playbooks

A playbook is a collection of procedures, strategies, and best practices that guide consistent action toward a defined objective. While rooted in sports, the concept has been adopted across many fields to codify how tasks should be performed and decisions made. The term originated in team sports where a coach designs plays; today it also covers business operations, information technology, cybersecurity, marketing, sales, and military planning. In IT, the related term runbook is used for routine tasks and incident responses.

A typical playbook lists the goal, roles, prerequisites, step-by-step actions, decision points, contingencies, and success metrics. It may include checklists, scripts, templates, reference materials, and links to related documents. Versioning and governance are common to ensure accuracy and currency.

Common types include sports playbooks, IT and security runbooks, incident response playbooks, business process playbooks, and crisis management playbooks. In sales and marketing, playbooks codify messaging, outreach sequences, and qualification criteria.

Benefits include faster onboarding, consistent performance, easier training, and scalability. Limitations include rigidity, ongoing maintenance requirements, and the risk of outdated content. Effective playbooks balance prescriptive guidance with room for expert judgment and are aligned with governance, risk management, and continuous improvement practices.