Tailored Practices, not Best Practices

Executives become enamored with identifying and studying industry best practices at times.  I think some of those efforts are misguided at times.  Managers forget that competitive advantage comes from alignment among strategy, structure, processes, and culture.   Copying someone else's processes only works if they fit your company's strategy and culture.  In many cases, there is no one best way to do things.  Instead, there is a best way GIVEN the other choices you have made.