Ah, the yearly top ten list: a tradition nearly as time-honored as the frenzied unwrapping of holiday gifts. This year’s most popular pieces—culled from the hundreds of articles, reports, blog posts, and podcasts we published on McKinsey.com in 2018—may lack the glitz of a diamond bracelet or a shiny new gadget. But they offer an invaluable guide to what’s top of mind at the highest levels of business leadership.
What sparked the greatest interest over the past 12 months? Artificial intelligence and blockchain were clearly on the minds of senior leaders. Beyond these specific technologies, it’s clear that many organizations are trying to develop a “new enterprise DNA” at the intersection of digital, analytics, and design. How to organize around these capabilities? This is where the principles of organizational agility come into play. Read on to get smart on each of these trends, and stay tuned for more in 2019.
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1. An executive’s guide to AI
Staying ahead in the accelerating artificial-intelligence race requires executives to make nimble, informed decisions about where and how to employ AI in their business. One way to prepare to act quickly: know the AI essentials presented in this guide.
2. Blockchain beyond the hype: What is the strategic business value?
Companies can determine whether they should invest in blockchain by focusing on specific use cases and their market position.
3. Why digital strategies fail
Most digital strategies don’t reflect how digital is changing economic fundamentals, industry dynamics, or what it means to compete. Companies should watch out for five pitfalls.
4. Notes from the AI frontier: Applications and value of deep learning
An analysis of more than 400 use cases across 19 industries and nine business functions highlights the broad use and significant economic potential of advanced AI techniques.
5. The five trademarks of agile organizations
Agile organizations—of any size and across industries—have five key elements in common.
6. The business value of design
How do the best design performers increase their revenues and shareholder returns at nearly twice the rate of their industry counterparts?
7. Why data culture matters
Organizational culture can accelerate the application of analytics, amplify its power, and steer companies away from risky outcomes. Here are seven principles that underpin a healthy data culture.
8. The agile manager
Who manages in an agile organization? And what exactly do they do?
9. Digital strategy: The four fights you have to win
Yesterday’s tentative approaches won’t deliver; you need absolute clarity about digital’s demands, galvanized leadership, unparalleled agility, and the resolve to bet boldly.
10. Ten red flags signaling your analytics program will fail
Struggling to become analytics driven? One or more of these issues is likely what’s holding your organization back.