Theory of Constraints Handbook - James Cox Iii [467]
TABLE 24-1 The Tactics/Actions Considered by the Project Manager
[D]: The most forced action: See Bill myself.
[D′]: The most preferred action: Ignore the whole thing.
Now we need to complete the Cloud.
After writing D and D′, you can move either to the B need or to the C need.
The sequence of moving to B or to C does not really matter. Some people find it easier to first write what it is they want rather than what is forced on them.
Write in box C the need that is satisfied by action D′ and check the logic: in order to achieve [C] I must [D′].
The project manager in our example wrote:
[C]: Get on with my work.
Check: In order to get on with my work—as a project manager—I must ignore the whole thing. I have more important things to do!
Write in box B the need that would be satisfied by taking the action in D and check the logic.
[B]: Fight for my resources
Check: In order to fight for my resources I must see Bill myself.
Well, this seems logical but is B verbalized as a need? For now, let us just go on with the process of building the Cloud and we will address that in the step of upgrading the Cloud. While learning how to build a Cloud it is important to proceed from “Good enough” criteria for the first version of the Cloud and not get stuck on one entity trying to figure out whether it is absolutely correct.
Write in box A the common objective that will be achieved by having need B and need C met (why are B and C so important? What for?) and check the logic.
The project manager wrote:
A: Able to deliver the project on time.
Check: In order to be able to deliver the project on time I MUST fight for resources and I MUST get on with my work.
The Cloud is a good enough Cloud for the next step of tightening its logic.
In summary, the sequence and the questions for building the Inner Dilemma Cloud are provided in Table 24-2.
TABLE 24-2 Sequence and the Questions for Building the Inner Dilemma Cloud
Step 4. Check the logical statements of the Cloud again and make necessary corrections and upgrades.
In Step 3, we write the entities in the boxes as the answers to the questions asked and check the logic of each arrow individually. In Step 4, we again check the logic of the entire Cloud: A→B→D, A→C→D′ the conflict D-D′ and the diagonals D jeopardizing C and D′ jeopardizing B.
Syntax Guidelines
Ensure that the entities in the boxes meet the following guidelines:
Entities are whole sentences.
Entities do not contain causality statements. Causality statements include words like if, because, sure to, in order to, etc.
Entities D and D′ are verbalized as actions and are in clear and direct conflict.
Entities B and C are verbalized as clear and positive needs.
Let us check the example Cloud:
[A]: It is clear that the project manager cares about the project. She wants to do a good job. She is a capable and willing member of the hospital staff.
We can suggest A to be: [her objective is:] Deliver a successful project.
[B]: Fight for resources—is not verbalized as a need, it is an action (as it contains a verb indicating action—“fight”) that we take to satisfy the need “having resources for the project is necessary if we want to implement it.”
Therefore, we suggest upgrading the wording in B to: Have secured resources.
[D]: “See Bill myself” is one of the actions that will secure Mary as a resource for the project.
[C]: “Get on with my work” may explain the reasoning behind ignoring the whole thing—but it does not really work. “Get on with my work” is not a need. Here one has to be courageous and call a spade a spade. What can help us in finding a better C is the check on the diagonal—what does D jeopardize? From the text of the story line, we can derive that Bill’s attitude hurts the project manager’s feelings. Therefore, we can suggest need [C]: “Respect for my position as the chosen project manager.”
[D′]: “Ignore the whole thing” is a decision.
FIGURE 24-2 Example—the project manager’s Dilemma