Want FREE Templates on Organization, Change, & Culture? Download our FREE compilation of 50+ slides. This is an exclusive promotion being run on LinkedIn.







Flevy Management Insights Q&A
What role does Hoshin Planning play in the strategic integration of virtual and augmented reality in business processes?


This article provides a detailed response to: What role does Hoshin Planning play in the strategic integration of virtual and augmented reality in business processes? For a comprehensive understanding of Hoshin Planning, we also include relevant case studies for further reading and links to Hoshin Planning best practice resources.

TLDR Hoshin Planning ensures the strategic integration of VR and AR into business processes by aligning organizational activities with strategic objectives, facilitating goal setting, cross-functional collaboration, and continuous improvement for operational efficiency and customer experience.

Reading time: 4 minutes


Hoshin Planning, also known as Hoshin Kanri, is a strategic planning process that aligns an organization's functions and activities with its strategic objectives. In the context of integrating virtual reality (VR) and augmented reality (AR) into business processes, Hoshin Planning plays a pivotal role in ensuring that these technologies are effectively utilized to enhance operational efficiency, customer experience, and competitive advantage. This method involves a systematic approach to setting goals, implementing plans, and reviewing outcomes, making it highly relevant for organizations looking to incorporate VR and AR into their operations.

Strategic Alignment and Goal Setting

One of the primary roles of Hoshin Planning in the integration of VR and AR is to ensure strategic alignment across the organization. This involves setting clear, long-term objectives for the adoption of these technologies and breaking them down into actionable plans. For instance, if an organization's strategic goal is to enhance customer experience through immersive technologies, Hoshin Planning would involve identifying specific VR and AR applications that could achieve this goal, such as virtual showrooms or augmented product demonstrations. This ensures that every department and team within the organization is working towards a common objective, minimizing wasted resources and maximizing the impact of VR and AR initiatives.

Moreover, Hoshin Planning facilitates the setting of measurable goals at every level of the organization. This is crucial for tracking the progress of VR and AR integration and ensuring that it contributes to the overall strategic objectives. For example, a goal might be to increase online sales by 20% within a year through the implementation of a VR shopping experience. By setting such specific targets, organizations can more effectively monitor their progress and make necessary adjustments to their strategies.

Additionally, Hoshin Planning emphasizes the importance of cross-functional collaboration in achieving strategic goals. The integration of VR and AR into business processes often requires the involvement of multiple departments, including IT, marketing, product development, and customer service. Through Hoshin Planning, organizations can ensure that all relevant stakeholders are aligned and working collaboratively towards the successful adoption of these technologies.

Explore related management topics: Customer Service Customer Experience Hoshin Planning

Are you familiar with Flevy? We are you shortcut to immediate value.
Flevy provides business best practices—the same as those produced by top-tier consulting firms and used by Fortune 100 companies. Our best practice business frameworks, financial models, and templates are of the same caliber as those produced by top-tier management consulting firms, like McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, and Accenture. Most were developed by seasoned executives and consultants with 20+ years of experience.

Trusted by over 10,000+ Client Organizations
Since 2012, we have provided best practices to over 10,000 businesses and organizations of all sizes, from startups and small businesses to the Fortune 100, in over 130 countries.
AT&T GE Cisco Intel IBM Coke Dell Toyota HP Nike Samsung Microsoft Astrazeneca JP Morgan KPMG Walgreens Walmart 3M Kaiser Oracle SAP Google E&Y Volvo Bosch Merck Fedex Shell Amgen Eli Lilly Roche AIG Abbott Amazon PwC T-Mobile Broadcom Bayer Pearson Titleist ConEd Pfizer NTT Data Schwab

Implementation and Continuous Improvement

Hoshin Planning also plays a critical role in the implementation phase of integrating VR and AR technologies. This strategic planning process involves the development of detailed action plans that specify the resources required, timelines, and responsibilities. This level of detail is essential for the successful execution of VR and AR projects, as it helps to identify potential challenges and resource gaps early in the process. Furthermore, Hoshin Planning encourages a culture of continuous improvement, which is vital in the rapidly evolving field of VR and AR. Organizations are encouraged to regularly review their progress, learn from their experiences, and adjust their strategies as needed to ensure ongoing success.

Real-world examples of organizations successfully integrating VR and AR through Hoshin Planning are increasingly common. For instance, in the retail sector, companies are using AR to enhance the shopping experience by allowing customers to visualize products in their own homes before making a purchase. Similarly, in the manufacturing industry, VR is being used for training purposes, enabling employees to gain hands-on experience in a safe and controlled virtual environment. These examples demonstrate the effectiveness of Hoshin Planning in guiding the strategic integration of VR and AR into business processes.

In conclusion, Hoshin Planning is an essential tool for organizations looking to leverage VR and AR technologies to achieve their strategic objectives. By ensuring alignment across the organization, setting measurable goals, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement, Hoshin Planning enables organizations to effectively integrate these innovative technologies into their business processes. As VR and AR continue to evolve, the role of Hoshin Planning in facilitating their strategic integration will only become more critical.

Explore related management topics: Strategic Planning Continuous Improvement

Best Practices in Hoshin Planning

Here are best practices relevant to Hoshin Planning from the Flevy Marketplace. View all our Hoshin Planning materials here.

Did you know?
The average daily rate of a McKinsey consultant is $6,625 (not including expenses). The average price of a Flevy document is $65.

Explore all of our best practices in: Hoshin Planning

Hoshin Planning Case Studies

For a practical understanding of Hoshin Planning, take a look at these case studies.

Hoshin Kanri Enhancement for a Technology Firm

Scenario: An established technology firm providing software solutions is struggling with the implementation of Hoshin Kanri.

Read Full Case Study

Policy Deployment Enhancement in Life Sciences

Scenario: The organization is a mid-sized biotechnology company specializing in the development of novel therapeutics.

Read Full Case Study

Hoshin Kanri Strategy Deployment for Building Materials Distributor

Scenario: A building materials distributor is grappling with aligning its strategic objectives with operational execution.

Read Full Case Study

Global Expansion Strategy for Boutique Apparel Manufacturer

Scenario: A boutique apparel manufacturer, aiming to distinguish itself in the highly competitive fashion industry, is faced with the strategic challenge of embracing Hoshin Planning to navigate its expansion into new international markets.

Read Full Case Study

Supply Chain Optimization Strategy for Boutique Coffee Roasters

Scenario: A boutique coffee roastery is confronting operational inefficiencies and market saturation challenges, necessitating a shift towards hoshin planning to navigate its strategic hurdles effectively.

Read Full Case Study

Organic Growth Strategy for Boutique Health and Personal Care Retailer

Scenario: A boutique health and personal care retailer is facing the strategic challenge of stagnant growth, necessitating a focused hoshin to navigate the competitive landscape.

Read Full Case Study


Explore all Flevy Management Case Studies

Related Questions

Here are our additional questions you may be interested in.

In what ways can Policy Deployment help in managing and mitigating risks in an increasingly volatile global market?
Policy Deployment aligns strategic objectives with Risk Management, enhancing Organizational Agility and fostering a culture of continuous improvement to mitigate risks in volatile markets. [Read full explanation]
What role does sustainability play in the future of Hoshin Planning, especially in light of global environmental concerns?
Sustainability is now a core element of Hoshin Planning, transforming it into a strategic tool for environmental stewardship, social responsibility, and driving innovation and Operational Excellence. [Read full explanation]
How can organizations ensure the sustainability and environmental considerations are integrated into Policy Deployment processes?
Achieve long-term success by integrating Sustainability and Environmental Considerations into Policy Deployment through Strategic Alignment, Stakeholder Engagement, and Continuous Improvement. [Read full explanation]
How do companies ensure that Hoshin Kanri does not become a rigid process that stifles creativity and adaptability?
Integrate Flexibility, Empower Teams, and Leverage Technology in Hoshin Kanri to Enhance Creativity and Adaptability, ensuring Continuous Improvement and Innovation. [Read full explanation]
How can Hoshin Planning be adapted for rapidly changing industries where long-term goals frequently shift?
Adapting Hoshin Planning for dynamic industries requires integrating flexibility into Strategic Objectives, enhancing Organizational Agility, and establishing a Continuous Review and Adaptation Process to navigate market uncertainties effectively. [Read full explanation]
How is Hoshin Kanri evolving to incorporate sustainability and ESG goals into its strategic planning process?
Hoshin Kanri is evolving to integrate sustainability and ESG goals by expanding Strategic Planning criteria to include specific ESG metrics, leveraging technology for real-time tracking, and requiring cultural shifts within organizations for holistic success. [Read full explanation]
What metrics or KPIs are most effective for tracking the success of Hoshin Kanri implementation across different organizational levels?
Effective Hoshin Kanri implementation is tracked through Strategic Alignment Metrics, Operational Excellence Metrics, and Employee Engagement and Culture Metrics, ensuring strategy execution and continuous improvement across organizational levels. [Read full explanation]
What role does organizational culture play in the successful adoption of Hoshin Kanri, and how can resistance to change be managed?
Organizational culture is crucial for the successful adoption of Hoshin Kanri, emphasizing the need for transparency, continuous improvement, and employee engagement, while managing resistance to change involves clear communication, involvement, and adequate support to align with strategic objectives. [Read full explanation]

Source: Executive Q&A: Hoshin Planning Questions, Flevy Management Insights, 2024


Flevy is the world's largest knowledge base of best practices.


Leverage the Experience of Experts.

Find documents of the same caliber as those used by top-tier consulting firms, like McKinsey, BCG, Bain, Deloitte, Accenture.

Download Immediately and Use.

Our PowerPoint presentations, Excel workbooks, and Word documents are completely customizable, including rebrandable.

Save Time, Effort, and Money.

Save yourself and your employees countless hours. Use that time to work on more value-added and fulfilling activities.




Read Customer Testimonials



Download our FREE Strategy & Transformation Framework Templates

Download our free compilation of 50+ Strategy & Transformation slides and templates. Frameworks include McKinsey 7-S Strategy Model, Balanced Scorecard, Disruptive Innovation, BCG Experience Curve, and many more.