The document compares the work cultures of two prestigious management consulting firms, McKinsey & Company and Bain & Company. McKinsey is noted for its professionalism and meritocratic system emphasizing organizational commitment, whereas Bain is recognized for its open and result-oriented culture that prioritizes job satisfaction and individual empowerment. The author suggests that while work culture significantly impacts job attitudes, achieving work-life balance is essential for fulfillment in the consulting profession.

1. WORK CULTURE AT
MANAGEMENT
CONSULTING FIRM
Is it as alluring as it seems
DEEPAK SHARMA

2. MANAGEMENT CONSULTING?
• I know they sound a bit sophisticated and so do they are!
• Called as the “Savior” by firms caught up in a turmoil &
require strategic advice over getting out of it
• They attract the best of the management lot from
Harvard, MIT, Stanford or IIMs.
• But, is giving advice a tough task & requires payment of
really heft pay-cheques?

3. WORK CULTURE’S
IMPACT on EMPLOYEES
Level of CAREER FULFILLMENT @Management Consulting Firm
determines the length of stay of consultant at the firm
But this is not of much concern for some Big Shots!

4. WORK CULTURE’S IMPACT on its GOALS
• Culture at firm determines its Goals & Vision
• Way Management foresees business 10 years from now
determines the working environment of the firm and
hence, the Goals it sets for the future.
• Main focus of this Presentation: Cultures at -
o Bain & Company
o McKinsey & Company

5. COMPARISON TELLS US WHAT ONE EXPECTS
“THE FIRM”- McKinsey & Co.
• Founded at 1923, McK is world renowned & the Most
Prestigious Management Consulting Firm
• Main aspect that “The Firm” boasts on is its
“PROFESSIONALISM”
• Known for its “UP or OUT” Policy

6. Sword hanging over their “CORPORATE HEAD”
2
U YEARS
MISCONCEIVED
o
r OUT
P McK’s Main FOCUS
Selective Job Enrichment
Organizational Commitment

7. “TEAM OF LEADERS”
• Meritocratic Hierarchical System
• Frequent Feedbacks right from entering as a “Junior Associate” so that
one never remains what he/she was when first entered into the firm
• Each “Engagement” provides completely new & a respectful
environment
• Regarding the “Out” Group, one of the Alumnus Mr. Victor Cheng says
“The secret is that many in the "out" group eventually become
clients of the firm.”

8. “Winning Culture”- BAIN & COMPANY
• One of youngest star in the Management World (Founded in
1973)
• Known as the “Best Consulting firm to work in.” from last 4
years in a row (SOURCE: Forbes)
• Primary Asset: Result-Oriented Work Culture

9. “ONE FIRM,ONE TEAM”
Bain’s MAIN FOCUS
Job Satisfaction
Psychological
Empowerment

10. MAIN FOCUS focused
• Doesn’t focus much on being International; focuses more on
valuing the individual-choices of employees.
• Unlike McK, it has a Open Culture where Employees are
given time to schedule important events themselves with
clients which instills sense of responsibility in them
• Each associate has a freedom to reach out to the Top-
Executives Clients; unlike the hierarchical passage one has
to pass in McK. This enriches the job that each Consultant is
doing & makes him/her more committed to the Organization.

11. Growth of not Growth’s Sake
• According to Bain & Company; they call themselves to be a
part of Winning Culture because they carry the following key
elements:
oHigh Performance Values and Behaviors
oUnique Personality & Soul
• Valued Profitability over Rapid Expansion
• But, to make itself a Result Oriented Company; they call
their Modes Operandi as “More of Doing than Talking”!

12. Describing “WINNING CULTURE”
High
Aspirations
& a Desire
to win
Passion & External
Energy Focus
WHO WE
ARE/WHAT
WE VALUE
Thinking
Individuals
like
who Team
Owners
Bias to
Action

13. SECOND LAST SLIDE
REFERENCES
• The McKinsey Mind
• http://chasingconsultantsbreakingbankers.blogspot.in/2010/01/mckinse
y-bain-and-bcg-cultures.html
• http://blogs.reuters.com/felix-salmon/2011/03/09/mckinseys-corrupted-
culture/
• http://www.tomspencer.com.au/2008/04/14/bain-and-company-top-
consulting-firms/
• Building a Winning Culture –By Paul Rogers, Paul Meehan and Scott
Tanner [BAIN & COMPANY]

14. THATS IT
Work Culture of a Management Consulting Firm though have
a tremendous impact on Job Attitudes. But, never forget that
making a WORK-LIFE Balance is what one should aspire for.
To gain that
“Join BAIN & not McK” –Deepak Sharma
THANK YOU VERY MUCH