It’s no secret that many companies fall short when it comes to executing on their strategic plans. In fact, studies routinely show that 60-70% of strategic initiatives fail to be implemented successfully. Whether it’s due to a lack of clarity, accountability, or alignment, failure to execute leaves growth potential and performance gains on the table.
For private equity firms and portfolio company leaders, execution is more than an aspiration—it’s a requirement for delivering returns. Having a clear, aligned, and measurable process for strategy execution is essential, especially when speed, transformation, and value creation are at stake.
That’s where Strategy Deployment (also known as Hoshin Kanri) comes in.
Strategy Execution Starts with Prioritization and Focus
Most organizations don’t struggle with a lack of ideas—they struggle with too many priorities and not enough focus. Strategy Deployment helps identify and align around the breakthrough objectives that matter most.
By distilling the organization’s strategy into a small number of clear, actionable priorities, Strategy Deployment avoids the trap of spreading resources too thin. It also prevents people from exhausting too much valuable time and effort on lower-priority initiatives. This clarity allows leaders to set targets, align resources, and cascade goals down through every level of the organization.
In the PE context, this enables a more disciplined, ROI-driven approach to value creation, helping ensure the 100-day plan and beyond remain tightly connected to measurable outcomes.
A Systematic Framework for Strategy Execution
Hoshin Kanri isn’t just a planning tool; it’s a closed-loop execution system. It connects long-term vision with short-term action through a structured approach:
Breakthrough Priorities: Define 3-4 mission-critical goals that will move the needle.
Annual Objectives: Set measurable targets that support those priorities.
Catchball Process: Engage teams in a two-way planning dialogue that builds buy-in and accountability.
Monthly and Weekly Reviews: Create a cadence of accountability where results are tracked, obstacles are addressed, and countermeasures are put in place.
This rhythm of alignment, execution, and course correction helps companies stay focused and nimble, even in rapidly changing market environments.
From Strategy to Action in Private Equity
In the world of private equity, value creation depends not just on what you plan, but on how well you operationalize those plans. Check out our blog on breakthrough change for enhanced value creation. Strategy Deployment provides the foundation for:
- Aligning the leadership team around a shared direction.
- Setting the tone for accountability through consistent review cadences.
- Engaging the front line by connecting daily work to strategic goals.
- Driving cultural transformation that supports continuous improvement.
At NEXT LEVEL Partners, we often see portfolio companies with strong strategic plans but no system in place to execute them. Strategy Deployment fills that gap, bringing structure, discipline, and transparency to the execution process.
Whether you’re working toward operational turnaround, top-line growth, or exit readiness, your value creation playbook must include a plan for flawless strategy execution.
At NEXT LEVEL Partners, we bring decades of experience implementing Strategy Deployment across industries. Our team works shoulder-to-shoulder with leadership to design, facilitate, and embed a custom Hoshin Kanri framework that fits your business.
If you’re ready to move beyond static plans and into strategic action, let’s talk.
