Which term refers to prescriptive statements about what companies should do, assembled by trade associations and government agencies?

• A. Best practices
• B. Recommended practices
• C. Standards
• D. Guidelines

Answer: (B)

Prescriptive guidance that tells organizations what they should do, produced by industry groups and government bodies, is best described as recommended practices. This term signals official guidance that organizations are encouraged to follow to meet regulatory expectations or industry norms, providing concrete actions while allowing some adaptation to specific situations. It sits between hard standards (which are formal, mandatory requirements with specific criteria) and flexible guidelines (which offer advice without a strong mandate), and it’s more actionable and authoritative than generic best practices, which are widely accepted methods rather than formal recommendations.