TOC Theory of Constraints

By Ian Burgess On October 11, 2009 · 4 Comments · In Best Practice, Cost Management, Project Management, Theory of Constraints

Having read “The Goal” by Eliyahu M. Goldratt some time ago after an introduction to the book by Andrew Byers. I have used the theory to look at process, projects and companies with results that have shown the validity of the theory.

The system also has parallels with the concept of flow expressed by the likes of Roger Hamilton and many other current business thinkers. TOC has a simple five step process for application.

The Five Steps Are:

Identify The Constraints
Decide How to Exploit It
Subordinate all other process to it
Elevate the Constraint
Repeat the Process

Here is a quick outline of the process by Eliyahu M. Goldratt.

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Tagged with: business thinkers • constraint • Lean • Theory of Constraints • TOC

4 Responses to TOC Theory of Constraints

PM Hut says:

October 14, 2009 at 12:18 am

Ian, speaking about constraints, I have recently published a beginner article on the Project Management Triple Constraint, for some reason, nobody agrees with the concept of the triple constraint anymore. Check the comments…

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Project Management Software says:

October 14, 2009 at 5:15 pm

Interesting article on PM Hut, thanks for sharing it with us.

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Ian Burgess says:

October 14, 2009 at 6:03 pm

I think the “Triple Constraint” is now seen as a high level idea and many of us focus and track multiple constraints separately which would have previously been see as one of the three. The Iron Triangle is a sound but Project Management has just become more detailed and progressed.

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Nash says:

October 22, 2009 at 8:32 am

If any from who is willing to have project management in the firm but not able to get the right tools then the firm should also go for the constraints .

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