Re:think

Companies have long had a hard time gauging what contributes to the productivity of developer teams. But a new approach could help to tackle this challenge and fuel innovation in the process.

New research shows women spend more of their lives in poor health than men do. More data and investment can narrow the divide and improve outcomes—benefiting everyone.

When we started the McKinsey Institute for Black Economic Mobility in 2020, one of our first reports was The economic state of Black America: What is and what could be. The report examined challenges and opportunities for Black Americans in five different roles that they play in the economy: workers, business owners, savers and investors, consumers, and residents. Since then, we have been going deep into each of these roles. In 2021, we looked at Black consumers. This year, we’re focusing on Black residents.

Ten years from now, a successful bank might be a platform of networks—in other words, a holding company for a collection of starkly different businesses.

Generative AI may change the way we interact with doctors, making our visits smarter and more efficient.

After the COVID-19 pandemic moved into its endemic phase, investors and consumer executives wondered whether the wellness industry—which grew exponentially during the pandemic—would have staying power. The upshot: consumer interest in the space has never been higher.

Advertising is undergoing a sea change as consumers experience ad-supported media differently and new “media” companies compete. The industry is pivoting in unprecedented and transformative ways.

Real estate has historically been a laggard in terms of tech adoption. But industry dynamics, combined with generative AI advancements, could spur investors, owners, and operators to outperform.

During periods of economic unpredictability, CEOs often focus on resilience. But more and more, CEOs are prioritizing business building in uncertain times.

Boardrooms are largely focusing on the risks posed by generative AI. But boards have the opportunity to ensure that companies have the capabilities, talent, and culture needed to benefit from this new technology.

Navigating geopolitical risk is a top priority for CEOs. An informed and proactive board can help steer an organization.

What makes for a highly successful CEO, if success means excelling in areas like commitment, sustainability, customer satisfaction, and well-being? Microhabits that encourage physical and mental health matter, as does attention to human connections.

The retailer of the future won’t just sell stuff—it might also become your walk-in clinic, your travel agent, and your bank. But as retailers expand into new businesses, they need to make careful, consumer-centric choices.

A McKinsey report examines the pandemic’s effect on urban real estate and potential impact on demand through 2030. The bottom line: fewer days in the office has sent shock waves throughout the industry.

In a recent survey, older adults around the world identified the factors that affect their health. Surprisingly, they were nonmedical in nature. Instead, issues including social inclusion, feeling connected, and being active were what mattered most.

Amid more investment, regulatory progress, and consumer interest, drone deliveries at scale are approaching reality. But hurdles remain that may slow the adoption of this energy-efficient technology.

Companies seeking growth may be neglecting their best potential customers: the ones they already have. Experience-led growth means optimizing established bonds to yield better financial results.

Frontline workers’ ideas can improve a product or fix a problem but often go unheard. Companies that know how to listen benefit most.

Employees of all ages want similar things at work, but their motivations vary. To meet people where they are, companies can invest in leadership, technology, and a deeper understanding of individuals’ needs.

The stable growth trajectory of global private markets hit a speed bump last year, but there were bright spots and reasons for optimism, too. Here’s what the data tells us.

Many organizations hope to generate value from generative AI. The best way to do so? Rewire how your company works.

Consumer-packaged-goods companies want to make sustainable products, but will those products meet with adequate consumer demand? Here’s what the data says.

The United States has committed to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. The question now is: Will that transition be orderly or disorderly? Here’s what both scenarios could look like.

Most hydrogen today is produced with fossil fuels. To scale up clean hydrogen, production costs need to drop and infrastructure must grow. The challenges and opportunities for achieving both are real.

Most people understand that global warming is an issue that requires action. But protecting all of nature is equally important to humanity’s future.

Higher ingredient and labor costs, and lower consumer tolerance for price increases, are colliding in a tough moment for restaurants. Some creative operating models are hitting the menu.

For some companies, progress on DEI has been elusive. Our research reveals that there are five keys to driving successful DEI initiatives.

By 2030, mobility could change dramatically in urban areas as reliance on private vehicles declines. What could that mean for cities, mobility leaders, and the auto industry?

Last year’s buzz about the metaverse has quieted down. That may be a good thing.

How can companies go beyond incremental change to reinvent themselves for the future? Five actions can help.

If your business has survived—or even thrived—during three years of historic challenges, you might think that you’re set for whatever comes next. But how can you be sure? Consistently high-performing organizations know that skill matters, in the form of operational excellence.

As inflation and economic uncertainty loom, how can companies accelerate B2B sales growth? By being fast and flexible.

During the height of the pandemic, many people worked and shopped primarily from home. Now that we have more freedom to do both flexibly, how should office and retail real estate change?

McKinsey’s American Opportunity Survey reveals that Americans feel more pessimistic about their economic futures than in our prior surveys. Inflation, a jobs–skills mismatch, and mental health rank as top concerns.

Converging crises, including the war in Ukraine and early climate change effects, are throwing the world’s food system into a state of high risk. Here’s what’s happening and why.

Consumer-facing companies say they want to imbue services and offerings with equity, but what does that really mean? Here’s what they need to think about.

We’re seeing an increasing urgency to scale climate technologies. But uncertainty in the financial markets and supply chain challenges create a sense that launching or scaling a green business is complicated.

It’s almost impossible to keep up with technology trends. But these four, which fall under the category of “innovation at the edge,” reshape the way leaders must run their companies.

We expect the global shipping industry to release about 20 percent more CO₂ between now and 2050. But decarbonized supply chains can be more resilient—and may even be cheaper in coming years.

Approaching human capital by thinking about how to enrich an employee's personal journey can be more promising for companies than thinking about, “How can I profit from these people?”

Real estate accounts for about 40 percent of all GHG emissions and for more than half of emissions that most companies can practically reduce between now and 2030. Here are three steps to consider for any company with real-estate holdings.

In the past few years, companies across sectors have struggled with supply chain challenges. One of the most counterintuitive approaches comes from an apparel retailer, whose solution is to turn competitors into collaborators and customers.

After the murder of George Floyd, big US companies pledged well over $50 billion toward diversity and racial-equity efforts. Here are some key steps they can make to deliver on those commitments.

Once again, technology innovation is leading us into something that might transform the experience of consumers and companies in some unforeseen way. How should companies think about the nascent metaverse?

CEOs often feel ill-prepared for the big job. The best ones come to understand that they must concentrate on the things that only they can do. Everything else must get pushed out to others on the team.

Companies can build lasting loyalty in a competitive talent market by offering workers real flexibility. One example? Offer 20-hour workweeks with benefits. Within five years, this will be more of a norm.

By 2030, virtually every sector in the world will be orchestrating ecosystems, driving around $80 trillion in annual revenue—a third of total global revenue.

The pandemic created a chance for people and fitness companies to think through everything from what makes for a better workout to how people can live better, happier, healthier lives.

No matter how self-aware you are, it can be hard to remind yourself of your own implicit bias when you’re about to make a decision. You may need a cue, something to tell yourself, “Stop. Wait a minute.”

The majority of people surveyed about what happened to their well-being and finances during the pandemic report that the drop in their well-being has been dramatically worse than the impact on their finances.

When you ask workers, “Who’s your boss,” a big percentage say, “I don’t exactly have a boss in the traditional sense”? Bosses who micromanage and dictates are not going to fly much longer.

The COVID-19 crisis has taken a severe toll on our collective psyche. Here are three ways each of us can be better mental-health advocates for our families, our communities, and our workplaces.

The exit path you take out of the pandemic may define your company for a decade. At a moment of disequilibrium and uncertainty, you need optionality and flexibility in your strategy.