100 years of technology innovation

As McKinsey celebrates its centenary in 2026, this series explores the defining technologies of each decade and the lessons they offer for today’s technology leaders.
Check back each month for another post in this series.
A flat-style digital illustration shows a blue-sleeved hand holding a phone or tablet that projects a glowing hologram of a rising cyan bar chart and an upward-trending arrow. Around the projection, a faint web of connected lines links small circular icons of people, with dotted lines and arrows suggesting flows of data, all set against a deep blue background. End of image description.
Blog Post

1996–2006: When capital outran the tech business case

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As McKinsey celebrates its centenary in 2026, this series explores the defining technologies of each decade and the lessons they offer for today’s technology leaders.
A flat-style digital illustration shows two blue human figures standing on either side of a large globe, each holding a tin-can phone to their ear, connected by a string that wraps several times around the globe.
Blog Post
1986–1996: When the digital economy was born
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As McKinsey celebrates its centenary in 2026, this series explores the defining technologies of each decade and the lessons they...
A flat-style digital illustration shows a blue caped superhero figure with one fist raised, launching upward out of an open gray laptop and leaving a light cyan vapor trail behind. The laptop screen shows a blue expanse in the background, with the superhero figure's launch cloud and trail rising off the screen in the foreground.
Blog Post
1976–1986: When computing became personal
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As McKinsey celebrates its centenary in 2026, this series explores the defining technologies of each decade and the lessons they...
A flat-style digital illustration shows a blue human figure standing at the edge of a cliff, using a rope and pulley to lower a cyan gear into the gap between two rocky gray cliffs. Interlocking blue and gray gears of various sizes bridge the chasm below, set against a dark navy sky with white clouds.
Blog Post
1966–1976: When systems beat stand-alone technologies
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As McKinsey celebrates its centenary in 2026, this series explores the defining technologies of each decade and the lessons they...
A vector style illustration of a light bulb with interconnected gears inside. The image is rendered in shade of cyan and set against a dark blue background.
Blog Post
1956–1966: When science moved into everyday use—and risks emerged
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As McKinsey celebrates its centenary in 2026, this series explores the defining technologies of each decade and the lessons they...
This graphic image depicts a lightbulb containing a stylized map of the Earth's continents. It is a commonly used visual metaphor representing concepts such as global ideas, innovation, and technology.
Blog Post
1946–1956: When technology found its purpose
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As McKinsey celebrates its centenary in 2026, this series explores the defining technologies of each decade and the lessons they...
The image appears to be an illustration representing a team constructing or working on a rocket ship or similar structure.
Blog Post
1936–1946: When technology innovated under pressure
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As McKinsey celebrates its centenary in 2026, this series explores the defining technologies of each decade and the lessons they...
This artwork is a piece of minimalist vector illustration that depicts themes of ambition, progress, and achievement. The image features a stylized figure walking towards a glowing, triangular object resembling a paper airplane or a beacon of light.
Blog Post
1926–1936: When technology started to scale
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As McKinsey celebrates its centenary in 2026, this series explores the defining technologies of each decade and the lessons they...

Tech: Forward

Our short takes on key technology and architecture topics