Incited by James Bach, Ted Neward is taking issue with the term “Best Practices“. I agree that it's important to know what the heck you are doing, experiment (how better to learn?) and not look for simple cookie cutter answers. Like anything out there in the world, a Best Practice could be misunderstood, misapplied, misused or abused. On the severe side, there are things like guns and cars, on the lighter side, you should see the things that my husband puts ketchup on. Yucch!
There is nothing wrong with guidance, however it is named, to steer you down some good paths. As long as people recognize that “Best Practices” is a shortcut for “really good way to do things that has been tried and true, although, as we know there are always a lot of ways to accomplish a goal and a lot of factors that you need to account for when choosing your path.”. Whew. “Best Practices” is a lot easier to remember. Yes, as Ted says, “context matters”.
Should we stop using the term Best Practices completely? Replace it with something else? Be sure that people understand the context that is assumed with them?