Best practice

DEFINITION 1: A planning and/or operational practice that has proven successful in particular circumstances. A best practice is used to demonstrate what works and what does not and to accumulate and apply knowledge about how and why it works in different situations and contexts.
SOURCE: Adapted from Handbook on monitoring and evaluating for results. Evaluation Office, UNDP, New York, 2002.
HYPERLINK: http://web.undp.org/evaluation/documents/handbook/me-handbook.pdf

DEFINITION 2: A superior method or innovative practice that contributes to the improved performance of an organization, usually recognized as best by other peer organizations.
SOURCE: Glossary, American Society for Quality (ASQ)
HYPERLINK: http://asq.org/glossary/a.html

RELATED TERMS:  lessons learned, benchmark, benchmarking