Skip to main content
Also known as: playbook, operations manual, incident runbook

Runbook

ConceptualOperationsDocuments

Definition

Runbook: A runbook is a documented set of procedures for handling specific operational scenarios, especially incidents or recurring tasks. Unlike general documentation, runbooks are action-oriented—designed to be followed step-by-step during execution. Common in DevOps for incident response but applicable to any repeatable process.

Example Usage

“Our incident runbooks include decision trees: 'If metric X drops below Y, page on-call. If customer-facing, escalate to P1.' Reduces panic during outages.”

Common Misconceptions

Runbooks are just for engineering. Sales playbooks, customer escalation procedures, and HR processes are runbooks too.
Detailed runbooks prevent thinking. Good runbooks handle routine steps so operators can focus on novel problems.
Create runbooks after incidents. Proactively document likely scenarios; don't wait for things to break.

Explore More Resources

Browse Tools

Discover 100+ vetted tools for every stage of your startup journey

Explore all tools

Build Your Stack

Take our personalized quiz to get tool recommendations for your startup

Start the checklist

Recommended Reading

Curated books to help you learn, grow, and succeed as a founder

View book recommendations

Listen & Learn

Top podcasts covering startups, product, growth, and entrepreneurship

Discover podcasts

Help us improve this definition

See something that could be clearer or more accurate? Let us know.

Help us improve this page

Found an error or have a suggestion? We'd love to hear from you.