Article at a glance:

How chief strategy officers think about their role: A roundtable

• Chief strategy officers (CSOs) are cropping up in organizations of every size as companies struggle to balance their short- and long-term goals in an increasingly complex and volatile business environment.
• But the role’s relatively recent creation means that there are as many questions as answers. Who owns strategy? How deeply involved should CSOs be with its implementation? Which performance metrics address both short- and long-term expectations?
• A McKinsey roundtable gathered CSOs from several high-profile companies to discuss the complexities of their roles and the major challenges they face.