Best Practices: Are They Really the Best?

I have become peeved with the looseness in how we refer to actions, initiatives, and interventions as best practices.

Here is a best practice definition:

Best Practice is an idea that asserts that there is a technique, method, process, activity, incentive or reward that is more effective at delivering a particular outcome than any other technique, method, process, etc. The idea is that with proper processes, checks, and testing, a desired outcome can be delivered with fewer problems and unforeseen complications. Best practices can also be defined as the most efficient (least amount of effort) and effective (best results) way of accomplishing a task, based on repeatable procedures that have proven themselves over time for large numbers of people. ~ Wikipedia definition

Click here to read a post on best practices that I wrote at my other site (Slacker Manager) and let me know what you have seen or experienced in regards to best practices and employee engagement?

Were the practices actually the best or was the term best practice used to give a good idea more credibility than it may actually deserve?