Thinking for a Change: Putting the TOC Thinking Processes to Use (St. Lucie Press/Apics Series on Constraints Management) (Hardcover)

by Lisa J. Scheinkopf (Author) "All of TOC, including the Thinking Processes, is based on some fundamental assumptions..." (more)
Key Phrases: sufficient cause thinking, sufficient cause diagram, predicted effect reservation, Display Manufacturing, Change Figure, Richard Bach (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The book begins with an overview of the constraint-based perspective on systems and organizations, commonly referred to as the theory of constraints or synchronous management. The first section will guide you through the fundamental principles and processes that are the backbone of the thinking process application tools.The second section contains the step-by-step guidelines for each of the five thinking process application tools. These tools utilize sufficient cause thinking and necessary condition thinking. Third section introduces two ways that two or more of the thinking process application tools are combined, providing robust processes for the understanding and communicating problems and solutions.This book can be used as a field guide to learning the five thinking process application tools as needed, based on their own particular issues. You will have a full understanding of the theory and practical application of these powerful processes, including when and when not to use each tool. The total benefit is not just to apply the thinking process, but to develop intuition and have the ability to combine logic and intuition in the same thinking process.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: CRC; 1 edition (January 26, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1574441019
• ISBN-13: 978-1574441017
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #312,616 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 44 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars How to ROCK with TOC., May 13, 2001

By	Adam F. Jewell (Pittsburgh, PA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

At the end of the book, the author states

"My intent with this book was to provide you with a user friendly set of guidelines to the Thinking Processes"

Lisa has succeeded brilliantly in accomplishing this goal! Goldratt, through his business novels, "The Goal", "It's Not Luck", "Critical Chain", and "Necessary But Not Sufficient" laid a foundation which enables anyone to ease into an understanding of the Theory of Constraints (TOC) and the Thinking Processes (TP).

"Thinking for a Change" is one of a number of books which build on Dr. Goldratt's work. The Thinking Processes are explained and illustrated in layman's terms. The situations (dilemmas) used to illustrate Thinking Process applications include scenarios from both the business world and everyday family issues.

Upon reading this book, you will gain an understanding of the following:

Current Reality Tree - Used to examine cause and effect relationships that bring about the present situation.

Prerequisite Tree - A road map of obstacles to overcome, and specifically how they will be overcome.

Transition Tree - Used to identify and understand specific objectives and actions that will lead to a change (Future Reality)

Future Reality Tree - A tool for visualizing and understanding the desired change and how specific actions will affect that future reality.

Evaporating Cloud - A simple tool used to identify and resolve conflicting assumptions.

If you are familiar with and believe in TOC methodologies, this book is a must have. The best introductory materials are Dr. Goldratt's novels mentioned above. "Thinking For a Change" is one step up. It's more in depth, and more easily understood with at least minimal familiarity with TOC. If you've read this and are looking for hardcore TOC material, check out William Dettmers' "Goldratt's Theory of Constraints"

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Direct from book to practice, April 14, 2000

By A Customer

I have been inrterested in Theory of Constraints for many years. However, I work in a world that is slow to change and did not offer the opportunity to openly apply this new theory. Recently the international corporation that I work for, asked me to undertake a study on one of our internal benefit programs. Three years running this problem was a major employee hot spot on the satisfaction survey. Despite numerous efforts the problems remained. As part of a working group I was asked to see what I could find out. I had just read Lisa's book and decided this was an ideal opportunity to do a complete Theory of Constraints approach on this issue. When I told senior management they were skeptical, but decided anything was worth a try. It was scheduled for a six months study. I said I would follow the processes in Lisa's book. Bottom line results: Lisa's book has processes that you can follow immediately after reading; the processes keep you on track; the problem was solved in three months. I have been asked to take the lead on another project that may benefit from Theory of Constraints processes. Unlike my old calculus classes the intuitively obvious steps are included and make this a must read.

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent/practical intro to the Thinking Processes, July 29, 1999

By A Customer

I recently finished reading the Thinking for a Change book and I am very impressed. I have now bought at least a half dozen copies and have started distributing them at work. This book is the most straightforward approach to actually beginning to apply the Thinking Processes that I have seen to date, and I have been doing a fair amount of reading on this over the past few months as my long term interest in TOC got revived six to eight months ago.

I have found this book and Thomas McMullen's book on the Theory of Constraints Management System to the be the best written of the latest crop of books to come out on this subject. Bill Dettmer's books provide much more detail, but Scheinkopf's stands out for its easy to follow examples and straightforward methodology.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in making more rapid progress toward their business or personal goals.