Purpose, goals & strategic direction · Working
North star
Also called: guiding star
ELI5
One guiding idea or measure that keeps people moving in the same direction.
Used in conversation
“The north star should not replace a full strategy.”
Definition
Informal term for a guiding purpose, outcome or measure used to align decisions.
Here “North star” means: Informal term for a guiding purpose, outcome or measure used to align decisions.
Pitch context
You will see “North star” in strategy decks, market analyses, business plans and planning workshops when the discussion reaches purpose, goals & strategic direction.
Why it matters: It helps a reader interpret purpose, goals & strategic direction without confusing the measure, decision, role or evidence being discussed.
Connected terms
- North-star metricThe search label “North star” can route to both entries.
Sources & evidence · 5
Supporting source families. This entry is an editorial synthesis rather than a quotation from one canonical glossary.
- Strategyzer — Business Model Canvas resourcesSupporting source family · practitioner · checked 2026-08-16
- Strategyzer — Value Proposition Canvas resourcesSupporting source family · practitioner · checked 2026-08-16
- LEANSTACK — Lean CanvasSupporting source family · practitioner · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Department of Justice Antitrust Division — Herfindahl-Hirschman IndexSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16
- U.S. Census Bureau — Business and economy dataSupporting source family · primary · checked 2026-08-16