Breaking the Constraints to World Class Performance

by H. William Dettmer

Book Overview

This text explains how to identify and optimize the system contraints that may inhibit an organization's overall performance. It includes examples, success stories and real-life corporation case... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0873894375
• ISBN13: 9780873894371
• Release Date: July 1998
• Publisher: McGraw-Hill Companies
• Length: 300 Pages
• Weight: 1.82 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 7.2" x 10.4"

Customer Reviews

A World-Class Book

As someone who read the entire series of Goldratt's books and as someone who has been practicing TOC in project management for a few years, I rate this book '5 stars' only because six is not an option. Step-by-step and in a didactic manner, Mr. Dettmer takes the reader into the world of TOC. If you read Goldratt's books and left with the test but without the 'know how' then this is the book for you.Mr. Dettmer explains the basic building blocks and the terminology of the 'Thinking Process Toolkit' and he then, step by step, explains the 'how'. How to build a Current Reality Tree - The tool for understanding the one core problem (few root causes) preventing your organization from achieving its goal.How to discover and solve conflicts that cause your company to stagnate. How to systematically verify that the solution you want to apply will actually lead to the desired effects, without causing other adverse ones.How to systematically understand what conditions should be fulfilled in order to reach the company's goal, and how to build a 'winning plan' to achieve the goal.I also read the first book of Mr. Dettmer on the subject (Goldratt's Theory Of Constraints) and I liked this one better. At last, I think that every executive who wants to do something beneficial to his company should get this book.Tip: Read Appendix D first and then go back to page one.

Your company could be world-Class.

"Breaking the Constraints to World-Class Performance" "Can this book really tell me how to do that, Man that would be great. Well yes I believe it does.So what is stopping your company from getting better? Do you know? The body of knowledge called the Theory of Constraints says there is usually only one constraint stopping you from making progress toward your goal, maybe two. Well, if you want a way of finding out what it is, it is in this book. But more can be done than just finding it. This book will teach you how to eliminate or manage the constraint to your advantage.This book explains in general and in specifics how to change. You must answer, what to change, what to change to, and How to cause the change. These are the beginning thoughts. But think of it if you knew the answers to these questions.If you want to learn HOW to do Theory of Constraints, no matter what level of experience you may be, this book is a must have. It is one of the most valuable resources on TOC that exists. It shows you step by step how to do things and also why they work. It is easy to use; Mr. Dettmer has a remarkable talent for clarityHow long do you stay on top as a world-class performer if you are just sitting back enjoying it. Not very long these days. This book is about making dramatic improvements with simple solutions. But it is more correct to say it's about a continual improvement process. I recommend you read this book and give it strong consideration. You just may find a Gem for your company, a whole new culture of winning.

Best summary of TOC and Thinking Tools I've read

Bill Dettmer has written the best summary of Goldratt's Theory of Constraints and Thinking Tools that I've read. Dettmer's writing style is clear, easy to read, and loaded with examples. Physical bottlenecks are often easy to spot and fix, but policy and management practices are not. Dettmer's book primarily focuses on how to use the Goldratt's Thinking Tools to surface and eliminate the core problems behind almost any kind of constraint in the system, tangible or intangible. Teachers, consultants, and anyone interested in improving their systems and processes should read this book.

this is a text book on constraint management theory

The introduction of the theory of constraints through the book "The Goal" by Eli Goldratt, was like a rebirth in business analysis for me. Goldratt's book tickled my interest in learning more. Mr. Dettmer's book, Breaking the Constraints to World-Class Performance, is like a text book explaining the steps it takes to analyze problems using the TOC theory. The book makes you stop generalizing and start looking for specifics...each step of the way can be analyzed by management teams or employee groups to arrive at some consensus. A very highly readable book with a ton of information....the information isn't easy to implement, but it is surprising the solutions one comes up with!

A TOC book that is a pleasure for Executives to read.

I have just finish reading the new book called "Breaking the constraints to World Class Performance", I must say it is very good, better than the last in terms of synthesizing the materials....this is an excellent book to teach "Jonah like" classes.... I wish I had this when I was taking my executive team and several of the board of directors at the bank through TOC.... I plan on using this book as a text book in classes to "bankers","financial services executives" and senior executives in various industries.....who want a complete and short course on TOC without having to do the "drill downs" required for technicans... Great job! really!