I’ve worked with McKinsey on 3 different projects at two companies. One project was honestly helpful in trying to get SAP up and running. The other two were worthless, including a strategy deck about CPG food strategy in China. They basically just took our data and the results we had already provided and had a charismatic speaker (Partner?) who worked in China come in and tell the same story. The few original slides they brought were probably all the same nonsense macroeconomic slides they show to everyone remotely interested in Developing markets like China. The CFO was unimpressed and though they still use them for things, we would never go back for Strategy. For the cost we paid for one month of the engagement I could have hired an MBA analyst/manager working full time doing much of this in house.

I personally will not use a big consulting company until we do a better job of forcing consultants to have more skin in the outcome. It’s really nice to come in, have a flashy presentation and then walk out and collect your money. The only “getting shit done” I’ve seen McKinsey do is lining their own pockets.