Our top 10 articles of 2016

This year we published more than 400 articles and reports on McKinsey.com. And while we’re not obsessed with clicks and eyeballs, it’s interesting to see what resonated. Listed below are the year’s ten most popular pieces of original McKinsey thinking, based on visits to this website and the McKinsey Insights app.

The takeaways? Looking at the list, it’s clear that you, our audience, were hungry for perspectives on how digital technologies are disrupting not only specific industries (such as autos and insurance) but also the practice of management and the nature of work itself. You understand that technology isn’t everything, however. From income inequality to leadership to China, a complex world requires staying smart across a wide range of topics.

The top 10

Ahead of the curve: The future of performance management

May 2016—What happens after companies jettison traditional year-end evaluations? Most corporate performance-management systems don’t work today, because they are rooted in models for a different era of work. See how G.E., Microsoft, Netflix and others are changing.

What might happen in China in 2016?

January 2016—Millions of people being relocated from cities, fewer jobs, greater centralization, and more movie blockbusters were just some of Gordon Orr's predictions for the year. How accurate were they? Look out for Gordon's predictions for 2017—coming soon!

The economic essentials of digital strategy

March 2016—A supply-and-demand guide to digital disruption that gets beyond the specter of new digital competitors to analyze the cause and nature of transformation.

Disruptive trends that will transform the auto industry

January 2016—Technology-driven trends will revolutionize how industry players respond to changing consumer behavior, develop partnerships, and drive transformational change.

Where machines could replace humans—and where they can’t (yet)

July 2016—The technical potential for automation differs dramatically across sectors and activities.

The CEO guide to customer experience

August 2016— Companies that create exceptional customer experiences can set themselves apart from their competitors.

Want to be a better leader? Observe more and react less

February 2016—Overloaded executives need coping mechanisms. This personal reflection shows how meditation can help with three common challenges faced by leaders: email addiction, coping with disappointment, and social isolation.

Poorer than their parents: A new perspective on income inequality

July 2016—The real incomes of about two-thirds of households in 25 advanced economies were flat or fell between 2005 and 2014. Without action, this phenomenon could have corrosive economic and social consequences.

An incumbent’s guide to digital disruption

May 2016—Incumbents needn’t be victims of disruption if they recognize the crucial thresholds in their life cycle, and act in time.

People analytics reveals three things HR may be getting wrong

July 2016—More sophisticated analyses of big data are helping companies identify, recruit, and reward the best personnel. The results can run counter to common wisdom.

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