Best practice

The term ‘best practice’ (sometimes used interchangeably with ‘good practice’) refers to the method or technique by which an activity is carried out and relates to certain standards that have been established in terms of quality, ethics, regulations, benchmarking, and so on.

Best practice is a desired result that is often developed through experience and research and is accepted as being a better option other alternatives. As such it becomes a standard way of carrying out tasks or complying with requirements. By committing to follow best practice, an individual or organisation is agreeing to use the widely-accepted and approved knowledge and technology available to ensure a good outcome.

Best practices can be based on the adoption of policy, self-assessment and/or benchmarking. Accredited management standards such as ISO 9000 are intended to facilitate best practice by helping organisations develop their approach to directing, controlling and coordinating quality.

In the construction industry, best practice is commonly defined by standards, which are published documents that are intended to define the common specifications, methods and procedures that are to be used. By establishing common standards, greater reliability and consistency is ensured in terms of the quality, compatibility and compliance of the particular product, service, material, and so on.

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