Hoshin-Kanri contains a hierarchy of goals. The multi-year goal (ideal or vision) is the North Star (True North), to which the annual goals, but also the concrete improvement activities, are oriented. Because the North Star is aligned with customer needs, the previously different and sometimes contradictory management goals can be redefined, synchronized and aligned. This resolves some of the previous conflicting goals. Source: http://www.wandelweb.de/wiki/index.php5?title=Hoshin_Kanri