails and wait for a response. Employees can refer to the documentation to access data instantly while they are working on a project, making a presentation, creating a pitch, or doing anything specific to their roles. 

Facilitates Regulatory Compliance

Training on certain topics like safety, privacy, and anti-discrimination is legally required in many industries, especially the regulated ones. 

Training documentation ensures that all legal bases are covered and the training meets all regulatory requirements. 

It can also provide a record of completed training, which is crucial for demonstrating compliance during audits or inspections.

Supports Updates & Scalability

Training manuals should evolve with processes and policies. A robust documentation base makes it easier to update training materials as changes occur, ensuring that training stays updated.

Scalable training documentation can also grow with the company, supporting new products, technologies, and roles without starting from scratch.

What Are the Types of Training Documentation?

There are different types of training documentation created to meet different educational needs and operational goals. Let’s discuss the most common types of training documentation. 

Employee Handbooks

These comprehensive guides communicate a company’s mission, values, policies, and procedures to its staff. These are crucial for onboarding new employees, as they convey what is expected from them regarding behavior, responsibilities, and workplace norms. 

Employee handbooks usually include information on company culture, benefits, disciplinary procedures, and safety protocols. They serve as a reference guide for employees throughout their tenure at the company, ensuring consistent understanding and adherence to company policies.

User Guides

These are comprehensive manuals aimed at helping users understand how to operate a product or software. These are usually written in simple language and include step-by-step instructions complemented by visuals like diagrams or screenshots. 

User guides are crucial for training users on complex equipment or software to ensure maximum product usability and self-service. Well-crafted, extensive user guides improve customer satisfaction and reduce the burden on support teams by empowering users to solve issues independently.

Knowledge Base Articles

These are part of an online library that provides self-service support for users or employees. These articles cover topics like frequently asked questions (FAQs), troubleshooting guides, how-to articles, and problem-solving instructions. 

Knowledge bases allow users to find information quickly without waiting for assistance and are continually updated to reflect new insights and solutions. They are crucial for ongoing learning and support, enhancing user autonomy and efficiency.

Task Documentation

This consists of specific guides for individual tasks within a company and provides detailed, step-by-step instructions on performing a particular task effectively and efficiently. 

It is crucial for training new or cross-training existing employees in new roles. It helps ensure that tasks are completed consistently and correctly across all shifts and personnel changes, helping maintain operational reliability and quality.

Project Documentation

It refers to the content resources generated during project execution. It could include project plans, schedules, status reports, and final project deliverables. 

It helps keep all stakeholders informed and engaged, facilitates project management, and serves as a historical record for future reference. It enables teams to stay aligned with project goals and requirements and provides a framework for evaluating project performance against established metrics.

Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)

SOPs are comprehensive, written instructions to achieve uniformity in performing a specific function. SOPs are critical in environments that require strict adherence to specific standards to maintain quality and compliance, such as manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and any regulatory environment. 

Good SOPs reduce learning curves and mistakes by providing clear, actionable information on performing complex tasks effectively. They are essential for training new employees and ensuring consistent execution by all staff.

How to Create Training Documentation in Simple Steps

Creating adequate training documentation requires a strategic process to enhance learning and operational efficiency within an organization. 

Let’s discuss all the essential steps involved in training documentation. 

Define the Purpose & Audience

Start by defining the purpose of the documentation by asking yourself:

• What do I want to achieve?
• Do I want to onboard new employees, train users on a new software tool, or provide safety training?

Understanding the purpose will guide the content and structure of your documentation. The next step is identifying the target audience by analyzing their existing knowledge, learning needs, and how they will use the documentation. 

Collect Information

Gather all necessary information that needs to be included in the documentation. Consult with subject matter experts (SMEs) to ensure accuracy and comprehensiveness. 

Put together existing resources, like manuals, procedural documents, and training materials that can be repurposed or updated. This step is crucial to ensure all relevant and correct information is covered in the documentation.

Select the Appropriate Format

Choose the most suitable format based on the content, purpose, and audience. Such options could include written documents like PDFs, interactive e-learning modules, video tutorials, or a combination. 

The format should enable easy learning and access, suitable for different learning styles and preferences.

Create Content

Start with an outline to organize the topics in a logical manner. Use clear, concise language appropriate for the target audience. 

Add visual elements like diagrams, infographics, and videos to enhance understanding and engagement. Cover all the essential topics, such as step-by-step procedures, tips, best practices, and common troubleshooting issues.

Set Up a Review & Feedback System

Before finalizing the documentation content, have it reviewed by SMEs and potential users to ensure accuracy and usability. 

Feedback is crucial to ensure the documentation meets learning objectives and is user-friendly. Although this process could involve several revisions based on feedback, it provides credibility and subject-matter expertise.

Finalize & Distribute

Once the content is edited and approved, finalize the formatting and layout. If the documentation is digital, ensure it is compatible with all intended platforms and devices. 

Share the documentation with users through the appropriate channels, like learning management systems (LMS), company intranets, or direct email.

Evaluate & Update Regularly

Once the documentation is live, regularly monitor its effectiveness through user feedback and performance assessments. Evaluate if the training goals are being met and identify areas for improvement. 

This should be part of the lifecycle of your documentation to accommodate changes in processes, technology, and regulatory requirements.

How Training Documentation Improves Employee Onboarding 

How you induct new employees into your organization speaks volumes about your values. Onboarding plays a significant role in how new hires perceive your brand, as the experience stays with them right from the day they join till they leave your company. 

Various companies put a lot of effort into developing a process for their remote employees’ onboarding, which definitely helps them get amazing results. Meanwhile, onboarding isn’t an important task for some firms because they hire contractors or freelancers for short-term projects. 

Even if so, a messed up contractor onboarding can create various hurdles, from misunderstandings to obstacles, slowing the workflow and affecting employee-employer relationships.

This is why onboarding is an opportunity for you to win the hearts of new hires and keep them in your organization for a longer time. In fact, Glassdoor has confirmed that a robust onboarding process can improve new hire retention by 82%. From this, it is evident that onboarding cannot be sidelined. 

Just having the process in place isn’t enough. The process must be seamless and fuss-free, especially when work has gone remote. 

An online training document can be of immense help here. It is the buddy your new hires will need whenever they have questions about your company, policies, roles, etc. They can refer to it to get instant information anytime they want. 

It’s time-saving, prompt, and relieves employees from going from pillar to post for trivial issues. 

Training Documentation Examples

Let’s now look at some examples of training documentation to help you get started.

CDS Convert

CDS Convert employs a clear and user-friendly approach with its instructional content. It uses simple language and logical sequencing of steps, supported by screenshots, to guide users effectively. 

The minimalistic design emphasizes readability with bold highlights for key points and a layout optimized for easy navigation. Additional resources are accessible via a well-organized sidebar, enhancing the learning experience by facilitating access to related topics. 

Apple

Apple showcases its characteristic clear and engaging writing style with high usability in mind, using direct, concise language that makes technical information accessible to users of all skill levels. 

The guide is visually rich, with crisp images and icons corresponding to the instructions, enhancing comprehension and retention. 

The layout is intuitively organized, with well-defined sections and a navigable interface encouraging exploration and ease of use. This design ethos ensures that users can efficiently find and apply the necessary information.

NFIB Legal Foundation

NFIB’s employee handbook takes a structured and systematic approach to communication. It starts with a welcome message, an effective strategy to set a positive tone and engage employees from the outset. 

Following this introduction, the key sections include company history, missions, values, and a comprehensive breakdown of employment policies, procedures, and benefits.

The handbook maintains a professional yet approachable tone throughout, which helps in making the information feel more accessible to employees. The language is clear and concise, aiming to eliminate any ambiguity about company policies. 

Standardize Training With Comprehensive Training Documentation

Training documentation ensures that employees are well-equipped with the knowledge and skills required to perform their roles efficiently. 

Well-crafted training documentation helps reduce onboarding times and ensures consistency in training to comply with industry standards and enhance employee engagement. 

ProProfs Knowledge Base can streamline the creation and management of training documentation. Its user-friendly interface allows you to easily create comprehensive training manuals, step-by-step guides, and interactive FAQs. 

It lets users incorporate multimedia elements, like images, videos, and diagrams, to make training materials more engagin. Its robust collaboration features like smart user management, conditional content, internal comments, and more, your team can collaborate easily. Explore the tool more and get started.