| | |  | Agile | Home » » » The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement | | | | | | | Description: | | In this intriguing, readable business novel, which illustrates state-of-the-art economic theory, Alex Rogo is a UniCo plant manager whose factory and marriage are failing. To revitalize the plant, he follows piecemeal advice from an elusive former college professor who teaches, for example, that reduction in the efficiency of some plant operations may make the entire operation more productive. Alex's attempts to find the path to profitability and to engage his employeesi n the struggle involve the reader; and thankfully the authors' economic models, including a game with match sticks and bowls, are easy to understand. Although some characters are as anonymous as the goods manufactured in the factory, others ring true. In addition, the tender story of Alex and his wife's separation and reconciliation makes a touching contrast to the rest of the book. Recommended for anyone with an interest in the state of the American economy. | | | Product Details: | | | Author:
| Eliyahu M. Goldratt | | Paperback:
| 384 pages | | Publisher:
| North River Press | | Publication Date:
| 2004-07 | | Language:
| English | | ISBN:
| 0884271781 | | Package Length:
| 8.9 inches | | Package Width:
| 6.0 inches | | Package Height:
| 1.2 inches | | Package Weight:
| 1.5 pounds | | Average Customer Rating:
|  based on 144 reviews |
| | | | Customer Reviews: | |
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 Great ideas, poor writingJul 26, 2010
The author discusses his "Theory of Constraints" as a more disciplined approach to managing a production facility where the main character, Alex Rogo, is a plant manager with only 90 days to turn his plant around. To help him along the way, a former professor helps him determine "The Goal" of the organization and the root causes of his problems. When he finds and implements solutions and sees improvements, new unforeseen challenges arise and we get a great appreciation for using first principles to understanding how to make an organization more effective.
All this information and wisdom could make an outstanding 50-100 page ficticious case study or business fable. Unfortunately, the book is a 320+ page business novel filled with wooden characters and cartoonish dialog. Yes, much of the plot is at work where people act more generic than usual, but the interpersonal writing is awful -- especially the sections that deal with his troubled marriage.
Overall, if you skim or skip the sections that deal with the main character's personal life, you have a very interesting and insightful book about business operations and efficiency.
 common sense well presentedJul 05, 2010
When this book first came out, the Japanese were absolutely killing American industry, and American managers, through a combination of arrogance, insularity, and inflexibility, had no clue why. This book and others like it went a long way to show how mistaken were a lot of the practices commonly employed on shop floors and in the minds of production managers, not to mention cost accountants and board rooms. The casual business observer will note that the Japanese are no longer the existential threat to American business that they were 25 years ago, while American business - to the extent that we still have some - has improved radically in productivity on every level.
Goldratt's genius was not only in his innovative thinking - in retrospect, the ideas presented are frankly entirely common sense and not shockingly earthshaking or creative - but in his presentation. Where a set of practices could have been set down in a 10-page article, with the author simply laying his points out and telling the reader how or why it is so, instead Goldratt wrote a 350 page novel where the reader is dragged through a thinking process step by step, thereby convincing themselves. It's not exactly Steven King, but the Socratic method is, correctly employed, and much more effective teaching tool than simply a bullet point list.
Most well-run production shops use this kind of thinking today; but the book's principles can be employed in other business models as well, even if other aspects of one's life. It's up to the reader to apply himself accordingly.
 A must readJun 25, 2010
On the advice of a consultant that is assessing my management team and helping us to identify factors that inhibit our progression and areas to exploit, I read The Goal and gave copies to each of my managers. I purchased the audio for me and it was an easy listen to and from work. Although my company is known for its efficient and profitable operations, I have learned a tremendous amount of possibilities for improvement including the chief "bottleneck" for the past several years. Although I had identified there was a problem, I had laid the blame on the manager. I now think differently and am putting ideas in place to eliminate this bottleneck to improve our quality, both internally and externally,to be even more efficient and have a higher morale in the department experiencing the bottleneck.
I recommend this to business owners, CEO's, operation managers or anyone involved in manufacturing or plant processing. I look forward to continuing the discussion of the Goal with my management team and working through the factors that are preventing us from being the best we can be.
Effective as a teaching deviceJun 16, 2010
"The Goal" is effective at teaching a new method for approaching operations metrics in a business. The Socratic method employed by the author sometimes feels silly but it does seem like a way to improve the efficiency of your business. Required pre-enrollment reading for me at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business so I cannot affirm nor deny whether this method worked for me.
Clearly the author is a scientist and not a Pulitzer prize winner -- the story rambles at times and the end in particular doesn't seem to tie in with the rest of the story. Pretty quick read, however. You may even be able to knock this book out while on a cross-country flight.
Best Book EverJun 14, 2010
The Goal is one of my all time favorite books. It expresses Lean concepts specifically concentrating on bottlenecks in an easy to understand manner. I first read this book when my father (a Lean Master Black Belt) gave it to me to read when I was seven years old. I loved it from the moment I read it. The Goal and right after Lean Thinking are what inspired me to become an International Lean Consultant when I am older (I am currently 13). The Goal is also one of the few books I hauled to Germany when we moved to Germany a year and a half ago. If you liked Lean Thinking you will like the Goal and vice versa. I would recommend this to most any manager or mere pleasure reader (like myself).
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