DEVELOPING BEST PRACTICES AND WHY IT MATTERS

by Basil Yeo (@basilyeo)

A set of procedures designed to enhance operational efficiency is crucial to ANY business. For an individual, this could even be as simple as your daily routine, but for a business, this means developing a system of standards that addresses the issues of setting up and operating a business entity properly & efficiently.

Having been in business for about four years, we have observed a lack of proper practice amongst media businesses and professionals in Singapore, mostly owing to the absence of a regulatory framework to upkeep certain standards. An industry discussion we attended last week confirmed the reality of some of these concerns.

​However, regulation or not, I still hold a strong belief that any type of professional person or entity, regardless of trade, has the responsibility to formulate and adopt a system of best practices, not only for the benefit of your own business, but for the good of your clients as well. 

Here is a quick list of some reasons why your media business should develop and utilise a system of best practices:

To deliver a product or service that is of a standard befitting a professional

While every professional should be aiming to deliver a product or service that is of the best quality achievable by their skill level, it is imperative that a minimum professional standard must be attained regardless, should a qualitative assessment of work produced need to be done. This could relate to knowledge and application of the fundamental skills that one should possess as a professional in his/her respective discipline.

To transform and enhance organisational culture

Best practices can help transform and enhance your organisational culture. How? While taking a systematic approach, best practices should not be regarded as rules of the workplace, but rather as guidelines for action aimed at fulfilling the organisation's vision that may, over practice, be engendered within the individual who is contributing to the workplace. Ideally, a system of best practices should form an unspoken foundation from which the culture of the organisation can be built upon.

To preserve and grow the industry as a whole

Every industry professional has the obligation to protect the interests of the industry, whether you are a production assistant or a big name director. This not only relates to rates and pricing, but also in terms of trade skills and general business practices. This is where competition is irrelevant, and only responsibility matters. A flourishing industry can only mean better prospects for business.

Most of us lament the poor state of the industry, but are we prepared to put our personal interests aside for the betterment of the industry?