Task Traceability

 I worked for some time ii the seafood sector.  Traceability was a major issue, as it is across the whole food sector.  If there is an outbreak of something like salmonella, rthe authorities need  to be able to identify those who might be affected by it.  Traceability should work across the whole supply chain - from farm (or fishing boat) to fork.  Because food safety is so important, there is detailed regulation ensuring and testing traceability.

However the principle of traceability applies elsewhere - in other areas of industry, in other areas off applicability - even inn other parts of life.

Take strategic - or other forms of -planning.  The overall mission and vision have to be converted into strategic aims and objectives which then must be cascaded and translated into different levels of planned tasks and activities throughout the organisation

Once the planning has been done and, in theory, everyone knows what their role is in delivering the strategic plan i t is useful to carry out an audit. Check there is traceability of the links across the planning chain. 

Why are the lower level tasks necessary?  

How do they link to the overall plan?  

Are there any elements of the plan that do not presently translate into lower level tasks?

This is a relatively standard traceability exercise - and thus there are lessons to be learned from traceability in the food sector.