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The meaning and origin of interesting English phrases

Best practices

Meaning

Methods or techniques that have been generally accepted as superior to others for achieving a particular result.

Origin

The concept of "best practices" truly bloomed in the late 20th century, particularly amidst the fervent global competition of the 1980s and 90s. Businesses, striving for peak efficiency and superior quality, were no longer content with simply doing things 'their way.' Instead, they actively sought to identify, document, and replicate the most effective methods used by industry leaders. This wasn't about blind imitation, but a strategic quest to learn from the best, often spurred by movements like Total Quality Management. The phrase became a rallying cry for organizations committed to continuous improvement, a promise that by adopting these proven strategies, they could achieve comparable success, sidestepping common pitfalls and accelerating their own path to excellence.

Examples

  • Our company is committed to implementing the industry's best practices to ensure high quality and efficiency in all our projects.
  • Before starting any new software development, we always research the best practices to avoid common pitfalls and optimize our approach.
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