What is the 7-S Framework?
The 7-S Framework of McKinsey is a management model that describes 7 factors
to organize a company in a holistic and effective way. Together these
factors determine the way in which a corporation operates. Managers should
take into account all seven of these factors, to be sure of successful implementation
of a strategy. Large or small. They're all interdependent, so if you fail
to pay proper attention to one of them, this may effect all others as well.
On top of that, the relative importance of each factor may vary over time.
Origin of the 7-S Framework. History
The 7-S Framework was first mentioned in the journal "Business Horizons" in an article "Structure Is Not Organization" by Robert H. Waterman, Thomas J. Peters and Julien R. Phillips in June 1980. It appeared also in "In Search of Excellence" by Peters and Waterman, and was taken up as a basic tool by the global management consultancy company McKinsey. Since then it is known as their 7-S model.
The meaning of the 7 Ss
Superordinate Goals (also called Shared Values).
The interconnecting center of McKinsey's model is: Superordinate Goals (Shared Values). This term includes higher elevation concepts of what an organization wants to achieve, stands for and what it believes in: purpose, vision, mission, shared values, central beliefs
and attitudes. Compare:
Strategic Intent
Strategy
Plans for the allocation of a firms scarce resources, over time, to reach
identified goals. Environment, competition,
customers.
Structure
The way in which the organization's units relate to each other: centralized,
functional divisions (top-down); decentralized; a matrix, a network, a holding,
etc.
Systems
The procedures, processes and routines that characterize how the work should
be done: financial systems; recruiting, promotion and performance appraisal
systems; information systems.
Staff
Numbers and types of personnel within the organization.
Style
Cultural style
of the organization and how key managers behave in achieving the organization's
goals. Compare:
Management
Styles.
Skills
Distinctive capabilities of personnel or of the organization as a whole.
Compare: Core Competences.
Strengths of the 7-S Model. Benefits
- Diagnostic tool for understanding organizations that are ineffective.
- Guides organizational change.
- Combines rational and hard elements with emotional and soft elements.
- Managers must act on all Ss in parallel and all Ss are interrelated.
Book: Ethan M. Rasiel, Paul N. Friga - The McKinsey Mind: Understanding
and Implementing the Problem Solving Tools and Management Techniques
Forum discussions about the 7-S Framework.
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Applications of the 7-S Framework
While some models of organizational effectiveness go in and out of fashion, one that has persisted is the McKinsey 7S framework. Developed in the early 1980s by Tom Peters and Robert Waterman, two con...
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Limiting choice of 'S' in 7S Framework?
While reading for my management course, I couldn't help but wonder if the choice of an alphabet limits the scope and skews the interpretation of a model. When formulating a model, how easy / difficult...
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CDOCi Acronym | CDOCi Tool
You can combine 7S analysis with a method called "CDOCi":
A way of reviewing a strategy or project by getting a team of people to write down their perspectives on the:
- C - Current situation
- D -...
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McKinsey 7-S Historic Background
I am doing a presentation on the 7-S framework and was wondering if anyone knew the first time it was successfully implemented and by who? Any other interesting ideas are welcomed as well....
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Changes in Shared Values and Staff
The values of the organisation may change over time with changes of personnel entering the organisation from the outside. Especially in a growing company a few things happen quickly:
1. Advent of fre...
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One More S: Solidarity
I think this is a sound model but Solidarity is missing in this model. It should be the 8S model. Solidarity is a concept of oneness. See the concepts of Dr. Abdullah Alama Muhammad Iqbal which has be...
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Weisbord's Six Box Model
Serving as a framework for assessing organizational effectiveness, the Six Box Model was developed by American business analyst Marvin R. Weisbord. It offers a comprehensive view of an organization, f...
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Courses about the 7-S Framework.
Beginners Course
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Advanced Course
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Course for Experts
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The best, top-rated topics about the 7-S Framework. Here you will find the most valuable ideas and practical suggestions.
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Competitive Edge with 7S Model?
(How) Can a firm achieve a competitive advantage with the 7S framework?
For me its the shared values and style that make up the competitive advantage of a company. It spells what it really is as an o...
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Advanced insights about the 7-S Framework. Here you will find professional advices by experts.
Consultancy Tips
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Various sources of information regarding the 7-S Framework. Here you will find powerpoints, videos, news, etc. to use in your own lectures and workshops.
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Original Article Introducing the 7S Framework History of 7S Framework The 1980 Business Horizons article "Structure is Not Organization " by Robert H. Waterman, Jr., Thomas J. Peters and Jul...
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McKinsey's Approach to Problem Solving Consultancy, Organizational Analysis and Change Presentation about some of McKinsey's thoughts on problem solving, thereby including the 7S-model of McKinsey. Besides t...
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7-S Framework Analyzing the state of an organization Presentation about the 7S framework....
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Useful tools regarding the 7-S Framework.
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Compare with the 7-S Framework:
Causal Model of Organizational Performance
and Change |
Ashridge Mission Model
| Strategic Alignment
| McKinsey Matrix
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