November 12, 2023What happens when you "water" aspiration, activation, and execution? Out-innovate and outgrow peers, new McKinsey research shows. We identified and analyzed about 650 of the largest public companies that achieved profitable growth relative to their industry between 2016 and 2021 while also excelling in the essential capabilities associated with innovation. Some of these companies outgrew their peers, others were more innovative than competitors, but 53 companies—what we call “innovative growers”—managed to do both, write partners Matt Banholzer, Rebecca Doherty, and Alex Morris. Check out these insights to understand how putting innovation at the center of all decision making and supporting it with the right mindsets, pursuing multiple pathways to growth and innovation, and establishing the right capabilities can enable your organization to join this small but diverse set of outperformers.

Innovative growers: A view from the top

Courageous growth: Six strategies for continuous growth outperformance

Choosing to grow: The leader’s blueprint

The triple play: Growth, profit, and sustainability

Companies with innovative cultures have a big edge with generative AI

Fear factor: Overcoming human barriers to innovation

The innovation commitment

The eight essentials of innovation

Igniting your next growth business