Haslam College of Business TOC Tools: Thinking Processes and Critical Chain Project Management

This course covers two TOC constructs, the Thinking Processes and Critical Chain Project Management. The Thinking Processes help answer the following questions: What is/are the root cause(s) of all the undesirable occurrences or effects that limit the organization’s potential, what are the steps by which these root causes can be addressed, and how can these steps be effected in a sustainable manner. Participants are exposed to the Current Reality Tree, a root cause analysis mechanism, using a highly interactive exercise. Critical Chain Project Management is a method used to manage projects in a highly variable environment by better managing the safety built into the system to manage uncertainty. A hands-on exercise helps participants understand how to build the right safety net and manage this safety more effectively.

• Gain a deeper understanding of the Thinking Processes, in particular the Current Reality Tree and the Evaporating Cloud – a conflict resolution mechanism.
• Develop a better understanding of Critical Chain Project Management and how it effectively helps complete projects faster by building the right safety net and managing safety buffers more effectively.