What is the purpose of keeping records of execution in SOP management?

• A. To ensure staff receive training certificates
• B. To prove that procedures were actually followed and to support audits and accountability
• C. To speed up future patch releases
• D. To increase the number of documents in the system

Answer: (B)

Keeping records of execution provides traceability and accountability. In SOP management, these records show who performed each step, when it was done, and what the outcome was. That creates an auditable trail that demonstrates procedures were followed, supports compliance during internal or external audits, and holds individuals accountable for their actions. If anything goes wrong or a deviation occurs, you can review the execution history to understand what happened and address it.

Other options don’t fit as well because training certificates relate to training completion rather than showing that procedures were actually carried out; speeding up patch releases is unrelated to recording how procedures were executed; and simply increasing the number of documents isn’t the goal—it's about having reliable, verifiable evidence of execution.