McKinsey-Bennet 9S Framework fully explained

Many of you have asked me to take a closer look at the McKinsey-Bennet 9-S Framework. Since publishing my December 2024 piece, "How the McKinsey-Bennet 9-S Framework changed my approach to business strategy," and the follow-up in February 2025, "How to apply the McKinsey-Bennett 9S Framework in real business scenarios," it’s become clear that a more thorough explanation is needed, one that explores both the foundations and the deeper dynamics of the model.

This article will walk through the full framework, provide practical examples for each of the nine dimensions, and introduce a concept I’ve increasingly relied on in executive workshops: the Strategic Anchor Triangle and its central dynamic, S-Flow. These additions illuminate how internal tensions build and where systemic alignment begins to strain or break down. Visualizing these relationships often reveals more than any spreadsheet or KPI dashboard.

Whether you're exploring a case study, conducting an internal diagnostic, or advising an organization through change, I hope this deeper dive into the 9-S Framework offers tools and perspective you can use immediately.

Let’s dive in - because when it comes to complex systems, structure is power, but flow is insight.