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AI & Soc (2010) 25:371372 DOI 10.1007/s00146-009-0203-8
BOOK REVIEW
Hoshin Kanri: The strategic approach to continuous improvement
David Hutchins, Gower, Aldershot, 2008, ISBN 978-0-566-08740-0, 287 pp
Richard Ennals
Published online: 7 May 2009 Springer-Verlag London Limited 2009
The popular perception is that the Quality Movement came and went, representing a set of management fads which captured the imagination and kept consultants in business. It is rare to nd a readable account of the subject which emphasises the human context while also addressing business strategy. David Hutchins brings together what may have seemed loosely connected themes in the Quality eld, locating them in the unifying context of Hoshin Kanri. The concept and practice is derived from Japanese experience, but the examples are practical and international.
David Hutchins personal history provides the backdrop to the book. Like many of his generation, his childhood and education were disrupted by war, and his experience of National Service provided him with the opportunity to discover his academic ability. His focus has been on practice, and on shopoor experience in manufacturing industry, followed by teaching in further education, and then founding his own international consultancy company.
In a world where breathless recitations of Quality acronyms can confuse the reader, whether from industry or academia, Hutchins is unusual in being down to earth. His references are to individuals (such as particular Quality...