Goldratt develops a business related novel that is built around the life of Alex Rogo, a hardworking and competent manager, who has been transferred to a plant in his home time by his company UniCo. The author narrates to the reader the struggles that Rogo has to go through as he tries to revive the plant that seems to be failing each day. There is ever-growing backlog in production, late shipments and the plant is at the brink of being closed. To further compound on his problems, Rogo starts experiencing marital issues with his wife Julie and finds himself spending more time away from his family. Nonetheless, Rogo only has three months to get the plant back on its feet and he is forced to tap into the teachings of his Physics professor, Jonah ( Godratt & Cox, 2004) . He recognizes that any action that brings the organization closer to its goal is productive while that which does not is counterproductive. He eventually manages to bring the team back on track and immensely improves the overall operations of the plan. His relationship with his family becomes better and he is eventually promoted to president at UniCo.
Goldratt uses a narrative to pass along his ideas in effective management unlike many scholars in this area who will mainly provide theories, facts and figures on issues in management. His choice of writing makes it possible for one to follow through the events that take place in Rogo’s experience at the new plant while identifying the strategies he adopts to deal with the issues he encounters. Like many writings developed on the issue at hand, one would not expect that Goldratt would decide to use the life story of a fictional character but he effectively adapts this style and helps the reader develop a mental picture of Rogo showing his managerial skills. It is further impressive how he manages to capture the issue of family and narrates how problems in the workplace will affect ones interactions while at home and how he or she relates with family. He is careful to show that when there is chaos in one of these aspects, the other will be similarly affected. However, when one manages to achieve a sort of balance between work and family, he or she will likely experience a certain level of peace and happiness.
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One significant business concept identifiable in the novel is the theory of constraints. Goldratt ensures to clearly show the many limiting factors that are making Rogo’s experience at work and at home somewhat difficult. He further demonstrates that any strategies for problem resolution would be useless, unless the manager and in this case, Rogo, would base these on the constraints present in the organization. He states “The numbers are meaningless unless they are based upon the constraints of the system” ( Godratt & Cox, 2004, p. 216). One aspect that makes the book interesting is how Goldratt advances dialogue between Rogo and his teacher Jonah and the inclusion of equations in the advancement of understanding. He makes it possible for the reader to develop a relationship between business and physics, areas that may not often be as connected in day-to-day life.
Even as Goldratt advances his information through varied strategies, the use of equations and concepts in physics may make it hard for the reader to follow through his writing smoothly. Many of these concepts may not be easily understood by those who are not well-informed in matters physics and this may be the reason why their level of comprehension is reduced to a certain extent. Nonetheless, his message seems to be passed along smoothly as one can lift his main ideas from the narrative he gives.
Reference
Godratt, E., & Cox, J. (2004). The Goal. A Process of Ongoing Improvement. Third Revised Edition. Printed in TJ International, Padstow, GB .
