ATD (the Association for Talent Development) and i4cp (the Institute for Corporate Productivity) partnered to explore the roles talent development functions play in influencing organizational culture—especially during times of change.

The research found that top companies include their talent development functions in planning and executing both change and culture-related initiatives. Many talent development leaders help define culture, most often taking a collaborative approach that teams them with senior leaders in business functions across the enterprise. In times of change, talent development also takes on responsibility for internal communication about culture issues, and through learning and development programs, talent development team helps leaders and employees express the culture in every aspect of job performance.

In a volatile business landscape, executives must leverage every resource at their disposal to achieve and maintain peak performance. For top companies, a strong culture is key to success, and the talent development function’s ability to positively affect culture and to help plan and execute change make it a critical player in driving the organizational agility, innovation, and growth that contribute to lasting market leadership.