I just came across Frank Patrick’s Focused Performance Weblog. That’s a “business management blog” containing links and commentary related primarily to organizational effectiveness with a “Theory of Constraints” perspective. TOC is noted for its applications in Project and Multi-Project Management (Critical Chain) and Operations Management (Drum-Buffer-Rope), as well as in Marketing, Strategic Planning and Change Management (TOC Thinking Processes).

You should take a look at Eliyahu M. Goldratt’s books to learn the basics about TOC and the Drum Buffer Rope method easily…

is the first famous business novel by Eliyaho where you can learn about process management and optimization in a factory as well as some private life lessons from Alex Rogo who manages a failing manufacturing plant, and his marriage is on shaky ground due to his long work hours. When his district manager tells him that profits must increase or the plant will be closed, Alex realizes he needs help. He turns to Jonah, a former professor, whom Alex discovers is now a management consultant (although Jonah’s field is physics). With the help of the enigmatic Jonah and the plant staff, Alex turns the plant around while at the same time abandoning many management principles he previously thought were ironclad. This multivoiced presentation is lively and interesting and offers food for thought for managers in any field. The performances are natural and unaffected, with sound effects to enhance the illusion of reality.

The german version “Das Ziel” is the version I actually read and enjoyed a lot.

This is what I also read – especially in hoping to learn more software project related process optimization. The novel explains the Theory of Constraints again concerning ERP-software for inventory management and especially production planning. Got it? There we are back to the production facility type explanations of his first famous book from above and it seems like a refresh – so don’t expect great new insights if you read the first one…

The german version “Das Ergebnisl” is the version I actually read.