Signal 39% see redefining process flows as the best route past productivity barriers

Summary

McKinsey's 2026 survey finds that 39 percent of respondents consider redefining process flows the best way to get past productivity barriers over the next one to two years. It ranks third among the unlocks offered, behind innovation investment and a culture of continuous improvement at 47 percent each. The report builds on this with a five-step method for process redesign. The early steps include diagnosing process maturity across workflows and redesigning processes and routines, with quick wins such as fewer meetings. Governance is also to be redesigned so that decision rights and accountabilities are clear and decisions are not duplicated. The finding supports the report's broader claim that productivity depends on how work flows rather than on structure.