Management with purpose: the book on hoshin kanri to align strategy and execution

Have you ever wondered why your company's strategies do not always translate into consistent results? Or why teams often seem disconnected from strategic priorities? If your organization seeks to achieve sustainable results and align strategy with execution, the book "Managing on Purpose" offers the solution.

The book, launched exclusively at Lean Summit 2025 in Portuguese, is the definitive guide to hoshin kanri, a proven methodology for aligning strategy and execution, enabling the company to achieve significant results. The Portuguese edition features an exclusive foreword by Cesar Gon and an afterword by José Roberto Ferro and Robson Gouveia, making it essential reading for Brazilian leaders and professionals.

What is hoshin kanri? The methodology for turning your strategy into results

Hoshin kanri is a management methodology that focuses on aligning the organization's strategy with its daily execution. It is a system to ensure that everyone, from the strategic level to the front line, is working toward the same objectives.

This approach was popularized by leading companies such as Toyota and Turner Construction, helping them achieve remarkable performance while building a culture of innovation and developing their leaders. More than a tool, hoshin kanri is a way of thinking and acting that ensures strategy does not stay on paper but delivers impactful results.

The origin of hoshin kanri

The hoshin kanri methodology has its roots in Japan, and the term can be translated as "policy management" or "compass management," indicating the intention of keeping the organization pointed in the same direction.

Why is hoshin kanri so important for companies?

Organizations frequently face three main challenges:

• Defining realistic strategies aligned with their internal and external reality.
• Translating those strategies into clear, executable action plans.
• Adapting with agility when plans run into unforeseen obstacles.

Hoshin kanri works directly to fill these gaps, prioritizing results-driven transformation. Companies that have implemented this methodology have seen remarkable improvements, such as the CEO of Grand Rapids Chair, who reported a seven-point increase in gross margin, and Turner Construction, which improved its safety performance in New York by more than 80%.

The book “Managing on Purpose” and its launch at Lean Summit 2025

Mark Reich's book, which will be launched at Lean Summit 2025, offers a step-by-step guide to using hoshin kanri. The author, with more than two decades of experience at Toyota, uses the TrueMowers case study to demonstrate how the methodology drives real performance improvements, helps develop leaders and builds long-term competitiveness.

What will you learn from the book?

With the book, you will learn to:

• Develop strategic objectives: set annual goals that support the organization's long-term vision and communicate them in a way that aligns functions and levels.
• Engage teams: foster vertical and horizontal collaboration, breaking down departmental silos and ensuring that everyone contributes to shared objectives.
• Adapt with agility: build systems of continuous review, learning and adjustment for real-world challenges.
• Develop leadership capabilities: use hoshin kanri to achieve results while developing leaders and building a culture of innovation.

Who is the book for?

"Managing on Purpose" is a valuable book for:

• Executives: to develop and manage a strategy that generates real business impact.
• Managers: to bridge the gap between strategy and daily execution.
• Lean practitioners: to enable their company's strategic transformation.

Whatever your industry, the book offers the tools and insights to drive your organization forward.

Bonus: Exclusive templates and tools for download

The book “Managing on Purpose” includes several practical templates and tools for applying hoshin kanri. These resources are available for download and complement the reading, making implementation of the methodology even easier and more effective. They include tools such as:

• Basic A3
• Corporate hoshin and semiannual hoshin reflection
• Hoshin project plan
• Horizontal consensus matrix
• Strategic A3
• And more.

To access these materials, click here.

The complete lean journey: hoshin kanri and other tools

Hoshin kanri is a fundamental part of a complete lean management system. For a broader view, the book suggests other complementary titles, such as "Managing to Learn" and "Gestão Diária para a Execução da Estratégia" (Daily Management for Strategy Execution), which delve into topics such as A3 problem solving and the operational discipline needed to sustain strategy.