TOC Thinking Processes

The Theory of Constraints
Fundamental Exam Review

TOC Thinking Processes Segment
James R. Holt, Ph.D., PE

Professor jholt@wsu.edu http://www.engrmgt.wsu.edu/ Engineering & Technology Washington State University-2010 1 Management
TOCICO Segmented Fundamentals Exam

Fundamentals Certificate Multiple Choice Exam (Identify, Exploit, Subordinate, Elevate, Go to Step 1)
Fundamentals Certificate of
TOC Philosophy
Fundamentals Certificate of TOC Thinking
Fundamentals
Certificate of
Fundamentals
Certificate of
Processes Inherent Potential Inherent Simplicity Inherent Win-Win Five Focusing Steps Three Questions Conflict Cloud Negative Branch Ambitious Target
TOC Applications
TOC Finance & Measures T, I, OE PQ Type Problem
DBR Project Management Replenishment
Washington State University-2010
Topics in TOC Thinking Process

Cause and Effect Evaporating Cloud Surfacing Assumptions Invalidating Assumptions Negative Branch Reservation Overcoming Obstacles (PRT) Categories of Legitimate Reservation Layers of Resistance
TOC Thinking Process Elements

Two types of Logic (in Natural Language)
Sufficiency Logic If , Then . In order to , There must be .Necessary Logic
Logical Causality Tools used to Answer the three questions:

What to Change? What to Change to? How to Cause the Change?
TOC is a Systemic Thinking Process.

There are a set of rules to guide and check validity. Could be called Visual Thinking.
Washington State University-2010 4
Everyone Can Think

Goal:
Lower the Ball yet keep it attached.
Minimize: Y subject to: (X-1)^2+(Y-8)^2<=24 (X-3)^2+(Y-8)^2<=14 (X-5)^2+(Y-8)^2<=2 (X-7)^2+(Y-8)^2<=22 (X-9)^2+(Y-8)^2<=26
Y-> X->
The Real World
My View of my World
Thinking Time
We all think! Its what we do! Our minds are like CPUs. They keep on running
and running and running We feel uncomfortable if we dont have thoughts in our head. Thats why junk TV still survives. We feel uncomfortable if we start thinking the wrong thoughts Thats why there are magazines in Doctors offices!
Thinking Experiment
Get out a pencil and paper. Wait for the starting signal. Then, Work really hard at not thinking for One
Minute!
GO!
QUICK!
Write down every thought you had in the last
minute! Jot down a word to catch the thought you had Capture as many as possible.
How Many Thoughts did you have in 1 Minute?

In the production world, we would call recurring thoughts RE-WORK! How many of those thoughts have you had before? 40%, 60%, 80%?
Probable #
12
15
18
Number of thoughts
10
Improving our Mental Throughput

We need to increase our mental effectiveness We need to tie together the stray pieces so we
dont have to deal with individual thoughts We need to get the whole picture, solve it, and move on.
11
What is this?
12
Jonathans Family
13
Thinking Process Tools

The Basic Set of Thinking Process Tools Include:
Current Reality Tree Evaporating Cloud All of these tools Future Reality Tree Negative Branch Reservation are Scrutinized by the Pre-Requisite Tree Categories of Transition Tree Legitimate Derivatives Tools: Reservation. Three Cloud Approach Chronic Conflict Thinking Process elements included in the Fundamentals Exam Layers of Resistance
For Fun!
In order to understand the function and power of
the Thinking Process Tools
Lets examine a Thinking Process Example.

One that is fairly well known by most people One that is not well solved by most people
Marital Strife
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First the Approach: The Thinking Process

What to Change?
UDEs
UDEs
UDEs UDEs UDEs UDEs
Arrows are Logical Connections are Tail Head: If , Then .
Find the cause of the UnDesirable Effects - UDEs.
UDEs UDEs
Change (Remove) the Core Problem.
Core Problem
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Find Whats Blocking the Solution

What to Change To? Necessary Condition Prerequisite
Arrows are Logical Connections are Head Tail: In Order to , Must have .
Goal
Injection that invalidates the assumption
Necessary Condition
Prerequisite
Assumptions that explain the necessary Thinking Process elements included connection.
in the Fundamentals Exam
Achieving the Solution
How to Cause the Change?
DE DE DE DE DE
Key Action
DE
DE
Key Action
Key Action
DE
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Marital Strife UnDesirable Effects

Lack of Affection Infidelity Unequal Workload Little Support Lack of Trust
One Carries Excessive Load Frequent Disagreements
Lack of Compassion
Difference of Opinion
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Story - Trust
1. My spouse doesnt come home when I expect him (her). This is happening more and more. The stories seem to be weaker and weaker. I want to trust my spouse. But I dont want to be hurt.
My spouse feels free from my bondage

I feel good about my marriage I dont get hurt
Thinking Process elements included in the Fundamentals Exam
I trust my spouse at all times
I dont trust my spouse

20
Story - Support
2. My spouse is deeply involved in ______. He/she expects me to support him/her by taking care of __________ while he/she is gone. I dont mind doing it, but it leaves me little time for my own hobbies.
We use our time well
My spouse can do his/her own thing
Give lots of support
I have time for myself

Give little support
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Story-Workload
3. My spouse is in a stressful job and at a critical point in his/her career. It seems like this critical point is getting longer and longer. In the mean time, I have to do my job and hold down the domestic duties too!
I survive my Job We both Achieve My spouse gets ahead
We balance our domestic workload
We have unequal workload

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Generic Conflict (a consolidated Evaporating Cloud)

1. Spouse freedom 2. Spouse does own thing 3. Spouse gets ahead 1. Feel Good 2. Use Time Effective 3. Achieve 1. Trust 2. Support 3. Unequal work
Happy Marriage
My Spouse is Happy
My spouse does what he/she wants
I am Happy
1. Im not hurt 2. Time for me 3. I Survive Thinking Process elements included in the Fundamentals Exam
My spouse doesnt get what he/she wants

1. Lack of Trust 2. Lack of Support 3. Balanced work
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Core Conflict Core Problem

I am often slighted
What to Change?
We have different goals

There is pressure to give my spouse does what he/she wants The things my spouse wants are important to our marriage Our wants are different My Spouse needs to be happy
Often, my spouse takes second place There is pressure not to give what he/she wants I have real needs
I need to be happy
I not happy unless my spouse is happy
We want a Happy Marriage
My personal feelings are important

24
The Current Reality Tree Results of the Core Conflict

Infidelity Lack of Affection Loss of trust
Lack of Compassion Lack of support Time Excessive burdens continues Unequal workload Things need to be done Different people have different levels of importance Different Opinions We have different goals
Frequent arguments
A Potential Future Desirale Effects (DEs)

We have a close We have complete confidence relationship We share the workload
We share our burdens

We rarely disagree on important matters We really understand each other
Committed to each other
We support each other
Caring Relationship
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Starting Injection
My spouse and I share common goals, objectives and direction in the important aspects of our lives.
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Start of the Future

We are working towards our common goals/direction
Spouse is working to our common goals
My spouse works towards spouses goals
We have common goals, objectives and direction in the important aspects My Spouse of our lives. needs to I need to be Happy be Happy
Im working to our common goals
I work toward my goals
I not happy unless my spouse is happy
We want a Happy Marriage

My personal feelings are important

28
More Actions Needed

We have complete confidence We share our burdens We rarely disagree We share the workload We really understand each other
We have a close relationship
We support each other

We have a Caring Relationship

A Possible Nice Future Reality Tree

What to Change to?
We have complete confidence in each other We share a common set of moral virtues
We have a close relationship We share our burdens We rarely disagree We have good communication We share the workload We really understand each other
We support each other Caring Relationship We realize we need each other to reach our common goals
We make it a point to communicate (good & bad)

30
Negative Branch Reservation

The Good Side The Bad Side
My spouses goals are achieved.
Most of my spouses goals are our common goals Im working to our common goals
I cant achieve my goals Im not working on my goals
My goals take a lot I am very of time We have common goals, objectives and direction in the busy important aspects of our lives.
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I feel good about I cant achieve Most of my my progress my goals spouses goals are our common goals IIm work on our goals Im working to not working AND my goals our common on my goals goals My goals My spouse take a lot works am very We have common goals, IIwork on of time towards objectives and direction in the busy things I spouses I finally important aspects of our lives. value goals prioritize Thinking Process elements included my life
My spouses goals are achieved.
OK, Injections, But HOW? How to Cause the Change?

We realize we need each other to reach our common goals We make it a point to communicate (good & bad)
Create the PreRequisite Tree (Ambitious Target Tree). Practice on this Injection
We share a common set of moral virtues
We have common goals, objectives and direction in the important aspects of our lives.
I work toward my goals I finally prioritize my life

33

Obstacles Preventing
Its a gray world out there. (I cant tell right from wrong)
Intermediate Objectives
We dont want to change.

Values change according to the circumstances. We have different backgrounds. Our desires differ. We both enjoy some moral indiscretions.
Thinking Process elements included in the Fundamentals Exam 34

Its a gray world (cant tell right from wrong) We dont want to change Values change according to the circumstances We have different backgrounds Our desires differ We both enjoy some moral indiscretions
We agree on common virtues
We are willing to work on this

We agree on a common virtues We really know each other We share a set of common goals We live our set of virtues in all cases
Thinking Process elements included in the Fundamentals Exam 35
Sequencing the solution (Structure of the PRT)

We enjoy our indiscretions
Its hard to tell right from wrong
We live our set of virtues in all cases Our desires differ
We agree on a common virtues We are different
We share a set of common goals We dont know each other
We really know each other
We really communicate We dont We dont want to talk much admit error We subordinate We recognize our ourselves to each other own frailties Washington State University-2010
36
Putting the Intermediate Objectives Into Place
The PreRequisite Tree exposed the Intermediate

Objectives (Milestones) needed for How to Cause the Change? But, How to We actually Get there? How will, We Really Communicate? For this, the Transition Tree gives the Step-by-Step Approach to getting there.
We really communicate We dont We dont want to talk much admit error We subordinate We recognize our ourselves to each other own frailties
Working Upwards on a Transition Tree

Spouses can be a significant help and support for dealing with problems We recognize (more and more of) our own frailties <feed back loop from up above> We, each, admit (confidentially) to some of our problems that we wish to eliminate
We generally know about each others mistakes that we try to hide
We want to improve
There are (and should be) few secrets between spouses

We dont talk much We really communicate
We, each of us, try to hide our mistakes Mistakes are inevitable We are mortal
We recognize our own frailties
other Washington State University-2010
We want others to We subordinate ourselves to each respect us
We dont want to admit error
People rarely respect people who make a lot of mistakes

38
Working Upwards on a We subordinate Transition Tree ourselves (more and

more) to each other We need cooperation (give and and take) from both sides Real love comes from sacrificing self for the benefit of others. It is easier to love when loved. We want to improve
<feed back loop from up above> We, each, accept we will do more things for each other than we are currently doing
We are willing to do some things that show love to our spouse

We dont talk much We We really communicate
We need to resolve some problems on both sides
Mistakes are inevitable
Loved each other We recognize our in the past own frailties
Our marriage has some strife caused by each of us. We dont We desire to want love each other to admit error even more than we do now We both have made some We subordinate mistakes ourselves to each other

We are very patient and listen without judgment. Neither of us dominates the discussion (for too long) We really communicate (more and more) <feed back loop from up above> We subordinate ourselves (more and more) to each other
We talk frequently about our successes together
We talk frequently about our challenges
We need to talk more
We each mention three good things that are happening in our lives
We dedicate time to spend with each other

We each mention three problems that we want to improve. We both have topics of interest to each other
40
We dont talk much
We really communicate
We want our We recognize own frailties to improve
We recognize We subordinate more and more) of our We dont talkourselves much to each other own frailties

We really communicate (more and more)
We each mention three good things that are happening in our lives
We each mention three problems that we want to improve.
We, each, admit (confidentially) to some of our problems that we wish to eliminate
We are very patient and listen without judgment.
We dont talk much We recognize our own frailties
We really communicate

We subordinate ourselves to each other Washington State University-2010
We dedicate time to spend with each other
41
The Strategic/Tactic Plan for Marriage

S. Marital Bliss T. Love Each Other S. Get Along T. Accept Each Other S. Focus on the Other T. Have Common Goals Communication Forgiveness S. Trust Each Other T. Share Moral Code Fidelity S. Spouse Loves Me
T. Take Actions to cause Spouse to love me
Shared Responsibility
Work at Marriage
42
The Evaporating Cloud
B. My Need
A. The Goal
D. What I Want
C. Others Need
D. What the Others Want

43
Creating the Evaporating Cloud

1. What is it that I Want (that Im having trouble getting)?
D. What I Want
44

1. What is it that I Want (that Im having trouble getting)?
D. What I Want

2. What is it that the Others Want (that I dont want them to have)?

3. Why do I want what I want? What Need am I trying to fulfill? 1. What is it that I Want (that Im having trouble getting)?
B. My Need
D. What I Want


3. Why do I want what I want? What Need am I trying to fulfill? 1. What is it that I Want (that Im having trouble getting)?
B. My Need
D. What I Want
C. Others Need
4. Why do the Others want what they want? What Need do they have?

47

3. Why do I want what I want? What Need am I trying to fulfill? 5. What Goal do we mutually share? Why are we still arguing? 1. What is it that I Want (that Im having trouble getting)?
B. My Need
D. What I Want
A. The Goal
Reading the Cloud: In order to <point> I must have <tail>.
C. Others Need

48
4. Why do the Others want what they want? What Need do they have?
Communicating the Evaporating Cloud

4. Point out that you also have a significant Need. 1. Start the Mutual Goal. It is common ground. Both interested. 5. And you WANT to meet your Need as well.
B. My Need
D. What I Want
A. The Goal
Reading the Cloud: In order to <point> I must have <tail>.
C. Others Need

3. Acknowledge the Other side Wants to act on meeting their Need. 49
2. Recognize you understand the Others Need must be meet to reach the Goal.
Lets Do Some Examples
B. Why I Want It
D. What I Want (to do)
A. The Goal C. Why the Other Side Wants What They Want
D. What the Other Side Wants
50

STUDENT EXAMPLE
A. Get the Customer order
B. Make the offer attractive to the customer
D. Supplier makes the mold
C. Insure the quality of the product
D. Customer makes the Mold
51

STUDENT EXAMPLE
Because: Money is the ONLY motivator B. Motivate better Performance
Because: Motivated employees deliver more profit
D. Pay High Salaries Because: This will create conflict with the team. Salaries are fixed. D. Dont pay High Salaries
A. Make more Profit C. Control Expenses
Because: Expenses subtract from profit
Because: Salaries are a significant part of Thinking Process elements included expenses
Evaporating the Evaporating Cloud

Assumption: All machines must be keep busy all the time. Assumption: We are measured upon our Production Level
B. Produce a Lot
D. Increase the Work-InProcess Assumption:

We cant increase WIP and Decrease WIP at the same time.
A. Manage Production Effectively
Assumption: Our profits are not high. Customers demand on-time delivery.
C. Keep Costs and Delivery in Control
D. Decrease the Work-InProcess
Assumption: WIP is expensive. High WIP delays flow time.

There is an Injection for Every Conflict
Arrow AB AC BD CD D/D
Assumption Productive Cost Effective Busy Machines Expensive WIP Cant do Both
Injection Deliver Max Capacity Price on Value Keep Constraint 100% Throughput Focus Buffer Constraint only
Chosen Injection: Focus on the Capacity Constrained Resource. Release work to the system at the rate of the Capacity Constrained Resource a Buffer Time in Advance (no sooner, no later). Use Buffer Management to improve the system.
Sometimes TOC Solutions Are Counter Intuitive
DBR: To get more out, put less in. CCPM: To finish project sooner, delay the Start. CCPM: To be safer, remove the safety. Replenishment: To get your products quicker to
the customer, store them farther away. To Solve the Conflict, Ignore the conflict. To Make More Money, Sell at below Cost.
If you cant find an injection, then just do what is opposite of what everyone else is doing (and then do whatever it takes to make it work).
Negative Branch Reservation Practice

Story Line.
I just had an exposure to the Negative Branch Reservation Tool of the TOC Thinking Process. I can remember parts of it (the Good Side, the Bad Side part sticks out). The class instructor now tells us to make a Negative Branch Reservations as an in class quiz. Assignment. Draw the Negative Branch Reservation and the results of the trimming Injection.

I draw a NBR Tree

57
I Wont be alone

The Good Side
Two idiots are better than one I learn better how to do the NBR My NBR tree may not look good I Could look The Bad Side bad.
We might Miss it.
We might learn from Each other
I will look good!
Get Help from Each other
I might be called to present
Practice
I draw a NBR Tree

Im not too good at the NBR
58
PreRequisite Tree Practice

The AMBITIOUS TARGET:
To Learn the Evaporating Cloud, the Negative Branch Reservation and PRT (Ambitious Target) Tree in the next half hour.
What are the Obstacles? What are the Injections?
59
Learn EC, NBR, PRT in 30 Mins

.
.
60
Learn EC, NBR, PRT in 30 Mins

Obstacles Preventing We are preoccupied.
We are sleepy (after lunch) Too many calls Details unknown to us Not enough time No writing materials Not willing to accept learning Not motivated. Difficult, complex, hard
Intermediate Objectives Full Time Call Concentration

Coffee Switch off (no distractions)
We Know the Details

Plenty of time Write on White Board We paid for this class! I really want to do this With the right materials, this is easy!
Sequencing the solution (Structure of the PRT)

. .
I learn the EC, NBR, PRT in 30 Mins
. . . . . . . .
. . .
Categories of Legitimate Reservation Used to Scrutinize All Logic Trees

First: Second:
Clarity Entity Existence Causality The Effect The Cause
Third
Cause Insufficiency Additional Cause Cause Reversal Predicted Effect Tautology
This simple set of rules, which compiles all the key elements necessary and sufficient for anyone to validate or invalidate logic, is one of Eliyhau M. Goldratts significant contribution to thinking. Washington State University-2010
63
Resistance to Change
Why dont People Change?
Resistance to change is a good thing. It prevents most un-needed changes. People resist because they dont understand the value of the change and / or see significant negative branches without a way to deal with them. There are six basic layers of resistance and six methods to overcome them.
64
Layers of Resistance
Layer 1. Disagree on the problem
Solution: Agree on the problem (CRT) Layer 2. Disagree on the direction of the solution Solution: Agree on the direction of the solution (EC) Layer 3. Disagree that the solution solves the problem. Solution: Agree that the solution solves the problem (FRT) Layer 4. Yes, But, there are potential Negative consequences. Solution: Agree that the solution will not lead to any significant negative effects (NBR) Layer 5. Yes. But, there are obstacles to implementing the solution. Solution: Agree on the way to overcome any obstacles that might block or distort implementation of the solution (PRT) Layer 6. Unverbalized fears Solution: Overcome Unverbalized fears (TT)
Categories of Legitimate Reservation: CLR Clarity

Expressing logic visually gives the opportunity for scrutiny often missed when voiced only.
This is a pretty little girls school
This is a small school for girls
A School only for Pretty Girls? Or, is it a Pretty School for young girls? Or, just a very Little School? Could it be a school for one particularly Pretty Girl (you missed the apostrophe)? Are there boys there too? Does the building look particularly nice? What is the enrollment?
66
CLR Entity Existence

A brand new Lexus costs $15,000 Operating costs of the car are of little concern The exterior appearance of the car doesnt matter
There is free maintenance for 100,000 miles Entity Existence Reservation: Do these things really exist in your world?
CLR Causality
The Effect I receive 20% interest Causality: Show me how the parts in the Effect (at the point of the arrow) come from the Cause (from the tail). I need pants like Joes I need a car I become a millionaire
I open a Savings Account

The Cause
I want to be different
My roommate has a car
I buy stock
There are problems with each one.

CLR Cause Insufficiency

Insufficiency Reservation: You Need to do your Project well. I get excellent grades in Class Insufficiency Reservation: Your Group needs to complete a good Group Project too.
I turn-in good homework
My Project goes well
My Group Project goes well

69
CLR (More on Insufficiency)

Is it sufficient?
Not without the Triangle!
70
CLR Additional Cause

Additional Cause Reservation: I dont get good Gas Mileage
Additional Cause Reservation:
I drive too fast My Truck is large I carry heavy loads Ah-Ha! We see an area were improvement is possible.
71
CLR Cause Reversal

My Garage is full of stuff.
My Garage is too small. My Garage is too small.
The Garage didnt create all the extra things.
My Garage is full of stuff
I cant get my car in the Garage.
72
CLR Predicted Effect

We dont have enough money to pay our bills
Others with the same income would not be able to pay their bills
The Most Difficult CLR to use (you have to think).
Predicted Effect Reservation: If our income is too low, I would expect to see most people with the same income unable to pay their bills. And yet, I see lots of people with the same or less income paying their bills just fine.
Our Income is too low
We have too many bills

Many others with same or less income do pay their bills
We buy too many things we really dont need

Discovery Happens!
73
CLR-Tautology Reservation
A Too Tight a Logical Loop Too Tight a Logic Loop
Most Frequent Logical Error!
10. There is a Chicken
20. There is an Egg
A Longer Logical Loop Resolves the Age Old Question
11. A Male and Female Chicken can produce a fertile Egg
14. There is a Male Chicken
16. There is a Female Chicken
OR
20. There is a fertile Egg

74
But, maybe there were two eggs first! Washington State University-2010
CLR Tautology
The Cause is the Excuse
The Beavers lost the game The Beavers are a lousy team. The Effect The Cause
The Circular Logic of the Cause is accepted because of the Effect.
How do you know the Beavers are a lousy Team? Because, they lost the game didnt they! Whenever you hear, a BECAUSE, that is the same as the Effect you have a Tautology (bad logic).
CLR Tautology
The Cause is Hard to Define
The Beavers lost the game
The Circular Logic of the Tautology comes from a Cause which is abstract; difficult to determine, define or quantify. The Beavers are So, too often the Cause is not a lousy team. challenged. And, it seems the undefined Cause is accepted because of the Effect. To resolve the Tautology, the Cause needs to be something that can be determined and challenged; Not an Abstract Concept. In this case, the abstract word is lousy. What does that mean? We need another substantial meaning. When the BECAUSE is ABSTRACT, we need to dig further. 76
CLR Tautology: Searching For An Alternate Connection

The Beavers lost the game The Beavers may are a not lousy be so team. bad.
The Beavers play a lousy game
The Beavers are depressed by their mistakes
The Beavers face an easy team

The Beavers are perceived as a lousy team.
People feel bad when they make dumb mistakes
The Beavers dont execute well
The Beavers dont prepare well for games

The Beavers are in a slump

They are not thinking clearly
77
How Do Tautologies Happen?

They are obstinate I push them harder They still dont do it I push them
Most Frequent Logical Error! They are obstinate I push them hard
I tell them what to do
Cause for Tautology is unanswered questions. They dont Do we every stop to do it think why they are not answered? Why dont people do what they are told? 78 Hum? Washington State University-2010
Cause for the Tautology Pre-Conceived Notion

Conclusions is the Tautology!
He wont help us He is a jerk
In General, the most common error in Jumping to

They are Muslims He is Black They are Poor Sometimes a Tautology is a single statement. Shes a Woman Men!
Hes Indian
Hum? What is the underlying reason for these crude remarks?

They are Part of Management!
79
Tautology is often a Knee Jerk

When we hear, BECAUSE (same as Effect) When the BECAUSE is ABSTRACT When the ABSTRACT is DEROGITORY
It is probably a Tautology Logic Problem Basic Assumptions of the Theory of Constraints:
All People Think All People are Good Emotion is evidence of passionate, logical thinking!
Every action is logical (within the environment and in accordance with the individuals understanding of their ability to change the environment)
Practice Correcting a Knee Jerk

They are Part of Management!
=>
Management is Incompetent
I dont get what I need I am not the systems problem
Management Ignores me Management Doesnt Respond Management Doesnt Listen
Why Should they?

Im important I do a good job Management must be dealing with some very serious needs Im glad its not me!
Managements Role is to oversee systemic performance

81
An Additional TOC Insight

Systems are Inherently Simple
System A E=MC2
System B In free markets, economic stability is controlled by the Interest Rate.

Look for a Simple Solution!

I cant do my homework I dont know what the words mean I dont understand the problems I dont understand the book Its too complicated Lecture doesnt make sense I cant see the connections There are too many concepts
The homework is too hard

Did you ask anyone for clarity? No.
Thinking Processes
The Goal: Improve Systems (Remove UDEs) The Measure: Number, Scope and Severity of Problems The Constraint: Core Conflict UDE UDE UDE UDE UDE There once was an old System UDE That lived in a shoe. UDE That had so many UDEs UDE UDE UDE It didnt know what to do UDE UDE UDE UDE
UDE UDE UDE UDE UDE

84
Thinking Processes
The Analysis: The Paradigm Shift: Cause the Erroneous Assumption to Go Away (Fix Rules, Measures) Let the System Behave Correctly!
85
Thinking Process Results

Problems Go AwayAre Replaced By Desirable Entities! Conflicts can be Resolved. Negative Branches should be Trimmed. Be James Bond -- A Few, Rightly Placed Injections can Make Dramatic Improvement! We can achieve Ambitious Targets What do we learn here to apply to Daily Lives?
Communication is Greatly Improved!

Buy-In Happens!
Thinking Processes Lessons Learned

There are Answers -- Dont Despair Look for Cause-->Effect Relationships Think Clearly
Dont Accept Compromise (No Win-Lose or

Lose-Lose)
Learn to find Breakthrough Injections A Cloud-A-Day keeps the Conflict Away Enter a Complex World, Find the One Spot that Needs Fixing, Fix it. Then, Look for the Next Spot to Fix Washington State University-2010
Clarity, Causality, Insufficiency, Additional Cause, Predicted Effect, Cause Reversal
Become Justifiably Self-Confident
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Next Topics
TOC Thinking Processes TOC Applications
Operations Project Management Replenishment TOC Finances and Measures
Some TOC Philosophy will be blended into these

additional topics.
88

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The Theory of Constraints

Fundamental Exam Review

James R. Holt, Ph.D., PE

TOCICO Segmented Fundamentals Exam

Fundamentals Certificate of TOC Thinking

TOC Finance & Measures T, I, OE PQ Type Problem

DBR Project Management Replenishment

Washington State University-2010

Topics in TOC Thinking Process

Washington State University-2010

TOC Thinking Process Elements

Logical Causality Tools used to Answer the three questions:

TOC is a Systemic Thinking Process.

Everyone Can Think

Minimize: Y subject to: (X-1)^2+(Y-8)^2<=24 (X-3)^2+(Y-8)^2<=14 (X-5)^2+(Y-8)^2<=2 (X-7)^2+(Y-8)^2<=22 (X-9)^2+(Y-8)^2<=26

Washington State University-2010

The Real World

Washington State University-2010

Washington State University-2010

How Many Thoughts did you have in 1 Minute?

Washington State University-2010

Improving our Mental Throughput

Washington State University-2010

Washington State University-2010

Washington State University-2010

Thinking Process Tools

Lets examine a Thinking Process Example.

Washington State University-2010

First the Approach: The Thinking Process

Find the cause of the UnDesirable Effects - UDEs.

Change (Remove) the Core Problem.

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Find Whats Blocking the Solution

Injection that invalidates the assumption

Achieving the Solution

How to Cause the Change?

Washington State University-2010

Marital Strife UnDesirable Effects

One Carries Excessive Load Frequent Disagreements

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My spouse feels free from my bondage

I trust my spouse at all times

I dont trust my spouse

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We use our time well

My spouse can do his/her own thing

Give lots of support

I have time for myself

Give little support

I survive my Job We both Achieve My spouse gets ahead

We balance our domestic workload

Thinking Process elements included in the Fundamentals Exam

We have unequal workload

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Generic Conflict (a consolidated Evaporating Cloud)

My spouse does what he/she wants

My spouse doesnt get what he/she wants

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Core Conflict Core Problem

We have different goals

I not happy unless my spouse is happy

We want a Happy Marriage

My personal feelings are important

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