END OF BEST PRACTICES

Every business is unique in circumstance, capabilities, and culture. And at the very core, strategy is about finding ways to create and capture value by being different.

Best practices posit the opposite, abstracting away all the particulars to identify timeless universals. But in dynamic and fast-moving business environments best practices often become dull and dangerous instruments of improvement, creating a false sense of progress and security.

This is not to say that you shouldn’t get inspired by other companies and their practices. But it’s important to acknowledge that these practices are the result of coherent strategies, consistent management, and organizational capabilities built up over decades. Therefore, instead of copying practices on the surface level, examine the history and thinking behind these practices. Then go create, test, adjust, and deploy the best practices that reflect the realities of your particular markets, competitors, and capabilities.