1 / 19

Introducing Theory of Constraints in an MPA course

Introducing Theory of Constraints in an MPA course. Bruce J. Neubauer Richard C. Gay Albany State University. What is Theory of Constraints?. TOC is a management philosophy based on systems thinking introduced by Dr. Eliyahu M. Goldratt. The constraint is what limits throughput or outcome.

karan
Download Presentation

Introducing Theory of Constraints in an MPA course

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Introducing Theory of Constraints in an MPA course Bruce J. Neubauer Richard C. Gay Albany State University

  2. What is Theory of Constraints? • TOC is a management philosophy based on systems thinking introduced by Dr. Eliyahu M. Goldratt. • The constraint is what limits throughput or outcome. • Challenges some of the core assumptions of scientific management.

  3. What is a constraint? • A constraint is what limits throughput of either an industrial or “business” process. Inspection Shipping Assembly Painting

  4. Identify the constraint . . . A constraint is what limits throughput of either an industrial or “business” process. Activity 7 Activity 8

  5. A logical constraint is what prevents a program from being successful. • Critical success factors and necessary conditions are potential “show stoppers.” TOC Intermediate Objectives map represented using Transformation LogicTree software

  6. Some additional basic terms . . . • Goal • Critical Success Factors (CSR) • Necessary Conditions (NC) • Intermediate Objective (IO) • Undesirable Effect (UDE) • Causal relationship • Feedback loop • Root Cause (RD)

  7. Some basic TOC diagrams . . . • Intermediate Objectives (IO) map • Current Reality Tree (CRT) • Evaporating Cloud (ED) (Conflict resolution diagram) • Future Reality Tree (FRT)

  8. Intermediate Objectives (IO) map . . . • Goal(s) • Critical Success Factors • Necessary Conditions for achievement of Critical Success Factors

  9. Current Reality Tree . . . • The problem or lack • The essential reasons for the problem/lack • Undesirable effects • Root causes

  10. Evaporating Clouds . . . • Conflict resolution diagram • Examine assumptions • Identify needed “injections” Source: Clark Ching -- More Chilli Please Website http://www.clarkeching.com

  11. Future Reality Tree . . . • The goal achieved • The CSF’s • The NC’s • Positive feedback loops • Injections

  12. The MPA course . . . • PADM 5823 • Albany State University • Program Development, Management and Evaluation • Spring 2009

  13. The class project . . . • To design a new youth recreation program for Calhoun County, Georgia so as to address multiple needs in the county. • To do so using Theory of Constraints and Transformation LogicTree modeling software.

  14. The software . . . • Transformation LogicTree

  15. Calhoun County . . . • In rural Southwest Georgia • Limited employment opportunities • Limited recreational opportunities • About 49% African American and about 49% White • Growing Hispanic population • Substantial adult rate of illiteracy

  16. Class experiences . . . • Construction of an Intermediate Objectives diagram was not difficult. • Construction of a Current Reality Tree (CRT) was moderately difficult. • Construction of Evaporating Clouds was confusing and difficult. • Construction of Future Reality Tree (FRT) was difficult.

  17. Suggestions based on experiences . . . • The instructor should first read Dettmer’s two books – • The Logical Thinking Process • Strategic Navigation. • Don’t assume that reading books is sufficient. • Arrange to use TLT software with Dr. Mark Van Oyen • If possible, find a “Jonah” as a resource for the instructor and students

  18. More suggestions . . . • Approach this as an experiment. • Don’t make it “high stakes” for students. • Don’t assume that the models build on one another in a simple mechanical way. • Use Evaporating Clouds (if possible) to explore and question assumptions and to identify possible needed injections. • Work for enlightenment -- not mastery.

  19. The End • Questions? • Comments? • Personal experiences?

More Related