Undoubtedly, the economic challenges of the past 18 to 24 months have had a profound effect on companies around the globe. As organizations scramble to understand the impact of the crisis on their business, the focus is on stabilizing cash and debt positions while balancing immediate cost pressures with top-line growth. These efforts will continue as the global economy begins its recovery. Amid these challenges, Hewitt Associates and its study partners The RBL Group and FORTUNE undertook the 2009 Top Companies for Leaders Study. More than 500 companies participated in our research. Of those, we identified 217 finalists and conducted in-depth interviews with their senior executives and HR leaders to provide greater clarity around their leadership development practices.

What we have learned is that at Top Companies key leadership and talent efforts are not abandoned in favor of short-term pressures. The best companies remain steadfast in their focus on developing talent. They may be more deliberate — and they may do some leadership development virtually, but they remain relentless in their efforts to build leaders.

Initiated by Hewitt Associates, the Top Companies for Leaders Study is the most comprehensive longitudinal study of talent management and leadership development practices around the globe. Our first results, published in 2002, uncovered a link between financial success and great leadership practices, and identified differentiating elements found only in Top Companies. We conducted the study again in 2003, 2005, and 2007, and this research provided the foundation for our more comprehensive 2009 global study. Hewitt conducted the 2007 and 2009 Top Companies for Leaders Study in partnership with FORTUNE and The RBL Group.

View the FORTUNE article.

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