To survive the completion and to expand organizations need to restructure people, structure, culture, knowledge, policies, legalities, processes, technologies, product designs, marketing practices, pricing etc. A CEO may see change in terms of organizational structure and strategy, a manager in operations may see change in terms of processes, a manager in technology may see change in terms of systems & tools, a manager in HR may see in terms of training and development or recruitment of new staff, clerical staff may find it difficult to change the paper work format, peons and helpers may find it absurd to see each one stressed in the organization or find new bosses with new thinking.  In some cases a change is so complex that no one person has a true end-to-end assessment of it. The McKinsey 7-S model is based on the theory that, for an organization to perform well, to change from time to time, it need to look at the 7 Ss:  Strategy, Structure, Systems, Shared Values, Skills, Style and Staff.  These seven elements need to be aligned and reciprocally reinforced. The model helps in realigning and identifying problems that need to be worked on to improve performance of the organization. While some models of organizational effectiveness have been outdated, one that has persevered its continuity is the McKinsey 7-S Model framework. It was developed in the early 1980s by Tom Peters and Robert Waterman, two consultants working at the McKinsey & Company consulting firm, the basic premise of the model is that there are seven internal aspects of an organization that need to be aligned if it is to be successful.

Whatever the type of change may be: restructuring, new processes, organizational merger, new systems, change of leadership, new market, recruitment so on – the model can be used to understand how the organizational elements are interconnected. It helps to ensure the wider impact of changes made in one area and how it affects other areas.

McKinsey 7-S Model elements

Strategy

It is a scientific plan devised to maintain and build competitive advantage over the competition. The task involves gaining appropriate budgets and demonstrating, delivering value and ROI from budgets, who is to take charge, who would assist, time frame, what end results expected etc. It helps in annual planning approach. Business strategy is generally created at the upper levels of an organization. Grand corporate strategies can be broken down into objectives and tactics to ensure that the strategy is relevant all the way down the organizational hierarchy. Organizational structure is put into place relatively early in the life of a business, but it can be changed over time as the company evolves. The organizational structure matters in making strategies.

Structure

It clarifies the way the organization is structured and who reports to whom and span of control each person enjoys. The modification of organizational structure is made when it is very essential.  A company’s organizational structure must support its strategy. Employees at all levels of the company must be empowered to effectively complete the tasks necessary to achieve organizational objectives, and company structure can aid or hinder employees in their roles. Especially when reporting relations are not clear, and good employees are made to work under incompetent people, organizational goals and objectives become hazy. Structure can also dictate the means by which strategies are formed. Bureaucratic companies tend to generate a majority of strategic ideas at the top levels of management. Companies with flatter structures, on the other hand, often involve a range of employees in strategy sessions.

Systems

The daily activities and procedures that staff members engage in to get the job done. For example, the HR team is one component, the finance and accounts is a component, the service delivery staff another component. The gate keepers another one, so on. Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) help in running the system smoothly. And, making them easier yet scientifically designed helps a lot.  Whether documentation is important or not – remember it is the first set of deliverables within an organization process. Considering them unimportant is a lackluster attitude.

Shared Values

These are the organization’s stated values and rules of behavior. It is how the members represent the organization both in terms of their behavior and the shared values. Their interpersonal behaviors and their behaviors with outsiders speak volumes. This is expressed in mission, vision, philosophies and values of the organization. It serves as a guide for all of the company’s decision-making. Shareholders, leaders and employees and customers are generally the target of the mission. It projects the future, of what the organizations hopes to become.

Why shared value is placed in the middle of the model? The reason is shared values emphasizes that these values are central to the development of all the other critical elements. The company’s structure, strategy, systems, style, staff and skills all stem from why the organization was originally created, and what it stands for. The original vision of the company was formed from the values of the creators. As the values change, so do all the other elements.

Style

It represents the style of leadership adopted. The style implies a leader’s style of providing direction, implementing plans, and motivating people. There are many different leadership styles proposed by various authors. Organizations flourish with good leadership and they disappear because of leadership. The culture and goals of an organization determine which leadership style fits the firm best. Some companies offer several leadership styles within the organization, dependent upon the necessary tasks to complete and departmental needs. Includes both the way in which key managers behave in achieving the organization’s goals and the cultural style of the organization as a whole.

Staff

It represents the employees and their general capabilities. The success of any organization depends on the employee’s learning spirit. The organizations that continually seek to expand their capacity to create. In today’s highly competitive labor market, the hiring talent is not a joke, organizations have realized that capacities of workers matter a lot. The breakdown of staff in terms of their background, age and sex and characteristics such as IT, finance, marketing needs scientific thinking. Depending on the competitiveness of staff, organizations decide use of contractors and consultants. Many organizations depend on outsourcing. Staff recruitment and retention, and virtual working makes the difference and compels organizations to think about staff development and training.

Skills

The actual skills and competencies of the employees working for the company. It’s critically important that companies develop strategies to manage their people through the crisis if they are to survive and prosper in the long term. Companies need workers who can stay organized and focus on the projects at hand. However, company managers must also organize the work of their employees. Organizational skills in the workplace can include general organizing, planning, and time management, scheduling, coordinating resources and meeting deadlines. Distinctive capabilities of key staff can be interpreted as specific skill-sets of team members.

The above seven elements are divided into Hard and Soft elements:

Hard Elements: are tangible elements. They are Strategy, Structure and Systems.

Soft Elements: are intangible elements. They are Shared Values, Skills, Staff and Style.

One important point to note is that, in the first version of this model which was published in 1982, “systems” was classified as “soft” element. Since 1982, many processes in very many organizations have been meticulously documented or automated, making them relatively easy to analyze and change. They are therefore shown above as “hard”.

The charming and charismatic Hindi movies hero of Bollywood, Dev Anand who rocked the 1950s, 1960s till 1980s is known as the style icon for scripting a fashion statement with his scarves, mufflers and jackets and his signature puff. Similarly, in my opinion, John F. Kennedy (erstwhile American President) used to be referred as “style icon.”  He always looked perfectly attired and naturally elegant. JFK had it all that takes to entice the world; the wit, the brilliance, the looks and of course he was stylish to the core.

A fashion statement is an event during which a person or a group of people wear either a specific article of clothing or an entire outfit that somehow stands out and grabs the attention of onlookers. The beautiful gowns, sexy frocks, and over-the-top confections with the glittering gizmos on famous personalities make the style; we see celebrities making fashion statements with their clothing. When Dennis Rodman showed up to an event scheduled to support his autobiography while wearing a wedding dress, he was making a very shocking fashion statement. Madonna, who is reported to have had a relationship with Dennis Rodman, has made quite a few fashion statements of her own.

The way people look matters in a society. Our looks, our figure, our body shape, our expressions, body language matters a lot in our career, our social image. As a society, we are obsessed with looks and style. And, looks provide all kinds of clues about health, strength, fertility, our education, our financial status, our confidence etc. Clothes are the closest artifacts to the human body; they not only protect our body but, they act like a second skin. It is fact that if we care about bodies, we care deeply about the clothes which wrap our body around them.  The clothes frame them, they augment our features and frame and they transform us. This is why most people get affected by fashion; it is both art and science. Fashion affects us more than paintings, architecture or sculptures.

I think it’s difficult to ignore Narendra Modi’s signature half-sleeve kurtas and churidaars. The pastel shades and hues give a facelift to his persona. You need not be remotely interested in politics to look at his fashionable attire. His formals are snappish and well stitched. He reflects assurance, national pride and poise ease to try out new things. The PM’s fondness for wearing mostly linen and khadi kurtas in subdued colours paired with sharply-tailored jackets has always been spot on. He stands out for his uniqueness. The world has never seen an Indian Prime Minister like him. He flaunts his stylish Bvlagri spectacles frames, expensive watches and swanky Mont Blanc pen collection while making his style statement.

In addition to simply wearing unusual or shocking garments, a fashion statement can also be political statement or represent the wearer’s feelings about a certain social issue. In fact, many of these kinds of fashion statements are much more modest. Someone who cares very much for the environment might, for example, prefer to wear clothing made from recycled material. A person who prefers not to use animal products may wear belts, shoes, and carry bags or satchels that are made out of leather alternatives. In India, a white Khadi saree or a khadi kurta with Gandhi cap expresses patriotism.

Fashion is something that changes within a few days time; it is usually short lived. Some things like width of lapels, cut of trouser, colors of blouses and shirts and ties in stores tells what is in and what is out. But, one of the easiest way of making a fashion statements is the one in which a person simply wears an item of clothing that includes a phrase or sentence that specifically defines one’s feelings about a certain social or political issue. These statements are most commonly worn on the front or back of T-shirts, sweat shirts, or jackets. Such statements are made by both celebrities and common people. It is the best way for individuals and groups display their opinions; by doing so, people can bring their perspective and point of view on particular issue or cause. People can race towards being better than what we are today.   We see words, pictures, logos printed on apparels; which certainly helps them take their conversation and cause beyond the online world. Sometimes this helps to start a conversation in the society. People can express their statement together or individually to become a voice of change.

There is something called ‘Fashion Forward’ which means somebody interested in fashion and using or wearing things which will soon become fashionable. The fashion world is most fast-forwarding. Its business is very competitive yet dynamic; each designer and customer tries to jump ahead to remain current. Tommy Hilfiger, the famous designer, says, “A trend happens as the result of a natural reaction to the customer’s direction. But even though you may see a common trend, I think every designer has a different take on it.”

Gabrielle Bonheur famously known as “Coco Chanel” was a French fashion designer of women’s clothes and founder of the Chanel brand; she once said that “Copying is the ransom of success.” Fashion is all about copying. There is no such thing as an original style. Those things called trends basically mean we are all going to be dressing the same evermore. She used to say that fashion is not something that exists in dresses only. Fashion is in the sky, in the street, it has to do with ideas, it is about the way we live and what is happening around us.

I think if you can make a clearer definition of your style and its key elements, it can help you with shopping and it prevents you from buying things that you would rarely wear. Think about this: it will become much easier to dress yourself successfully if you have a good sense of what your style is and if you can describe it in a few words. Find 2 words that define who you are and your style; do this exercise with your favorite outfits.

I believe that you can describe your style when you know exactly what makes you. When you and your style match you can make your style statement. If you are happy, you will find your style over the place. That’s because you will have clarity in exactly what is that you want, what elements you need to compliment your style and you will automatically stand out with your style. Each one of us makes an impact on somebody and of course each one of us has a style statement.