We explain what a checklist is, what it’s used for, and what its benefits are at work. We also tell you how to use it step by step. Please read other MTV articles for more information. If you share it, it will be of little help to us.
What is a checklist?
A checklist (from the English “check” and “list”) is a written tool used to outline information related to a task, a process, or any set of pending items, so that its execution can be easily and quickly monitored. In other words, a checklist is a list of items that require attention in some type of process and whose resolution can be marked directly on paper as they are completed.
It is a useful tool in various areas of work and daily life, as it assists memory and attention. A clear example of a checklist is a list of pending daily tasks, or groceries to buy at the supermarket, where we can mark off completed tasks one by one and quickly and easily know which ones are missing. However, in complex processes, checklists can reach large proportions and contain a multitude of different items at different levels of priority.
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As with other Anglicisms, that is, other borrowings from the English language, the word “checklist” should always be written in italics. Various institutions that oversee the Spanish language consider it an unnecessary borrowing, given that terms such as “checklist,” “checklist,” “verification sheet,” or “requirement list” exist, to name just a few examples.
What is a checklist used for?
Checklists are a control tool. They are used to check pending and resolved issues and can be applied to an employee’s daily tasks, as well as to the processes and subprocesses underway in an entire work area.
The items on a checklist generally represent important tasks that warrant verification, that is, tasks that cannot be forgotten. This way, you can later refer to the list to see what has been resolved and what is still pending.
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Types of Checklists
Regardless of the topic and the proposed objective, all checklists always operate in the same way and essentially consist of a list of items written down. However, depending on the level of complexity of the list, a distinction can be made between:
Simple Checklists
These have a single item register, that is, a list of elements that are all at the same level, with no hierarchy between them, although the order in which they appear on the list may denote urgency or sequentiality.
Multiple Checklists
These have multiple item registers, that is, elements listed in the first, second, and even third order, so that to complete a first-order task, the second-order tasks must first be completed, and so on. This type of checklist allows for much greater verification of pending and completed tasks.
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Benefits of a checklist at work
Using a checklist facilitates the following tasks:
- Organizing pending tasks by arranging them according to priority or the order in which they should be completed.
- Verifying the progress of a process with varying levels of detail, as the processes and subprocesses involved can be listed.
- Inspecting and controlling processes, and also identifying potential errors in a work chain.
- Recording the tasks performed by an area or worker.
- Exhaustive description of the elements involved in a specific dynamic.
- Automating process verification and generating simple algorithms.
How to make a checklist?
The following are the steps for creating a checklist in any field:
- Record in writing the total number of pending tasks or items that require attention.
- Organize these items according to their urgency or priority: most urgent first, least urgent second. Detail, if necessary, the subitems or secondary (and tertiary) elements involved in each process. This is necessary if you need a multiple or complex checklist.
- Verify that no item has been omitted from the list or that the order of the items is appropriate.
- As you progress through the tasks, systematically check off, cross out, or jot down the completed items so you can easily distinguish them from those pending.
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References
All the information we offer is supported by authoritative and up-to-date bibliographic sources, ensuring reliable content in line with our editorial principles.
- Checklist on Wikipedia.
- Checklist, alternatives in Spanish on Fundéu.
- What is a checklist and how should it be used? on ISO Tools.
- Checklist on The Britannica Dictionary.
- Checklist definition, What it is, concept, benefits, and how to use it – concepto.de
