McKinsey & Company Monthly Highlights | August 2013

Developing a fine-grained look at how digital consumers behave

Consumers are fast changing the way they use digital platforms. To benefit, companies must take a refined look below the surface to understand who’s doing what. more

Three steps to a more productive earnings call

Traditional calls are painfully unhelpful. Here’s how companies and investors alike can get more out of them. [includes podcast] more

Managing when vendor and supplier risk becomes your own

Financial institutions are now accountable for the misdeeds of their suppliers. A new approach can help companies identify and manage sources of third-party risk. more

Measuring the full impact of digital capital

Although largely uncounted, intangible digital assets may hold an important key to understanding competition and growth in the Internet era. more

Ten quick steps to unlocking tax-revenue collection in rapidly growing markets

Fast-growing economies that don’t strengthen their tax administrations miss a chance to create long-term fiscal stability. Some initiatives can deliver positive results within a year. more

The last installment of our recent series on the country’s prospects focuses on skills and talent development. In the video interview “China’s next chapter: The human-capital puzzle,” McKinsey’s Andrew Grant explores how its workers and managers can become more effective. A board member of Knorr-Bremse Asia Pacific describes the German company’s global–local approach in “Twin-track training.” “Capability building in China” explains the need for a focus on real work rather than training exercises. For a comprehensive look at the pivotal changes coming to China, see our complete collection of content, in “China’s next chapter.”

During the past month, McKinsey clients have been reading our most recent issue: a special edition on China’s future. Now you can enjoy its insights in two different ways. If you’re pressed for time, look at the executive briefing for highlights and takeaways. Otherwise, download a PDF or visit the online newsstand Zinio to read the full issue on your iPad or iPhone, Android device, or PC.

How to manage customer value

People buy products and services not on price alone but on customer value: the relationship between costs and benefits. Although this trade-off has long been recognized as critical for marketing, businesses often get their price–benefit position wrong and ignore the reactions of competitors and customers, not to mention the impact on an industry’s profitability. more