Signal 47% name innovation investment and a continuous-improvement culture as the top productivity unlocks

Summary

McKinsey's 2026 survey asked which moves would best help organizations overcome barriers and raise productivity in the next one to two years. Investment in innovation capabilities and a culture of continuous improvement tied for first place, each cited by 47 percent of respondents. Redefined process flows followed at 39 percent and reduced organizational silos at 35 percent. The report treats these answers as a starting point for a disciplined, multistep process redesign rooted in process, value, and behavior. It proposes a five-step approach that begins with diagnosing process maturity across key cross-functional workflows. Automation, including integrated forecasting, fewer manual reports, and AI analytics, is presented as another key to success.