Best practice

Best Practice asserts that there is a technique, method, process, activity, incentive or reward that is more effective at delivering a particular outcome than any other technique, method, process, etc. The idea is that with proper processes, checks, and testing, a desired outcome can be delivered with fewer problems and unforeseen complications. Best practices can also be defined as the most efficient (least amount of effort) and effective (best results) way of accomplishing a task, based on repeatable procedures that have proven themselves over time for large numbers of people.

Despite the need to improve on processes as times change and things evolve, Best Practice is considered by some as a business buzzword used to describe the process of developing and following a standard way of doing things that multiple organizations can use for management, policy, and especially software systems.

Best Practice is, however, often a misused term. It is frequently used to support politically correct ideals which, in reality take no account of individual need or circumstances. In this sense the ensuing practice is far from 'best' when the resulting effects are contrary to the real ideal situation. It is also used to prevent challenges to rules and systems that are, in reality, not best practice.

As the term has become more popular, some organizations have begun using "best practices" to refer to what are in fact "rules," causing a linguistic draft in which a new term such as "good ideas" is needed to refer to what would previously have been called "best practices."

Exchange

Best practices in a particular industry or other professional field can be exchanged, just like any instructional capital, by any means, though Internet-related information is most commonly exchanged this way:

• source code
• e-democracy
• e-government

There are numerous such efforts now in government especially in the English speaking world:

• Federation of Canadian Municipalities FCM InfraGuide
• U.S. government Government Open Code Collaborative
• UK local democracy project which calls this a knowledge pool

An emerging trend looms that many international organizations like to use 'best practice" methodology to promote the good systems, procedures of one country among its members.

Best practices domains

Domains where Best Practices have been applied include:

• Incremental and iterative development
• Quality Assurance
• Performance engineering
• Risk management
• Change Process
• Release execution
• Milestones
• Release Control
• Defect tracking
• Use Case
• Requirements management
• Automated testing process
• Evidence-based medicine
• Physical planning and land use management
• Water pollution control, watershed protection and restoration
• Local governance

Best Practices are used in technology development, such as new software, but also in construction, transportation, business management,sustainable development, and various aspects of Project Management.

Best Practices are used within any business type including, but not limited to: sales, manufacturing, teaching, programming software, road construction, health care, insurance, and accounting.

Documenting and charting these procedures and practices is a complicated and time-consuming process often skipped by companies, even though they may practice the proper processes consistently.

Some consulting firms specialize in the area of Best Practice. Often "Best Practice" consulting firms offer pre-made 'templates' to standardize business process documentation. A key strategic talent is required to provide good "Best Practice" consulting to organisations: the ability to balance the uniqueness of an organisation with practices it has in common with other organisations.

In many cases the cost of making modifications to a system or process which comes standard in a template or with a delivered computer application forces an organisation into using "Best Practice". Often it is to the benefit of the organisation. Sometimes a "Best Practice" will hurt an organisation. Good "Best Practice" consulting firms can assist organisations in making decisions appropriate for the organisation.

Good operating practice

Good operating practice is a strategic management term, usually capitalized. More specific uses of the term include Good Agricultural Practices, Good Manufacturing Practice, Good Laboratory Practice, Good Clinical Practice and Good Distribution Practice.

See also

• Benchmarking
• Best Coding Practices
• Best practice exchange
• Best Available Technology
• Business rule
• GxP
• Standard of Good Practice
• Strategic management
• Project management