Trend Shift 6: concentration on the core displaces breadth as the growth strategy

Summary

McKinsey's sixth shift describes growth strategy moving away from breadth toward concentration on the core business. Change is speeding up across industries amid global uncertainty, which pushes organizations to become more agile and move resources faster. At the same time, fierce competition and resource limits force them to differentiate and focus on what they do best. Markets and investors now expect clear priorities and decisive execution, and some activities once considered core may no longer be. The report argues this requires rethinking whether activities are handled in-house, outsourced, or funded in other ways. It warns that without shared focus, organizations risk spreading resources too thin and weakening performance and agility.