he declined, in keeping with the McKinsey policy that allowed consultants to turn down assignments if they had ethical qualms. But in passing on the assignment, Edstrom lost a chance to build ties with senior managers, and that ultimately led to more time “on the beach,” McKinsey-speak for a consultant with no client work. Edstrom believed the policy of letting consultants opt out of projects on ethical grounds was a cop-out, freeing McKinsey as a whole from taking a stand.
