TOC Terms and Concepts
Solutions, Theory of Constraints

TOC has two sets of solutions: LOGISTICAL SOLUTIONS for managing the flow (of material, products, work in progress, orders, tasks in the project environment, patients in a hospital, etc.) Make to Order – MTO Make to Availability – MTA Purchasing to Order – PTO Purchasing to Availability – PTA Distribution to Availability – DTA Critical […]

Tools, Theory of Constraints

TOC has two sets of tools in accordance with the two sets of solutions: LOGISTICAL SOLUTIONS for managing the flow (of material, products, work in progress, orders, tasks in the project environment, patients in a hospital, etc.) Make to Order – MTO Make to Availability – MTA Purchasing to Order – PTO Purchasing to Availability […]

Thinking Processes (TP)

A set of logical tools to analyze the Current Reality (Clouds, UnDesirable Effects – UDEs, Core Cloud, Current Reality Tree – CRT) understand and solve dilemmas and conflicts (Clouds, Assumptions, Injections) develop solutions (direction of the solution, Injection) check the solution for potential negative outcomes (Negative Branch Reservation – NBR) check the solution for bringing […]

Assumption Rules for straight arrows A-B, B-D, A-C, and C-D’ – 4 Rules

Four Assumption Rules for straight arrows A-B, B-D, A-C, and C-D’ Rule 1 – Referring words 2 checks: (1) The statement after “because” should contain some words that clearly refer to the “in order to” part of the statement, and some to the “we must” part. (2) Make sure that the assumption is bringing in […]

Rules for surfacing and checking assumptions in the Cloud – 4+2 Rules

Four Assumption Rules for straight arrows A-B, B-D, A-C, and C-D’ Rule 1 – Referring words 2 checks: (1) The statement after “because” should contain some words that clearly refer to the “in order to” part of the statement, and some to the “we must” part. (2) Make sure that the assumption is bringing in […]

Typical Mistakes in Surfacing Assumptions

7 typical mistakes in surfacing assumptions in Clouds 5 mistakes in surfacing assumptions behind straight arrows A-B, B-D, A-C, C-D’: 1: Reverse repetition This mistake happens when the statement after “because” is just a reverse repetition of what was said at the beginning of the statement. 2: “It is the only way” “It is the […]

Assumption Rules for the conflict arrow D-D’ – 2 Rules

Two Assumption Rules for the conflict arrow D-D’ D-D’ Rule 1: Surfacing Rule “D AND D’ are in conflict because…” D-D’ Rule 2: What is missing?   Source: Jelena Fedurko, Mistakes and Difficulties in Working with TOC Logical Tools, 2014

UDE – UnDesirable Effect

An UDE is a fact or an entity from reality that explains why it is so difficult to achieve the higher level of performance measurements. When there is a gap in performance it is a signal to search for UDEs. The UDE is an ‘effect’ and its existence is indisputable. It is ’undesirable’ because it […]

UDE Rules

An UDE is a fact or an entity from reality that explains why it is so difficult to achieve the higher level of performance measurements. When there is a gap in performance it is a signal to search for UDEs. The UDE is an ‘effect’ and its existence is indisputable. It is ’undesirable’ because it […]

Assumptions

Assumptions are facts, observations, beliefs, expectations, convictions, presuppositions, experiences, interpretations, concepts, principles, data, general knowledge and other elements of thinking with which we support our reasoning behind a logical connection. Source: Jelena Fedurko, Behind the Cloud: Enhancing Logical Thinking, 2011

NBR – Negative Branch Reservation

A logical structure that presents cause and effect relationships explaining how the Injection can lead to a possible negative outcome. The NBR is a tool to check a suggested solution (an Injection) for risks and to find a Supporting Injection that will trim the perceived negative outcome. Source: Oded Cohen and Jelena Fedurko, Theory of […]

Negative Branch Reservation – NBR

A logical structure that presents cause and effect relationships explaining how the Injection can lead to a possible negative outcome. The NBR is a tool to check a suggested solution (an Injection) for risks and to find a Supporting Injection that will trim the perceived negative outcome. Source: Oded Cohen and Jelena Fedurko, Theory of […]

UnDesirable Effect – UDE

An UDE is a fact or an entity from reality that explains why it is so difficult to achieve the higher level of performance measurements. When there is a gap in performance it is a signal to search for UDEs. The UDE is an ‘effect’ and its existence is indisputable. It is ’undesirable’ because it […]

Consolidated Cloud

Cloud consolidation is an inductive process of generalizing several clouds into a cloud that conceptually represents the general pattern of the clouds that were included in the process of consolidation. The Consolidated cloud is not always the core cloud. Consolidated cloud reflects and explains the existence of three selected for analysis UDEs. Source: Oded Cohen […]

Current Reality Tree – CRT

CRT is a logical structure that connects the UDEs to each other through the Gap Analysis and explains the current level of the performance measurements. The CRT assists in validating that the Core Cloud (that is built on the base of the consolidated clouds of the UDE clouds) does, in fact, contain the core conflict […]

Core Current Reality Tree – CCRT

A base structure of the full Current Rуality Tree (CRT) which shows the Core Cloud with assumptions that is turned 90 degrees with the changed direction of the arrows. Source: Oded Cohen and Jelena Fedurko, Theory of Constraints Fundamentals, 2012

Core Future Reality Tree – CFRT

A base structure of the full Future Rуality Tree (FRT). Source: Oded Cohen and Jelena Fedurko, Theory of Constraints Fundamentals, 2012  

Future Reality Tree – FRT

FRT is a logical structure that enables a person to construct a solution which, when implemented, replaces the existing UnDesirable Effects (UDEs) by Desired Effects (DEs) without creating devastating new ones. The FRT assists in validating the proposed solution that has been developed to break the Core Cloud. Validation means that there is a strong […]

Desired Effects – DE

Desired Effects (DEs) are benefits received as a result of implementing the Injection(s). DEs should replace UDEs (Undesirable Effects).   Source: Oded Cohen and Jelena Fedurko, Theory of Constraints Fundamentals, 2012

Obstacle

Something that can significantly hinder or completely block the ability to implement the Injection. Difference between an Obstacle and a Negative Branch Reservation (NBR): Obstacle BLOCKS OUR WAY to implement an Injection, and NBR may appear as a SIDE RESULT of implementing the Injection. Source: Oded Cohen and Jelena Fedurko, Theory of Constraints Fundamentals, 2012