Final answer:
The practice not commonly used by companies to find the best candidates is C. Weeding out the 20% lowest performing employees each year. This can be disruptive and reduce collaboration, as opposed to other practices that encourage continuous development and a stimulating work environment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The practice that is generally not among the practices companies use to staff jobs with the best people they can find, especially where intellectual capital greatly aids good strategy execution, is C. Weeding out the 20% lowest performing employees each year. Companies strive to build a competitive workforce by implementing various strategies focused on hiring and development. A. Careful screening and evaluation of job applicants, continuous training and retraining, B. Rotating people through jobs with diverse content and boundaries, D. Encouraging employees to challenge existing ways of doing things and fostering innovation, and E. Fostering a stimulating and engaging work environment are generally regarded as effective practices. These approaches are conducive to creating a workplace culture that values diversity, continuous improvement, and alignment with the company's strategic objectives.
There are different reasons why option C may not be a desirable practice. It can be argued that it creates a competitive environment that discourages teamwork and collaboration because employees are always in fear of being in the bottom percentile. Furthermore, it may cause the loss of potentially valuable employees who may be going through a temporary dip in performance but could otherwise contribute significantly to the company with proper support and development.