McKinsey’s mission is to have lasting and substantial impact on our clients. To succeed, we need to work all three of the critical elements: choose the best strategy, develop world-class operations, align the organization. These three elements both reinforce and constrain each other. The best strategy is only relevant if it is operationally and organizationally feasible. The optimal organizational design depends upon the strategic requirement and the operational methods of the client. This document focuses on one vertex of this triangular relationship. It would be wrong, however, to believe that you can achieve the impact we seek by focusing on one vertex. We need to consider all three in every study.
Organization:
Overview of Core Frameworks

Local Training Module For First-year Associates Associate Handbook
FOREWORD AND OBJECTIVE
This Organization Practice(OP) document provides an overview for use in local training sessions for first-year associates. It is part of a “series on functional areas.” The objective of the series is to introduce McKinsey practitioners to the basics in each of our functional areas of expertise. All the documents in the series are comprehensive in nature and describe the current tools and frameworks in that functional area At the end of this document, you can find a section describing a selection of the core documents and handbooks that can give you further details on some of the frameworks descried here. All of these documents are now on PDNet; and hard copies of them can be requested from PDNet Express, which will deliver them in 24 hours The contents of this document have been adapted for local training sessions through “Switching Tracks” — OP’s first-year module videotape, which communicates the basic concepts in a concise and visual way using an actual client — The Scandinavian Railroad Company. It is 40 minutes long and should be presented in 3 short segments. Between these segments, the faculty member runs the attached exercises, adds any commentary he/she considers necessary to clarify the concepts, and provides personal experience on selected topics. A copy of the videotape and moderator’s guide with exercises can be requested from the Firm
This document seeks to answer 4 questions
SECTION 1 Why do associates need to consider organizational issues in every engagement? SECTION 2 What frameworks do we use to help our clients improve organizational performance? SECTION 3 What role does an associate play in organization work? SECTION 4 Where can an associate find out more?