A set of guidelines which help to ensure that the benefits from Best Practice Visits are maximised.

Background

Best Practice Visits (BPVs) can lead to rapid and relevant changes in companies that are open to new ideas.  But the experience should be a planned and managed one, and should pro-actively involve all stakeholders if optimal benefits are to be achieved. In order to maximise learning, a BPV should:

• Use a variety of methods to stimulate learning
• Make learning accessible and relevant
• Make the experience a practical one
• Encourage transfer of understanding and integration back at the workplace

To ensure that the visit does these things, all stakeholders have to “plan, do, study, act” throughout. By preparing, attending, analysing and implementing learning throughout the period of the visit and afterwards back at the workplace, participants and their employing company will gain insights that can equip them to do things differently.

What outcome can be expected?

The guidelines will enable companies to:

• Clearly set out the full range of opportunities that can be gained from investment in a BPV
• Collaboratively plan, implement and review the visit to capitalise on the learning opportunities offered
• Ensure that participants are prepared and supported to embark on the visit, and to provide a subsequent return on the investment to the employing company

Elements

There are two main elements:

• Best Practice Visit Guidelines: detail stakeholder requirements for before, during and after the visit
• Best Practice Visits Handbook: additionally includes background material on the development of the guidelines

When should you use it?

The guidelines should be accessed as soon as a BPV is proposed.

How does it work?

The guidelines are intended to be used by Best Practice Visit organisers, participants and   their line managers. Guidelines are provided for three stages of the visit:

• Before       -           Plan
• During       -           Do
• After           -           Act

The guidelines are designed to enable everybody involved to plan, implement and review the visit to capitalise on the learning opportunities offered.

Focus and attention must be given to each of the stages in order to ensure that benefits from the visit are maximised.

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