What criteria does McKinsey use when accepting engagements?
Before accepting an assignment, we make every reasonable effort to ensure that, first, there are opportunities for significant benefits to the client and, second, the objectives are attainable. As a rule of thumb, we accept only studies where the potential benefit to the client is several times the amount of our fee. However, because it is not always possible to determine in advance that such conditions do in fact exist, we agree that if at any time the client decides that the expected benefits are not likely to be achieved, he or she is free to terminate the relationship. Likewise, we want to be free to withdraw from an assignment should circumstances arise that, in our judgment, make the objectives agreed upon unattainable.
