LEARNING FROM THE BEST

Noting that most organizations are involved in ''the search for best p ractices,'' this article reports on the recipients of the 1996 Best Pr actice Awards by the Benchmarking Forum of the American Society for Tr aining and Development. Since 1994, the forum has been seeking and hon oring best practices among its members, leading-edge companies. Last y ear, it began accepting submissions from nonmembers. In 1996, the foru m recognized 13 practices: four received Best Practice Awards for demo nstrating clear, measurable results in organizational effectiveness; n ine received citations for showing great promise. The authors, special ists in ASTD's research department, describe:he innovative practices o f the award-winning companies: Allstate Insurance Company, California State Automobile Association, Pacific Gas & Electric, and a partnershi p of Swiss Bank Corporation and Trans-Cultural Relations. The practice s are: implementing a successful diversity initiative, improving custo mer service with an online guide, ''transitioning'' a training departm ent to a performance consulting organization, and creating a selection and development instrument for expatriate employees. The article tell s why the practices stand out and how the companies developed and impl emented them. It also names the citation recipients, explains the crit eria and selection process, and issues a call for nominations for the 1997, renamed Excellence-in-Practice Awards, now part of the overall A STD,Awards Program.