The first rule in any business endeavor is "Get it in Writing". This usually means signing contracts, and keeping a large file cabinet. Paper file stores are a thing of the past. I used to work to build an Organization Manual in a 3-ring binder for clients, but then I saw how effective it was to place data in a browser window, this is never more true than today, with the smartphone phenomena. By placing your information structure in the cloud, it becomes dynamic, able to be used and changed 24/7/365.
The second rule is that as people learn new things, what is in writing, has to evolve to incorporate the new learning. This means your information structure needs to be built to change dynamically, with input from learning at all levels of an organization.
Step one, create the overview, it looks like an organization chart, but it contains functions, not positions, in the business.
Step two, create a functional agreement (contract) for each function in an organization.
Step three, create an action plan for every activity, in every function in an organization.
Step four, create a procedure for every routine task in every activity in an organization.
Generally in organizing information, a structure of Results, Steps, Standards works best because it sets up a positive conversation people can have about any activity or procedure. First they agree on a result or goal, then they organize the steps. Standards typically come over time as we use the system and experience frustrations with it, each frustration providing a starting point for writing of a new standard, so to get the result, you need to do Step 3 in such-and-such a way.
Holding all the systemic information in a digital form, like a SharePoint server makes it easy to set up data collection for monitoring and tracking of the results.
The long term health of an organization is assured by establishing a Standard Information Structure. New people can be trained quickly. Others can leave and their skills and experience will live on in the systems they developed. It is in developing the systems held within our information structure that our true work is done and our legacy assured.