Difference between process and procedure

The procedure outlines the order of specific steps required to achieve an end result, and a series of procedures taken together make up a process. Successful systems bring together processes and procedures in a way that defines them as a set of instructions.

The difference between processes and procedures can be summed up as breadth and depth. A process defines the big picture and highlights the main elements of your business–breadth. A procedure captures those elements and adds more information for functional responsibilities, objectives, and methods–depth.

A procedure is a synonym for a task, but a process is an upper level series of major steps, with those major steps being procedures or tasks. Tasks are made up of actions or steps. A process is an upper level description of a series of major steps required to accomplish an objective.

The definition of a process is the actions happening while something is happening or being done. An example of process is the steps taken by someone to clean a kitchen. An example of process is a collection of action items to be decided on by government committees.

The definition of procedure is order of the steps to be taken to make something happen, or how something is done. An example of a procedure is breaking eggs into a bowl and beating them before scrambling them in a pan. A manner of proceeding; a way of performing or effecting something.