The Goal by Dr. Eli Goldratt and Jeff Cox

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The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement by Dr. Eli Goldratt and Jeff Cox is a fictitious novel based on very real business practices. Goldratt and Cox’s writing focuses on a non-traditional approach to introducing Goldratt’s own Theory of Constraints. The plot centers around Alex Rogo and his journey to find solutions to save both his manufacturing plant and marriage.
The story begins when Alex’s boss, Bill Peach, pays him a visit. The reader is told that Alex currently works as the project manager of UniCo, located in his hometown of Barrington. Unico is a factory that produces machine assemblies. In the past six months, Alex has just been promoted to plant manager, and it is running at a loss. Peach’s visit is due to a complaint from Bucky Burnside, the President of one of UniCo’s most loyal customers. Burnside’s order was several weeks late, and Peach demanded the order be out within the next 24 hours. Even though Alex got the order out; it caused him to realize there were many fatal flaws within his plant. Later, Peach gives Alex an ultimatum, clear all the backlogs in the plants within three months, or face a shut down. Alex has the option to search for another job, but chooses to save his plant instead.
As the story progresses, the reader is allowed a glimpse into Alex’s home life. Alex and his family relocated to Barrington six months ago, Julie, his wife is still having a hard time adjusting. This is causing great tension in their marriage. In addition, Alex’s long hours at the plant are causing Julie to resent him.
Soon after, Mr. Peach calls all the plant managers under him to a meeting at headquarters. Alex, along with the others, learns just how bad the situation is for the whole Division. During the meeting...

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...oal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement is a well thought out way to introduce management principals. The authors’ thorough writing made it extraordinarily simple to understand the Theory of Constraints. It has truly transformed the way I look at business operations. This book was interesting to me because it gave me a new way to rationalize problems through logic. Before reading Goldratt and Cox’s work, I was more inclined to rush through decisions. I would recommend this book to any person, regardless of industry or major.

Works Cited

Maaw.info. 2013. Goldratt 1990 What is this thing called TOC?. [online] Available at: h ttp://maaw.info/ArticleSummaries/ArtSumGoldratt90WhatTOC.htm [Accessed: 30 Nov 2013].
Wysocki, H. 2013. FE577/FE577: Developing SMART Goals for Your Organization. [online] Available at: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/fe577 [Accessed: 24 Nov 2013].

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