Flevy Management Insights Q&A
What strategies can companies employ to encourage widespread adoption and consistent application of Best Demonstrated Practices among employees?
     David Tang    |    Best Demonstrated Practices


This article provides a detailed response to: What strategies can companies employ to encourage widespread adoption and consistent application of Best Demonstrated Practices among employees? For a comprehensive understanding of Best Demonstrated Practices, we also include relevant case studies for further reading and links to Best Demonstrated Practices best practice resources.

TLDR Organizations can promote the adoption of Best Demonstrated Practices through developing a Continuous Improvement Culture, implementing Structured Processes and Systems, and actively engaging employees, supported by leadership and technology.

Reading time: 5 minutes

Before we begin, let's review some important management concepts, as they related to this question.

What does Culture of Continuous Improvement mean?
What does Structured Processes and Systems mean?
What does Employee Engagement mean?
What does Feedback Mechanisms mean?


Encouraging the widespread adoption and consistent application of Best Demonstrated Practices (BDPs) within an organization is crucial for maintaining competitive advantage, enhancing operational efficiency, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. To achieve this, organizations can employ a variety of strategies that are both specific and actionable.

Developing a Culture of Continuous Improvement

One of the foundational steps in encouraging the adoption of BDPs is to cultivate a culture of continuous improvement. This involves creating an environment where employees are not only aware of the importance of best practices but are also motivated to seek them out and apply them in their daily work. Leadership plays a critical role in this process by setting the tone and leading by example. Leaders should consistently communicate the value of BDPs and recognize employees who demonstrate their commitment to these practices. For instance, Toyota’s philosophy of Kaizen, or continuous improvement, is deeply ingrained in its corporate culture, leading to its reputation for operational excellence and efficiency.

Training and development programs are also essential for building this culture. By providing employees with the skills and knowledge they need to identify, understand, and implement BDPs, organizations can empower their workforce to take initiative. These programs should be ongoing and adapted to the evolving needs of the organization and its employees. Engaging employees in training sessions, workshops, and seminars can help reinforce the importance of BDPs and provide them with the tools they need to apply them effectively.

Furthermore, creating forums for sharing knowledge and experiences can facilitate the spread of BDPs within an organization. This can include regular meetings, internal newsletters, or digital platforms where employees can share successes, challenges, and lessons learned. Such initiatives not only promote the adoption of BDPs but also foster a sense of community and collaboration among employees.

Are you familiar with Flevy? We are you shortcut to immediate value.
Flevy provides business best practices—the same as those produced by top-tier consulting firms and used by Fortune 100 companies. Our best practice business frameworks, financial models, and templates are of the same caliber as those produced by top-tier management consulting firms, like McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, and Accenture. Most were developed by seasoned executives and consultants with 20+ years of experience.

Trusted by over 10,000+ Client Organizations
Since 2012, we have provided best practices to over 10,000 businesses and organizations of all sizes, from startups and small businesses to the Fortune 100, in over 130 countries.
AT&T GE Cisco Intel IBM Coke Dell Toyota HP Nike Samsung Microsoft Astrazeneca JP Morgan KPMG Walgreens Walmart 3M Kaiser Oracle SAP Google E&Y Volvo Bosch Merck Fedex Shell Amgen Eli Lilly Roche AIG Abbott Amazon PwC T-Mobile Broadcom Bayer Pearson Titleist ConEd Pfizer NTT Data Schwab

Implementing Structured Processes and Systems

To ensure the consistent application of BDPs, organizations need to implement structured processes and systems that support their integration into daily operations. This includes establishing clear guidelines and procedures for identifying, documenting, and sharing best practices. For example, Accenture’s research on high performance has highlighted the importance of standardized processes in enabling organizations to replicate success across different parts of the business. By creating a centralized repository of BDPs, organizations can make it easier for employees to access and apply relevant practices to their work.

Performance management systems also play a crucial role in encouraging the adoption of BDPs. By aligning individual and team objectives with the application of best practices, organizations can incentivize employees to adopt these practices. This might involve setting specific goals related to the implementation of BDPs and incorporating them into performance reviews and reward systems. Recognizing and rewarding employees who successfully adopt and apply BDPs can significantly enhance motivation and commitment.

Additionally, leveraging technology can facilitate the widespread adoption of BDPs. Digital tools and platforms can provide employees with easy access to resources and information on best practices. For instance, deploying an intranet site dedicated to BDPs or using project management software that incorporates best practice templates can streamline the process of applying these practices. Technology can also enable tracking and reporting on the adoption and impact of BDPs, providing valuable insights for continuous improvement.

Engaging Employees in the Process

Employee engagement is critical for the successful adoption of BDPs. This involves not only informing employees about these practices but also involving them in the process of identifying, developing, and refining them. Encouraging employee participation can increase buy-in and commitment to BDPs. For example, Google’s famous '20% time' policy, which allows employees to spend a portion of their time on projects they are passionate about, has led to the development of innovative products and practices that have become industry standards.

Feedback mechanisms are also essential for engaging employees. By providing channels for employees to offer suggestions, ask questions, and provide feedback on BDPs, organizations can create a two-way dialogue that enhances the relevance and applicability of these practices. This feedback loop can help identify gaps, overcome barriers to adoption, and continuously refine BDPs to meet the changing needs of the organization and its employees.

Lastly, creating cross-functional teams can enhance the adoption of BDPs by breaking down silos and fostering collaboration across different parts of the organization. These teams can work on specific projects or challenges, leveraging best practices from various areas to achieve common goals. This approach not only promotes the sharing and application of BDPs but also encourages a more holistic and integrated perspective on organizational improvement.

By developing a culture of continuous improvement, implementing structured processes and systems, and engaging employees in the process, organizations can encourage the widespread adoption and consistent application of Best Demonstrated Practices. These strategies, supported by leadership commitment and appropriate resources, can drive operational excellence, innovation, and competitive advantage.

Best Practices in Best Demonstrated Practices

Here are best practices relevant to Best Demonstrated Practices from the Flevy Marketplace. View all our Best Demonstrated Practices materials here.

Did you know?
The average daily rate of a McKinsey consultant is $6,625 (not including expenses). The average price of a Flevy document is $65.

Explore all of our best practices in: Best Demonstrated Practices

Best Demonstrated Practices Case Studies

For a practical understanding of Best Demonstrated Practices, take a look at these case studies.

Revenue Management Initiative for Boutique Hotels in Competitive Urban Markets

Scenario: A boutique hotel chain is grappling with suboptimal occupancy rates and revenue per available room (RevPAR) in a highly competitive urban environment.

Read Full Case Study

Consumer Packaged Goods Best Practices Advancement in Health-Conscious Market

Scenario: The organization is a mid-sized producer of health-focused consumer packaged goods in North America.

Read Full Case Study

Best Practice Enhancement in Chemicals Sector

Scenario: The organization is a mid-sized chemical producer specializing in polymers and faced with stagnating market share due to outdated operational practices.

Read Full Case Study

Inventory Management Enhancement in Aerospace

Scenario: The organization is a mid-sized aerospace components supplier grappling with inventory inefficiencies that have led to increased carrying costs and missed delivery timelines.

Read Full Case Study

E-commerce Platform Best Demonstrated Practices Optimization

Scenario: A mid-sized e-commerce firm specializing in health and wellness products is facing operational challenges in managing its Best Demonstrated Practices.

Read Full Case Study

Growth Strategy Enhancement for Cosmetic Firm in Luxury Segment

Scenario: The organization in question operates within the luxury cosmetics industry and has been grappling with maintaining consistency and quality across its global brand portfolio.

Read Full Case Study




Flevy is the world's largest knowledge base of best practices.


Leverage the Experience of Experts.

Find documents of the same caliber as those used by top-tier consulting firms, like McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, Accenture.

Download Immediately and Use.

Our PowerPoint presentations, Excel workbooks, and Word documents are completely customizable, including rebrandable.

Save Time, Effort, and Money.

Save yourself and your employees countless hours. Use that time to work on more value-added and fulfilling activities.




Read Customer Testimonials

  •  
    "Flevy is our 'go to' resource for management material, at an affordable cost. The Flevy library is comprehensive and the content deep, and typically provides a great foundation for us to further develop and tailor our own service offer."

    – Chris McCann, Founder at Resilient.World
  •  
    "As an Independent Management Consultant, I find Flevy to add great value as a source of best practices, templates and information on new trends. Flevy has matured and the quality and quantity of the library is excellent. Lastly the price charged is reasonable, creating a win-win value for "

    – Jim Schoen, Principal at FRC Group
  •  
    "One of the great discoveries that I have made for my business is the Flevy library of training materials.

    As a Lean Transformation Expert, I am always making presentations to clients on a variety of topics: Training, Transformation, Total Productive Maintenance, Culture, Coaching, Tools, Leadership Behavior, etc. Flevy "

    – Ed Kemmerling, Senior Lean Transformation Expert at PMG
  •  
    "As a consulting firm, we had been creating subject matter training materials for our people and found the excellent materials on Flevy, which saved us 100's of hours of re-creating what already exists on the Flevy materials we purchased."

    – Michael Evans, Managing Director at Newport LLC
  •  
    "I am extremely grateful for the proactiveness and eagerness to help and I would gladly recommend the Flevy team if you are looking for data and toolkits to help you work through business solutions."

    – Trevor Booth, Partner, Fast Forward Consulting
  •  
    "As a young consulting firm, requests for input from clients vary and it's sometimes impossible to provide expert solutions across a broad spectrum of requirements. That was before I discovered Flevy.com.

    Through subscription to this invaluable site of a plethora of topics that are key and crucial to consulting, I "

    – Nishi Singh, Strategist and MD at NSP Consultants
  •  
    "Flevy.com has proven to be an invaluable resource library to our Independent Management Consultancy, supporting and enabling us to better serve our enterprise clients.

    The value derived from our [FlevyPro] subscription in terms of the business it has helped to gain far exceeds the investment made, making a subscription a no-brainer for any growing consultancy – or in-house strategy team."

    – Dean Carlton, Chief Transformation Officer, Global Village Transformations Pty Ltd.
  •  
    "FlevyPro has been a brilliant resource for me, as an independent growth consultant, to access a vast knowledge bank of presentations to support my work with clients. In terms of RoI, the value I received from the very first presentation I downloaded paid for my subscription many times over! The "

    – Roderick Cameron, Founding Partner at SGFE Ltd



Download our FREE Strategy & Transformation Framework Templates

Download our free compilation of 50+ Strategy & Transformation slides and templates. Frameworks include McKinsey 7-S, Balanced Scorecard, Disruptive Innovation, BCG Curve, and many more.