McKinsey Global Surveys

Conducting research with global executives on the pressing business, economic, and management issues they face.
Since 2004, McKinsey Global Publishing’s survey team has polled our panel of thousands of executives and managers to generate new and distinctive insights on today’s critical business topics. The findings from our surveys help business leaders to understand best practices, compare their companies’ ways of working and performance with a global benchmark, and make informed and effective decisions.

Our Latest Survey Research

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CEOs’ choice for growth: Building new businesses

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Business leaders and investors see now as an opportune time to build new businesses. New survey data reveals what’s really needed.

Managing change and uncertainty

A group of stick figures walking while one sprints ahead. The figure in the lead glows with light.
Survey
How to gain and sustain a competitive edge through transformation
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Our latest research confirms that a comprehensive approach to transformation, which enables mindset and behavior changes at scale, is crucial to success—including when it comes to outperforming peers.
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CFOs’ balancing act: Juggling priorities to build resilience
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As surveyed CFOs concurrently manage defensive and growth-oriented considerations, they expect major changes in the months ahead and see two pivotal paths for strengthening their organizations.
Newton's Cradle, with shiny, metallic balancing balls. Six remain still as one is in motion.
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In the face of volatility, CFOs—and their organizations—adapt
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Our newest survey of CFOs finds that despite their growing concern over volatility and inflation, finance leaders plan to keep their organizations moving forward.
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How to implement transformations for long-term impact
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When it comes to implementing large-scale organizational change, the most successful organizations commit themselves fully to the effort from start to finish.

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Technology trends

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Companies with innovative cultures have a big edge with generative AI
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It may not be surprising that innovative organizations are ahead on generative AI, but the degree to which they’re succeeding at deploying it might be. Five practices help them stay ahead of the pack.
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The state of AI in 2023: Generative AI’s breakout year
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As organizations rapidly deploy generative AI tools, survey respondents expect significant effects on their industries and workforces.
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Five key questions to get a tech transformation right
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The most financially successful companies approach tech transformations differently from the rest, and their methods suggest a road map for success that others can follow.
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The state of AI in 2022—and a half decade in review
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The results of this year’s McKinsey Global Survey on AI show the expansion of the technology’s use since we began tracking it five years ago, but with a nuanced picture underneath.

Economic sentiment

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Economic conditions outlook during turbulent times, September 2023
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Views on global growth still lean positive but are more divided than last quarter. While the domestic outlook has become more hopeful in North America, views from Europe are more pessimistic.
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Survey results: Expectations for company performance, by industry
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Compared with last quarter, respondents share more optimistic views on their companies’ profits. Those working in advanced industries report particularly rosy outlooks.
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Economic conditions outlook during turbulent times, December 2022
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Sentiments on the global economy have lifted after a negative turn in June, though executives remain uneasy. They continue to see geopolitical conflicts and inflation as top economic threats.

People in focus

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Survey

Stop wasting your most precious resource: Middle managers

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In the modern workplace, middle managers face many challenges. A new survey finds three areas where organizations can better support their managers and help them accomplish more.
Businessman with umbrella in the wind
Survey
Into the storm: CFOs pivot to managing financial headwinds
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The latest McKinsey Global Survey shows that CFOs have been reshuffling priorities as the global economy grapples with a slew of financial risks.
Building workforce skills at scale to thrive during—and after—the COVID-19 crisis
Survey
Building workforce skills at scale to thrive during—and after—the COVID-19 crisis
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A new survey shows that skill building is becoming common practice, social and emotional skills are in demand, and there’s a recipe for successful skill transformations.
Psychological safety and the critical role of leadership development
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Psychological safety and the critical role of leadership development
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While the benefits of psychological safety are well established, a new survey suggests how leaders, by developing specific skills, can create a safer and higher-performance work environment.

MORE INSIGHTS

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Survey
The seven habits of programmatic acquirers
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Our latest research shows that programmatic acquirers continue to create value from this approach to M&A and identifies the capabilities and practices these companies use to deliver their M&A strategies.
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Survey
ESG momentum: Seven reported traits that set organizations apart
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Survey respondents reporting increased ESG impact say their organizations focus on both protecting and creating value.
Uneven bar chart composed of up and down arrows
Survey
Survey results: Expectations for company performance, by industry
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Compared with last quarter, respondents share more optimistic views on their companies’ profits. Those working in advanced industries report particularly rosy outlooks.
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New-business building in 2022: Driving growth in volatile times
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A new global survey finds that new-business building can boost growth and value. However, to meet revenue expectations in the future, companies must dramatically increase their efforts.
The coronavirus effect on global economic sentiment
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The coronavirus effect on global economic sentiment
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In the latest survey, inflation and geopolitical conflicts remain the top perceived economic risks, while concerns about energy volatility predominate in Europe.
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Five ways to increase your board’s long-term impact
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Directors are spending more time on their work, yet few say their boards are better at creating long-term value. Survey data highlight the operating models that correlate most with value creation.
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Survey
Three new mandates for capturing a digital transformation’s full value
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Most organizations achieve less than one-third of the impact they expected from recent digital investments. What can companies learn from the best performers about how to beat the odds today?
Blue particles
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Prioritizing technology transformations to win
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Our latest IT survey confirms the accelerating pace of at-scale core technology transformations. The road map for success reflects the practices and capabilities of leading companies.
McKinsey Global Surveys, 2021: A year in review
McKinsey Global Surveys, 2021: A year in review
Our collection of research-based insights confirms the countless tests that companies have endured this year—and suggests a way forward in a still-evolving and ambiguous business landscape.
Download the collection (77 pages)
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Economic conditions outlook, 2021
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Executive sentiment ends the year on a generally positive note, with most survey respondents expecting 2022 to bring better economic conditions despite heightened risks from the pandemic and inflation.
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The state of AI in 2021
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A majority of companies now adopt AI, and leaders are using more sophisticated tools and practices.

McKinsey’s Global Survey Panel is a community of more than 33,000 participants around the world. Members of the panel receive an exclusive first look at the survey results before they are published, as well as membership in a private LinkedIn group and immediate access to carefully curated McKinsey knowledge on the survey topic.

If you are interested in joining the panel, please write to us.

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About us

Heather Hanselman is an editor in McKinsey’s Atlanta office, and Daniella Seiler is an executive editor in the Washington, DC, office.