When there is a downturn in business, companies usually initiate actions to cut their costs. But this does not achieve the greater goal of maintaining a continually lean organization that minimizes waste and maximizes efficiency. The principles of lean thinking include providing value, creating a value stream, generating flow, employing pull, and creating perfection. Apply them to the marketing planning process and the mix of product, price, promotion, and place and--voila--you have lean marketing.