<P> In a hierarchical organization, "up or out", also known as a tenure or partnership system, is the requirement that each member of the organization must achieve a certain rank within a certain period of time . If they fail to do so, they must leave the organization . </P> <P> "Up or out" is practiced throughout the accounting industry in North America, most notably at the Big Four accounting firms, which also practice this policy in other countries . </P> <P> Up or out is "commonly regarded as a sign of the consulting industry's hard - nosed approach to doing business" with Bain & Co and McKinsey & Company being the two consultancies most closely associated with the approach . However, it is "not a label that the consultancies are keen to own up to". According to Leslie Perlow, up or out is also employed at Boston Consulting Group . </P>

Advantages and disadvantages of up or out promotion policy