How McKinsey lost its edge

From the Dossier

Entry 2 of 26. Section A: Firm-specific scandals and accountability failures. Back to the Dossier

Summary

Marking McKinsey’s approach to its centenary, this analysis catalogues converging pressures: a more-than-10% headcount reduction since 2023 (the largest in the firm’s history), stalled revenue growth against faster-moving rivals, competition from AI-native firms like Palantir and Databricks, and the lingering reputational overhang of the opioid and South African state-capture settlements.

Source description

A business analysis marking McKinsey’s approach to its 100th anniversary. The piece examines how scandal, AI disruption, and commercial decline are compounding.

Credibility assessment

The Economist’s unsigned editorial style and institutional independence place this in the High independence category per Rule 5. The piece is analytical, presenting multiple pressures without overclaiming a single cause.