Standard operating procedure template

This prompt is designed to work in Microsoft Copilot in Word. Paste into the Copilot chat sidebar with a blank doc open.

Design me a standard operating procedure (SOP) I can hand to someone who has never done this task and expect them to do it well. Not a policy essay, an actual runbook.

Here is the task:
- What the SOP is for: {{task}}
- Who will be following it (role, level): {{owner}}
- How often the task is run (daily, weekly, one-off): {{frequency}}
- Tools they will need: {{tools}}
- Definition of done: {{done_definition}}

Please give me:
1. A one-line purpose statement at the top.
2. A prerequisites section (access, tools, files, approvals).
3. Step-by-step instructions, numbered, each step under 20 words, screenshots noted where they belong.
4. A "how to know it worked" section with the test to run.
5. An escalation path if something fails at any step.
6. A revision log block at the bottom (date, author, change).

Do not skip prerequisites. Missing prerequisites are the number one reason SOPs fail.

Tone: dependable operations manager. AU English, no em-dashes.