In the summer and fall, businesses of all sizes devote time to strategic planning. Creating a strategic plan is a critical effort for companies aiming to achieve breakthrough levels of profitable growth. Countless hours are invested in meetings, discussions, and debates to create a comprehensive 3-year strategic plan that sets the direction for the business. However, the real challenge lies in executing the plan effectively.
The Execution Gap: A Common Challenge
Sadly, many companies fall short when it comes to executing their strategic initiatives. They lack the necessary management systems to allocate resources properly. They struggle to measure progress toward goals. They often get caught up in the daily grind, neglecting to work on breakthrough initiatives because of the demands of daily work. Studies have shown that a staggering 60-90% of the value creation that strategic plans describe never fully materializes.
The Role of Leadership
The root of this problem lies in setting expectations for breakthrough results without equipping management teams with the tools they need to succeed. The responsibility lies with leaders who fail to establish a business method for executing the strategy, leaving their teams without the necessary support to deliver results. The CEO plays a pivotal role in setting up his or her team for success, and without the right approach, strategic plans are at risk of being left unrealized.
Introducing Hoshin Kanri: A Proven Management Technique
This is where Hoshin Kanri comes into play. Hoshin Kanri, also known as Strategy Deployment, Strategy Execution, or Policy Deployment, is a proven management technique with its roots in the renowned Toyota Production System. Used successfully for more than 50 years, many world-class companies have embraced Hoshin Kanri to consistently deliver value to customers, associates, and shareholders.
The Three Elements of Hoshin Kanri
Hoshin Kanri transforms strategy execution by breaking it down into three simple yet powerful elements that can be learned and applied by teams of any size:
1. The X-matrix: Visualizing the Strategic Plan
At the heart of Hoshin Kanri is the X-matrix. It serves as a visual representation of the 3-year strategic plan. It provides details on key initiatives, their owners, and quantifiable milestones, all condensed into a single page. This concise graphical strategic plan summary ensures that the entire organization is aligned towards a critical few strategic initiatives and can easily communicate the strategic direction to associates at all levels of the organization.
2. Action Plans: Driving Effective Resource Allocation
Hoshin Kanri emphasizes the importance of detailed action plans, with actions typically focusing on the upcoming quarter. These plans describe the specific actions, owners, due dates, and milestones to track progress in developing the new processes that will lead to breakthrough profitable growth. By breaking down the strategic initiatives into bite-sized, actionable steps, action plans effectively drive teams through the process-building steps necessary for achieving the strategic objectives. Action plans also effectively allocate cross-functional resources. In a glance, resource pinch points are identified, forcing management discussions on priority-setting of key resources.
3. Targets-to-Improve Metrics: Measuring Progress
Also known as a Bowler Chart, this list of key metrics measures the progress made toward the milestones identified in the action plans. It provides a visual representation of the organization’s advancement and helps identify areas where adjustments or improvements may be necessary. By color-coding progress towards goals with red (behind goal) and green (ahead of goal), progress is visually displayed in a single visual. When setting the targets, emphasis is placed on early indicators that the process improvement is headed in the right direction. This transparency promotes accountability and enables timely course corrections are taken when needed.
The Benefits of Hoshin Kanri
By combining these three elements, Hoshin Kanri instills discipline, accountability, and engagement throughout the organization. It ensures that all associates understand their roles, and responsibilities, and how their efforts contribute to the larger strategic goals. Hoshin Kanri sustains an organizational commitment to the challenging task of developing breakthrough capabilities, ultimately leading to sustainable differentiation in the market.
The Transformative Advantage of Strategy Deployment
Hoshin Kanri offers a transformative advantage in strategy execution. It addresses the common pitfalls faced by companies, provides a clear roadmap, and fosters a culture of accountability and engagement. By adopting Hoshin Kanri, companies can bridge the gap between strategic planning and execution, turning their visions into tangible results and propelling their organizations toward long-term success.
To unleash the full potential of a strategic plan, companies must go beyond the development stage and focus on effective execution. Hoshin Kanri provides the management method needed to navigate the complexities of strategy execution, ensuring that initiatives are translated into actions, progress is measured, and breakthrough growth becomes a reality. By adopting this well-established management method, companies can position themselves for sustained success, creating value for customers, associates, and shareholders.
