Source: McKinsey & Company;
Corporate Leadership Council research.
Organizational Effectiveness
McKinsey 7-S Model—Overview
The McKinsey 7-S model allows organizations to determine the wider impact that a proposed change will
create by emphasizing the interrelatedness of various organizational aspects
Hard S’s
Definitions
Strategy—The plan devised to maintain and build
competitive advantage
Structure—The organizational structure, reporting
procedures, and basis for specialization
Structure
Strategy
Systems
Shared
Values
Skills
Style
Staff
Systems—The daily activities and procedures that
employees engage in to complete work
Style—The culture of the working group
Staff—Employee characteristics and human resources
methodologies
Skills—The skills and competencies of staff
Shared Values—Core values of the organizational unit
that are evidenced in culture and general work ethic
Soft S’s
See the Corporate Leadership Council's HR Business Partner Portal at
www.clc.executiveboard.com for updates and additional tools and insights.
Source: McKinsey & Company;
Corporate Leadership Council research.
Organizational Effectiveness
Brainstorming Notes—Hard S’s
Strategy
Questions to
Consider
What is the vision/mission?
Who are the stakeholders?
What is the current/desired strategy to meet
stakeholder needs?
How is it working?
Notes on
the Current
Situation
Notes on
the Desired
Situation
See the Corporate Leadership Council's HR Business Partner Portal at
www.clc.executiveboard.com for updates and additional tools and insights.
Structure
Systems/Processes
Describe the structure of the organization?
How does the work get done?
Does the structure support collaboration
and user needs?
How does information flow in this
organization?
 Are the necessary financial, HR,
communications, and IT systems are in place
to serve user needs?
Do these systems sufficiently support the
work?
What are the key processes that you use?
Are they defined, effective and complete?
Do they support your work?
Source: McKinsey & Company;
Corporate Leadership Council research.
Organizational Effectiveness
Brainstorming Notes—Soft S’s
Style/Culture
Questions
to
Consider
How would describe the
culture in this unit?
How effective is the culture or
style in meeting user needs?
How would you describe
interactions with this unit?
How well do people get along?
Skills
What are the strongest skills
represented in the unit?
Are there skills gaps?
How are skills monitored and
assessed?
How is feedback on skills
provided?
Notes on
the
Current
Situation
Notes on
the
Desired
Situation
See the Corporate Leadership Council's HR Business Partner Portal at
www.clc.executiveboard.com for updates and additional tools and insights.
Staff
Shared Values
What positions or specializations
are represented within the unit?
What positions are needed, but
not filled?
What are employees’ typical
goals?
Is there clarity about roles and
responsibilities?
What are the core values?
How strong are the values?
What evidence of organizational
culture exists (e.g., symbols,
behaviors, language, dress)?
Source: McKinsey & Company;
Corporate Leadership Council research.
Organizational Effectiveness
Current Situation
Structure
Text here
Systems
Strategy
Text here
Text here
Shared Values
Text here
Style
Skills
Text here
Text here
Staff
Text here
See the Corporate Leadership Council's HR Business Partner Portal at
www.clc.executiveboard.com for updates and additional tools and insights.
Source: McKinsey & Company;
Corporate Leadership Council research.
Organizational Effectiveness
Desired Situation
Structure
Text here
Systems
Strategy
Text here
Text here
Shared Values
Text here
Style
Skills
Text here
Text here
Staff
Text here
See the Corporate Leadership Council's HR Business Partner Portal at
www.clc.executiveboard.com for updates and additional tools and insights.
Source: McKinsey & Company;
Corporate Leadership Council research.
Organizational Effectiveness
Recommended Next Steps
Structure
Text here
Systems
Strategy
Text here
Text here
Shared Values
Text here
Style
Skills
Text here
Text here
Staff
Text here
See the Corporate Leadership Council's HR Business Partner Portal at
www.clc.executiveboard.com for updates and additional tools and insights.