The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement (1984)

Though it was slightly more readable than I expected, this graphic novel about business management was still pretty darn dull. ( )

Interesting read - describes the Theory of Constraints in a narrative format that makes it a bit more palatable, but still a little dry reading. Reading for my management course this fall...hopefully, will be able to apply to life in information management! ( )

THE GOAL is an interesting business novel about a plant manager, Alex, who was faced with a challenge of improving the performance of his plant or else will face a plant shutdown and become jobless after a 3-month notice from his superior, Peach.

Alex got enlightened when he coincidentally met Jonah, a TOC consultant, in an airport lounge. Jonah helped Alex get over his trouble through his Socratic way of leading people to solutions by questioning them rather than giving them answers.

The beauty of this novel is depicted in its logical thinking in achieving the one goal of any organization; namely, making money. The book starts with the misconception about ‘Productivity’ and it shows that it is meaningless if it does not end up in affecting the bottom line. Then, it explains the measurements that TOC (Theory of Constraints) uses to measure progress towards achieving the Goal, viz., Throughput, Inventory, and Operational Expenses.

The book presents, thru the manufacturing setting of the troubled Plant, the concept of a bottleneck, which is later referred to as Constraint. It shows how Alex succeeded in turning around his plant into the most successful in the group through the 5-step approach of TOC: Identifying the constraint, Exploiting it, Subordinating everything else to it, Elevating it, and going back to the first step if the constraint is broken and another is shown up somewhere else in the system.

The Goal is a real eye-opener to the logical steps of an ongoing improvement process. It takes one much effort to deploy such a process in any organization as it mandates a shift of paradigm. Yet, it is a good start for those embarking on making changes in their workplace. Readers of The Goal should continue learning about TOC and the details of its 5-step process by reading Goldratt’s other book “It’s Not Luck!”. ( )

It is a management book actually. Fictional story. In any case I think it has some great points to make. Whether you are managing a team, running your own business, or just dealing w/other managers you can gain a good deal of understanding why many standard practices do not work.

People continue w/inefficient practices because that is what has always be done. People continue with practices because they feel it is the best choice... but if they actually measure it they would learn it is not. ( )

Whereas I encountered Goldratt's Theory of Constraints in various meetings on planning, and project management conferences, I never read The Goal (1986), until now. In 2014 I bought a stack of classic management books from Henk Jan Kamsteeg (author, coach, Communications & Marketing manager at In Justice Mission Netherlands). One of that books: the Dutch translation of The Goal. The Theory of Constraints packed in a novel, part facing tough production issues, part love story. Both marriage and work have their challenges. It's up to Alex Rogo to find solutions. Jonah is his coach, practicing Socratic questioning. What proves to be common sense may be so difficult to find. How to streamline production processes, avoiding waste, unneeded stocks, and become profitable again? Learn the 5 important steps of the Theory of Constraints from a as real as possible live situation. ( )