What is TOC ?

The Theory of Constraints (TOC) is a philosophy of management and improvement originally developed by Dr. Eliyahu Goldratt . It   applies the thinking processes used in the hard sciences (cause-and-effect) to understand and improve systems of all types as well as to enable people to think creatively and to have qualitative interpersonal communication.

TOC consists of three parts:

1) A set of problem-solving tools - called the TOC Thinking Processes - to logically and systematically answer the three questions essential to any process of on-going improvement: "What to change?", "To what to change to?" and "How to cause the change?".

2) A set of daily management tools - taken from the TOC Thinking Processes - that can be used to significantly improve vital management skills, such as communication, effecting change, team building and empowerment; strategic planning and problem analysis and conflict resolution.

3) Innovative, proven solutions created by applying the TOC Thinking Processes to specific application areas, such as Production, Marketing and Sales, Project Management, and Setting The Direction of The Company, to name only a few.

One extraordinary benefit of the TOC thinking processes is that they provide the ability to recognize the paradigm shifts which occur when times change but our assumptions and rules don't. Those of us who continue our patterns of operation, regardless of the changing reality, will suffer when the effects of our actions are not those that we expect. We cannot constantly monitor every assumption to be sure we are in line with constantly evolving reality, so being familiar with TOC logic tools can be a real advantage.

Over the last 30 years, TOC has been successfully used in business and is now taught in many business schools and colleges. Apart from that, the TOC tools have been used by TOC experts all over the world in the field of Health, Education, Science, Psychology and Personal Development.