Strategy Execution Consulting

Most organizations attempting Hoshin Kanri fall into one of two traps: they try to run it off a framework pulled together from books and internet articles, or they bring in a generalist strategy execution consulting firm who understands change management but has never actually facilitated a Hoshin cycle from X-matrix to execution.Our implementation support is different because we work alongside your team through the real mechanics of deployment — not just the strategy session at the top. We bring the tools, checklists, and facilitation approaches developed over years of hands-on Hoshin work, including the parts most guidance skips entirely, like how to run catchball so it actually produces alignment instead of just a round of meetings. We're not there to hand you a framework and leave.

Yes — that's the point of this engagement. We work directly with your team through each phase of the Hoshin cycle: planning, deployment, execution, and review. That means being in the room for catchball sessions, helping structure your X-matrix, building out your visual management and review cadence, and coaching your team through the sticking points that show up once a plan meets reality.You'll also get access to our pre-built templates, tools, and checklists, so your team isn't reinventing them mid-implementation. Every organization's Hoshin journey looks a little different, but you won't be starting from a blank page, and you'll know what to do when you hit the inevitable rough patches.

Yes — and honestly, your involvement is what determines whether this succeeds. Hoshin Kanri doesn't take root without genuine executive ownership. No outside facilitator or lean practitioner can substitute for the judgment and authority you bring to decisions about how the business should be run.The strongest implementations we've supported involve senior leadership working directly alongside a designated chief facilitator or Lean lead — someone who will own the day-to-day mechanics while your team drives the vision and priorities. We help both sides move at the same pace, so leadership commitment translates into an implementation that actually sticks.

The ultimate goal for each company is to build a sustainable competitive advantage. In most cases, 'how you will get there' is clearly articulated through a company vision. But in reality - what most teams lack is an effective process to drive progress and action at every level to get them there.Every organization faces the same challenge of not having infinite time, energy and resources to do everything. It is critical they focus on the vital few versus trivial many programs and initiatives to achieve their long-term business goals and objectives.Hoshin Kanri is more powerful than other approaches to strategy execution because it provides a clear, visible cascade of long-term goals linked to short-term targets. More importantly, it makes the necessary distinction of work that drives 'breakthrough' (gets you closer to your vision) versus 'business fundamentals' (supports your mission). This is exactly the cascade our implementation support is built to help you put into practice — while the market is still moving.

There are a number of capable firms doing strong work in operational excellence and continuous improvement, and it's worth exploring your options. If you'd like our honest take on how we compare for your specific situation, reach out and ask — we're happy to have that conversation.What sets Hoshin Academy apart is focus. We don't spread our practice across every corner of operational excellence — we specialize in strategy deployment and execution, and we bring that focus to every implementation we support. This is the work we're genuinely passionate about, and we're always refining our approach based on what we learn in the field.

Often, yes — and it's usually less about filling a knowledge gap and more about accelerating and de-risking the rollout. Teams with deep process-improvement experience tend to move faster with Hoshin Kanri once they have a proven implementation structure to work from, rather than building the deployment playbook from scratch while also trying to run it.If your team has spent its career on process-level improvements, Hoshin implementation support helps translate that expertise into a broader, business-level strategy execution capability — connecting the work your team already does well to the priorities that matter most at the top of the organization. That shift, from process improvement to driving focus at the heart of the business, is exactly where an experienced facilitator adds the most value.

A Hoshin Kanri implementation with The Hoshin Academy runs in four phases — Kick-Off, Preparation, Workshop, and Post-Workshop Support — and the full engagement typically spans 4 to 6 months from first call to close-out.It starts with Kick-Off, where we align with your team on the purpose of the engagement: confirming scope, goals, and key deliverables, and getting a clear picture of your organization's context, participants, and timeline before any planning begins.From there we move into Preparation — typically 30 to 60 days. This is where the real groundwork gets laid: finalizing the workshop agenda and content, arranging logistics (venue, materials, pre-work), and running a structured communication plan so every participant arrives ready — informed of the agenda, any pre-reading, homework and what's expected of them.Next comes the Workshop itself — the facilitated, in-person session (typically 3 days) where your leadership team builds the actual strategy: reflecting on the current landscape, defining vision and mission (if not already done), the rallying cry, setting breakthrough priorities, and leaving with an actionable, accountable plan. Everything you need to fill out the main Hoshin artifacts, including the X-Matrix and KPI Bowler Charts.  We capture participant feedback and document the artifacts and outputs as we go.The engagement doesn't end when the workshop does. In the Post-Workshop Support phase, we stay engaged for roughly three months, helping your team run its Monthly Operations Reviews (MORs), reinforcing the review cadence, and making sure the plan is being executed rather than filed away. We close the engagement with a lessons-learned session and a clear summary of next steps — so your team owns the process going forward, not just the plan.