Fortune magazine has named technology giant IBM No 1 in its 2011 Global Top Company for Leaders study, making IBM the first company to ever earn this recognition two consecutive times.
“This recognition reflects IBM’s ongoing commitment to developing leaders from deep within our global organisation,” said Randy MacDonald, IBM’s senior vice-president of human resources.
“As we enter our second century, leadership development will remain at the top of our agenda as we groom the next generation of leaders skilled at collaborating across teams, cultures, countries and businesses.”
The Global Top Companies for Leaders is a comprehensive study of organisational leadership in the world.
An expert panel of independent judges selected and ranked winners based on criteria including strength of leadership practices and culture, examples of leader development on a global scale, impact of leadership in communities in which companies operate, business performance and company reputation.
IBM topped a list of 470 global companies that are committed to building leadership capabilities within their organisations.
The Fortune survey notes that leadership is the single largest determinant of competitiveness in business, and the demand for leaders will only intensify in the current business environment.
According to the study, creating a pipeline of emerging business leaders is essential to developing a strong leadership brand, and critical to helping organisations sustain business performance.
