Guidelines:
* More specific and prescriptive: Guidelines provide detailed instructions and standards to follow. They often include specific procedures, steps, or criteria.
* Often mandatory: Guidelines are usually meant to be adhered to, especially in formal contexts like regulations or policies.
* Formal in nature: Guidelines are often found in written documents, policies, or regulations.
* Focus on consistency and uniformity: Guidelines aim to ensure that activities or tasks are performed in a consistent and standardized manner.
Guidance:
* More general and advisory: Guidance offers suggestions, recommendations, and advice. It is less prescriptive and leaves room for interpretation and flexibility.
* Not mandatory: Guidance is not typically required to be followed and can be adapted to specific situations.
* Can be informal or formal: Guidance can be shared through spoken words, written documents, or other methods.
* Focus on best practices and best judgment: Guidance aims to help individuals make informed decisions and apply sound judgment in their work or decision-making process.
Here's a simple analogy:
* Guidelines are like a recipe: It tells you exactly what ingredients and steps to use to bake a cake.
* Guidance is like a cooking tip: It suggests using a specific type of flour or baking technique for a better result, but you can choose to follow it or not.
Examples:
* Guidelines: "All employees must wear safety goggles while operating machinery."
* Guidance: "It is recommended to use a light touch when applying paint to avoid streaks."
Ultimately, the specific difference between "guidelines" and "guidance" can depend on the context in which they are used. However, understanding these nuances can help you to better understand the intent and purpose of these terms.