The 7S Framework

Knowledge Center

• About
• Home
• Dictionary
• Encyclopedia
• Question?
• Views

• Register
• Log in
• Help

• Change & Organization
• Communication & Skills
• Decision-making & Valuation
• Ethics & Responsibility
• Finance & Investing
• HRM
• Knowledge & Intangibles
• Leadership
• Marketing
• Program & Project
• Strategy
• Supply Chain & Quality

Explanation of the 7-S Model of McKinsey.

What is the  7-S Framework? Description

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 -

7-S Framework Special Interest Group Special Interest Group (6191 members)

7-S Framework Forum   Recent topics   McKinsey 7S in Fast Changing Environment: A DYNAMIC 7S Model?           CDOCi Acronym | CDOCi Tool           How to Use the 7S Model in Education?

Best Practices - 7-S Framework   How to Link 7S Model with Leadership and Management           Why are Shared Values in the Center of 7's?           7S McKinsey for ISO 14001           McKinsey 7-S Model on Innovation           Applications of the 7-S Framework           7 S model in the post merger phase         All you need to know about management   Communication Problems in the 7S Model of McKinsey           Limiting choice of 'S' in 7S Framework?           7-s Model as Basis for a Project Audit           Guiding a Change Program with 7-S Model           Extra S-es in the 7S Framework by McKinsey           Does the 7-S Model still holds true today?           Google and its success with 7S           Involving Staff in 7-S Framework           Applying the 7 S Framework. Implementation           McKinsey 7-S Background           Competitive Edge with 7S Model?           7-S within Government           Changes in Shared Values and Staff           What is the NEW 7S Framework?           One More S: Solidarity           7S model organisational Change Overcoming Barries           7S X 7S Matrix: Tracking the Mutual Congruency of the 7S Elements           Effectiveness of 7 s framework           Measuring the Scores on each S of the 7S Framework           7S Data Collection and Analysis

Expert Tips - 7-S Framework   7S Checklist with Questions for Each S       Categorizing the S-es in McKinsey's 7-S Model       How to Identify Potential Problem Areas in 7S?       Improved 8S Framework for Strategy Execution     Advance yourself in business administration and management

Resources - 7-S Framework Original Article Introducing the 7S Framework   McKinsey's Approach to Problem Solving   7-S Framework     News about 7-s Framework Mckinsey         News about Mckinsey Concept         Videos about 7-s Framework Mckinsey         Videos about Mckinsey Concept         Presentations about 7-s Framework Mckinsey         Presentations about Mckinsey Concept         Books about 7-s Framework Mckinsey         Books about Mckinsey Concept         More about 7-s Framework Mckinsey         More about Mckinsey Concept       Accelerate your management career

Compare with the 7-S Framework: Causal Model of Organizational Performance and Change  |  Ashridge Mission Model  |  Strategic Alignment  |  McKinsey Matrix

Return to Management Hub: Change & Organization  |  Ethics & Responsibility  |  Marketing  |  Strategy

More Management Methods, Models and Theory