Category:Best Practices

Defining Best Practices

Definitions

best (management) practice - generally agreed upon but un-legislated standard of practice, especially for professional, business, and academic pursuits. (Cato et. al. 2003)
guideline - formalization presented by a technical society or governmental agency as basis for voluntary adherence as the basis for acceptance of work product; requires additional thought and evaluation by the practitioner to implement on single project work. (Hatheway 1992)
standard - a measure, principle, model, etc., established for use as a rule or basis in comparison in measuring or judging capacity, quantity, content, extent, value, quantity, etc. (Anonymous 1982)

• a codification of technology or procedure developed, tested, peer-reviewed, and published by a professional society or governmental agency; to be adhered to by members and subscribers; generally must be followed closely in attention to its prescribed detail. (Hatheway 1992)

Selected Bibliography

Anonymous. 1982. Glossary of occupational safety and health terms. The Paper Conservator, 7:32-82.

Cato, P., J. Golden and S.B. McLaren. 2003. Museum Wise: Workplace Words Defined. Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections.

Cato, P. 2001. SPNHC Newsletter, February, 2001. Society for the Preservation of Natural History Collections.

Hatheway, A. W. 1992. Standards, guidelines and protocols: Keeping our house in order. AEG News, 35(1):26-28. Association of Engineering Geologists.