What Is The Theory Of Constraints Thinking Process?

Mohini Singh
Sep 3, 2018 · 2 min read

The TOC Thinking Processes (sometimes called TP Tools) is a methodology which encompasses a wide range of concepts, principles, solutions, tools and approaches which will ensure that any change undertaken will overall benefit the system. It is an integrated problem-solving tool which is actually based on rigorous cause-and-effect logic. It also views organizations as a chain of many networks of chains. Therefore managing the constraints of an organization effectively through a process of ongoing improvement can definitely result in substantial improvement of the whole system. TOC enable us to define breakthrough solutions. This is done by identifying, challenging and correcting unexamined assumptions.

The process of ongoing improvement or TOC thinking processes broadly involves answering the below three questions :

“What To Change?”

“What To Change To?”

“How To Cause The Change?”

Every complex problem has a core conflict which is deeply rooted, and the thinking process is actually based on this concept that the problem will have a core conflict. The tools of thinking process can guide the decision makers and the respective stakeholders in answering the above said questions and solve the main conflict. This is done by facilitating the process of problem structuring, problem identification, solution building, identification of barriers to be overcome and the implementation of the solution. The constructs of the thinking process can be by sufficient thinking and necessary condition thinking.

TOC thinking processes can be used in any business situation, and even as a self-improvement tool to debug and transform one’s life, for eg, remembering to carry a water bottle to prevent dehydration; having positive thoughts during the day and before going to sleep at night.

The primary thinking processes as identified and codified by many are –

Current reality tree which identifies and pinpoints the main root cause of the most undesirable effects. It also evaluates the network of cause-effect relations.

Negative branch Reservations: To understand the causal path between the action and negative ramifications so that the negative effect can be trimmed.

Evaporating cloud: It helps in solving the conflict which arises from the undesirable effects

Future reality tree: highlights and maps the complete implications of the proposed injections to ensure that they are sufficient to solve every undesirable effect.

Core Conflict Cloud: looking for deeper conflicts which create the undesirable effects.

Some of the other processes are as follows :

• Positive reinforcement loop

• Prerequisite tree

• Transition Tree

• Strategy and Tactics

However, it is interesting to note that some observers have pointed out that these processes are not fundamentally very different from some other management change models such as a plan to do check act or plan to study, act or survey-assess-decide-implement-evaluate. But the way these processes can be used in much clearer and straightforward.