The Goal

The Goal: part 3 (Ch 13 – 18) • Discuss the balancing process. How does forecasting affect the balancing process? Is forecasting effective in achieving the balance? Why or why not? • Why does Alex insist that robots are very important in the capacity of his plant? How do robots increase capacity? Explain the limitations of robots in improving plant capacity. Draw the concept maps that relate robot performance to the three important measures. Explain how this map explains the importance of robots. Can information technology have the same limits? • Compare the problems faced by Alex in the factory and in him home? Are they entirely different? Why or why not? Can Jonah’s advice similarly help Alex with his problems at home?

• Consider the strategy or plan pursued by the company and Alex. Why doesn’t the plan seem to work? Draw and discuss concept maps to explain your answer.

At the end of the book • Develop a framework/diagram of important factors/variables that tells us what are important in achieving the goal/s of the business. • Develop a procedure that you can use when you visit a company to identify and validate these factors. • Identify the kind of data that you would need to analyze the company. • Develop a semi structured interview that you can use to explore the relationships of these variables in the company.