[Sigia-l] Happy Independence Day...from "Best Practices"

[kjnarey]

Interesting article, but isn't this another instance of business consulting
pidgin? 'Best Practice' is, used in this context, a misnomer comparable to
the word 'usability'*.

I see best practices as 'tried and tested practices, used by similarly
skilled and able individuals, that have worked effectively (subjectivity
alert...) in the past, in a particular, but broadly similar context'. If it
can assist as part of a solution, then it's valid as the passage states, but
'innovation' in this context is merely trying to trump 'best practice'
as.......well.......another 'best practice'.

More important to me is not 'should I learn from and adopt other's
experience in this area', but at what point in the process do I adopt (and
adapt) this type of knowledge and experience (having previously determined
that it's relevant and valid). By default, innovation practices are the
first to be undertaken in that process.

When I evangelise inwardly (and then as a benefit, outwardly) i.e. through
the promotion of Design practices to board level and down; I want my 'tried
and tested practices, used by similarly skilled and able individuals, that
have worked effectively in the past, in a particular, but broadly similar
context', to be adopted as 'best practice' because as with 'usability', it's
language that the wider business community have connected with.

Kevin

* I am firmly of the shared view that the word 'usability', whilst useful in
many contexts, is simply 'good design' - what good design wasn't 'usable'?