Sorry to hear that you're using a good tool for a bad purpose.
OK, way to be a total passive aggressive dick and make it seem like I'm personally the problem.
No, that guidance is company wide in a very international company, and is the stance taken by HR. Also, I have worked for 2 other very large consulting firms and it was the same - PIP is a pre-warning that you are getting fired. There is a reason the phrase "getting PIPed" exists.
I think your company calls it PIP, but its really what we call a "Dev plan". It sounds like when you do fire someone, there is no notice or grace period, which is the far less humane option, in my opinion.