How we picked the Top Companies for Leaders
Fortune spanned the globe to find the top companies for developing talent.
(Fortune magazine) -- To select the Top Companies for Leaders, Fortune, Hewitt Associates, and the RBL Group invited human resources executives from around the world to participate in the study. Participation was open to organizations of any type (for example, public, private, nonprofit), size (employee and revenue), and location.
From those invitations, 537 companies from around the globe took part. They completed a detailed questionnaire examining the factors influencing both the depth and quality of leadership. Hewitt analyzed all entries for responses consistent with strong leadership practices. Based on this analysis, Hewitt identified 217 global finalists.
Each finalist company completed in-depth interviews to gain greater clarity and precision around their specific leadership practices. In addition, Hewitt interviewed one or more senior business executives from each finalist company. Hewitt scored company survey data by assigning points to questions and responses.
An esteemed panel of judges -- composed of authors, academics, and journalists -- gathered in each region to select and rank a 2009 Top Companies for Leaders list in Asia-Pacific, Europe, Latin America, and North America. The judges considered many variables in selecting and ranking the lists, including survey and interview data, company reputation, leadership culture and values, and business performance over a five-year period. 
-
The retail giant tops the Fortune 500 for the second year in a row. Who else made the list? More -
This group of companies is all about social networking to connect with their customers. More -
The fight over the cholesterol medication is keeping a generic version from hitting the market. More -
Bin Laden may be dead, but the terrorist group he led doesn't need his money. More -
U.S. real estate might be a mess, but in other parts of the world, home prices are jumping. More -
Libya's output is a fraction of global production, but it's crucial to the nation's economy. More -
Once rates start to rise, things could get ugly fast for our neighbors to the north. More
