What type of documents contrast with actual operational performance?

Directive documents are designed to set the expectations, policies, and standards for an organization's operations. They prescribe what should occur in various scenarios and lay out the framework for compliance, safety, and efficiency. In essence, they provide a theoretical framework or guidelines that the organization aims to achieve.

When contrasting with actual operational performance, directive documents highlight any discrepancies between the intended outcomes or protocols and the real-world implementation of those directives. For example, if a directive document outlines specific safety procedures that personnel are expected to follow, and the observations reveal that these procedures were not adhered to, this creates a clear contrast between what is mandated and what is practiced.

In contrast, incident reports, training manuals, and environmental assessments serve different purposes in relation to operational performance. Incident reports reflect past events and actual incidents that have occurred, providing real data rather than theoretical guidelines. Training manuals provide educational content designed to teach personnel the necessary skills and knowledge but do not inherently measure performance. Environmental assessments evaluate the impact of operations but do not address the standard operational expectations set forth by directive documents.