Theory of constraints

Eli Goldratt in his novel " The Goal " Practically turned me into a bookworm. Chomping away merrily ignoring my wife and son for 2 days until it was over. Now the lovestory did not bother me much, a manager that cannot sort out his life will end up to be a very frustrated man indeed. I would really feel sorry for someone like that. Yet most of the Novels challenge me to predict the end and that controls the anxiety and adrenalin for me.

Anyway, As a lesson in best practices, i expected the Character to get things right and be rewarded for it. He lived up to that promise.

To summarize the lesson.

1. Clearly define the goal and purpose of the organization. Then establish a cause and effect relationship between policies and measurements with respect to the goal.
2. Try to understand and document as many assumptions as you possibly can. This serves as the data to build on further
3. Simplify the model to clearly establish causality.
4. Examine model and assumptions for inconsistencies. This will give you the starting point for problem solving.

Now that i have the framework, Here is how the book documents the lessons learnt

1. Identify the systems constraints
2. Decide how to exploit the systems constraints
3. Subordinate everything else to the above decision ( #2)
4. Elevate the systems constrainits
5. WARNING!! If in a previous steps a constraint has been broken, go back to step 1, but do not allow inertia to cause a systems constraint.

I guess, i will be posting more insights as we go along the class.

:-)