The Practice of Best Practices

One might say it is a best practice is to practice using best practices. I know that sounds like double-talk, but think about what I really said here, it is a best practice to practice best practices. The term practice simply means doing things over and over again in an effort to improve. When we establish processes, activities and incorporate tools to make us more efficient, we look to capitalize on those efficiencies, refine them to increase performance and leverage them in other areas. According to Wikipedia, "Best Practice is an idea that 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." So as I was saying, the best practice is for us to practice using best practices.

 

This of course is assuming that we can identify best practices within our organization or another organization, document it properly, refine it and/or apply it to another business area. This requires analytical skill, the ability to accurately document the processes or activities in question, recommend refinements and then incorporate them. It is also not the job of one person; it is a team effort that demands the practice of using best practices becomes a way of life in the organization. Culturally, this can be a major shift in the workforce.

 

People are used to the way things are done and get comfortable. Change does not always come easy, especially if the culture of the organization is not known to foster flexibility and encourage change as a regular way of doing business. Time, cost, complexity and value can have serious impact on the use of best practices. Even though we search for them and intend to adopt best practices and continuous improvement as part of our operational standards, the real question is one of readiness.

 

One best practice that is viewed as a sound beginning for change is the creation and maintenance of a well educated workforce that is prepared to change, adapt to meet the demands of a shifting economy and position themselves for future growth. Many of the most admired and talked about businesses invest in their workforce to gain competitive advantage through improved efficiencies and effectiveness as a result of increased knowledge and awareness. Many companies turn to AIIM for their information management education. www.aiim.org/training

 

If a best practice is to practice best practices, does it not make sense that a best practice  is to encourage and support education?

 

Bob Larrivee - AIIM 

Comments

[Simon Smith]

Good points Bob, the truth surrounding best practise however is more in tune with the familiar pattern mindset, "well we have always done it that way, therefore it must be best practise".

This is as is often proven not the case, the traditional ways of doing things should be challenged. Or to put it another way, “If it isn’t broken, then break it”

I believe it is this philosophy that doesn’t get the support of senior management. Staff, employees who do the job day in day out should be encouraged to challenge the status quo and to have the opportunity to try alternative ways of doing things and not be pilloried if it doesn’t work as planned. However all too often senior management will distrust their staff to tell them how to improve, they would rather pay, often handsomely, for an external organisation to come in and watch what they do and a tell them things they probably already knew deep down.

So to close, I am with you Bob, companies need to invest in their staff to ensure they are encouraged and empowered to think outside the box and to consider how they can work smarter and not just harder!

[Dan Longo]

Bob, One of the good points is "creation and maintenance of a well educated workforce that is prepared to change" Best practices are sometimes resisted by the folks in the organization who feel they do not have the skills to change, begin to feel threatened, and try to influence the maintenance of the status quo. These are sometimes the most experienced employees, so it is worth the effort to get them additional training and then benefit from their experience.
The team effort you mention is another good point. It is in our common interest to see our employer remain competitive. This helps gain employee buy-in on new initiatives and the training those initiatives require.