Documentation as a Superpower – Runbooks, PRDs and Why They Save Lives
“Only one person knows this.” Few words are more dangerous in a large project or program.
Infrastructure, technology and legacy programs do not necessarily fail because of poor engineering or technical capability. They can fail because critical knowledge exists primarily in people’s heads rather than in accessible, structured and usable documentation.
When key team members leave, they can take years of organisational knowledge with them. Suddenly, teams are trying to understand complex systems, resolve issues and make critical decisions without a reliable record of what was built, why it was built, how it works or what to do when things go wrong. Documentation is not bureaucracy. It is a strategic capability.
The Australian Institute of Project Management (AIPM™) invites you to join Julian Bates for an important discussion on how effective documentation—including runbooks, Product Requirements Documents (PRDs) and other knowledge-management practices—can strengthen project delivery, resilience and governance.
Facilitated by Jean Stuart, Convenor of AIPM’s NextGen Project Professionals Network (NPPN), this session will explore documentation as both a practical delivery tool and a strategic governance instrument.
Good documentation can help teams:
- respond to issues with clear guidance and escalation pathways;
- reduce dependency on individual knowledge holders;
- preserve institutional knowledge through leadership and vendor transitions;
- establish clear, auditable processes and accountabilities; and
- build organisational resilience when things inevitably change.
Registration is complimentary for AIPM™ members.
To register for an AIPM event, you’ll need to login to your AIPM account. If you don’t have an account, you’ll need to create an account with AIPM before you register.
What you will learn
- By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to:
- Identify the risks and vulnerabilities associated with undocumented legacy programs.
- Apply documentation frameworks as tools for accountability, governance and operational resilience.
- Design documentation approaches that can withstand leadership, workforce and vendor transitions.
- Evaluate the role documentation plays in project and program failure or success.
- Develop practical approaches for embedding documentation and institutional memory into everyday project culture.
Event Details
- Date: 12 November 2026
- Time: 12pm – 1pm, Canberra Time
- Format: Online
Price
- AIPM™ Members: Complimentary
- Non-members: $33 (including GST)
- Registration closes: 10/11/2026 - 11:59 PM AEDT
Speakers
Julian Bates
IT Project Management professional at Everlight Radiology
Julian is an IT Project Management professional at Everlight Radiology, specialising in clinical systems integration and radiology service delivery, with experience in medical imaging workflows, including PACS, RIS, and Image viewing software.
Julian leads cross-functional initiatives spanning product, integrations, quality assurance, and clinical operations teams. He drives end-to-end delivery of client onboarding programs, and major infrastructure upgrades. Julian has a people management background, drawing from previous roles in Operations and Retail to bring a unique skillset to project coordination and management.
Jean Stuart
Convenor, AIPM’s NextGen Project Professional Network
Jean Stuart is a seasoned supply chain professional with over 15 years of experience spanning planning, supplier management, contract negotiation, inventory optimisation, and logistics across the mining, manufacturing, construction, and agriculture sectors. Currently working with an ASX 100 company, she leads strategic initiatives aimed at enhancing efficiency and operational performance.
Jean has successfully driven Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) initiatives that strengthen cross-functional alignment, enable data-informed decision-making, and improve supply chain resilience. Renowned for her ability to build strong supplier and stakeholder relationships, she delivers practical solutions that support continuous improvement and create long-term value.
A committed advocate for gender equity and workplace inclusion, Jean actively promotes diverse perspectives in decision-making processes to foster more inclusive and effective outcomes.
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