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Summary: More than just a theory
Review: The Goal is a self help book that does focus on the Theory of Constraints, yet it also provides information and ideas for problem solving and finding solutions for any problem, which I believe was Goldratt's main purpose in writing this book. If Goldratt just wanted to write text about the Theory of Constraints he could have done so without an elaborate plot and descriptive dialogue. This is why I believe he wants the reader to get more out of this book than just this particular theory. Goldratt wants the reader to believe that he or she can turn around a plant just as Alex did by being proactive and utilizing outside resources.
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Summary: Good Read for students: a real world perspective
Review: This book was a great read. It was very informative of the business management processes and it gave a real world perspective on things. Being a student, you always wonder when you are going to actually learn the stuff you are taught in school. This book was an eye opener. I found the majority of my accounting vocabulary in it which gave me a look at how it actually applies to a business versus a word problem on a test. I think all students should have the opportunity to read more books like this for classes.
There are some things you just can't teach in the classroom. This book gives a little insight to that as far as some business etiquette, etc. I definitely recommend this book to others, especially teachers and students who need a little more reality in between all those boring notes you have to take.
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Summary: Pulls things together
Review: I felt that "The Goal" was a interesting book, because everything that I have been learning in the last two years of college has pulled together. When I say pulled together I mean in a sense of a company, all the terminologies and the different statements that we have learned to write and calculate. This book is very informal for any business, for one that is doing bad or well. I feel that anyone in a company atmosphere can get something out of this book.
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Summary: READ this Book ... says Evan Smith
Review: The Goal is a book that teaches the theory of constraints along with the problems with bottlenecks within Alex Rogo's plant. The problems that Alex Rogo faces are difficult to see at first. Which is why he asks advice from his old physics teacher Jonah. He acts as a consultant to Alex and his team of four members, Ralph, Lou, Bob, and Stacey. These are the main characters in the work-related part of the book for Alex Rogo, they face problems with attempting to increase their profit or bottom line. The team of 5 is faced with problem of trying to save the plant from going under, within a 3 month period of time.I would recommend this book to either a manager or student because there are many things that can be learned by both. Managers can find different ways to look at the company and how to help increase profits. Students by reading this can combine the information they learn in class with how it actually works in a real world situation. This book teaches by taking the reader through the processes that the plant had to make, without being boring or tedious. I recommend this book to anyone who wishes to learn about managerial accounting, or simply someone who enjoys riveting stories.
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Summary: The Goal: Book of Plenty or Plenty of Book?
Review: The main objective of the text is to present Goldratt's theory of constraints. The story is meant to present what would otherwise be a boring and dry text in an easy to read, interesting format. As stated in "Here today, wrong tomorrow" by Daniel Butler, many of these types of books are not even opened, much less read. Goldratt actually adds a compelling story, making the book much more palatable, and also better showcasing the natural flow of the theory of constraints. The story is also inspirational, as it details a man who saves his factory and his marriage at once, as well as the moment when he took a six-pack on the hill to overlook his town trying to sort his thoughts. Those real details make Alex much easier to identify with, and make the book a much more interesting read. The inter-office politics and the scout trip are also two really good areas of the book just for the entertainment value. The late night escapades with co-workers are also mildly fun to read, but I especially liked the way that Goldratt hinted at Alex developing feelings for a co-worker before getting back with his wife. A plot twist like that is far more than I expected from the book by simply looking it. I would recommend this book to any students interested in learning about the fundamentals of the theory of constraints or managerial accounting in general. The fluidity of the book (I read it in about 2 days, a shockingly fast rate of page turns for an assigned book) and the general principles behind the book make it a good choice for an introduction to accounting, or at least far better than a textbook. I would also recommend this book to a manager just because knowledge is power. The theories prescribed in this book may or may not work for an individual corporation, but it is at least worth a read because the said manager's company could really benefit from implementing such a system. If the company would not benefit from it, the manager still read a pretty good book.
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Summary: An Useful Book
Review: I really enjoyed reading this book because it reminded me of my working experience in the marketing department of a manufacturing plant and answers my questions that have been hanging on my mind for a long time. I worked in that plant of phones manufacturer for one year. At that time the situation in my plant was somewhat the same as Unico--late shipments, high volume of inventory and expenses, less and less cash flow, delayed payment for purchases of raw materials, and late payment for employee's salaries. Our marketing department was under a lot of pressure. Everyday we had to spend a lot of time to deal with the complaints from the customers for their loss of money because of our late shipments. Our products were welcomed in the market, but our orders were becoming fewer and fewer because of the notorious late shipments. The general manager of the plant tried every way to save the plant using the methods such as laying off workers, closing some production lines and adding extra work time for delayed orders except looking for the bottlenecks which limited the efficient utilizing of the capacity of the plant. Consequently the plant could not manage to avoid the fate of being closed and liquidated for the return of the loan and all the expenses. If the managers read the book like The Goal or had a consultant like Jonah, things would have become quite different.
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Summary: The GOAL
Review: I had to read this Book for my Operation Management class at UNCC.I think this book was wonderful, since I enjoyed every page of. I believe that Eli Tolerate demonstrates his genius both as a thinker and as a teacher with "The Goal". As in any other well-written novel, The Goal examines issues in dispute which create conflicts. The operational concepts that he presents are revolutionary in their practicality and common-sense approach. This book is presented with a storyteller's passion for detail, while still driving the key learning points of the theory. This makes sticking with it to the end much easier, which is important, as several key concepts are not revealed until the final pages. Every organization can benefit from the concepts presented in "The Goal". Eli Goldratt has written a novel in which he provides an analysis of those concepts as applied in a fictional company. He has a cast of characters, a plot, and a context. He relies heavily on dialogue to advance the narrative.
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Summary: Fascinating and Compelling
Review: I would definitely recommend this book to anyone. I thought it was very entertaining and interesting. However, the theories should not be taken too seriously, but as a starting point to solving a problem. Goldratt brilliantly wrote a dull theory into a very interesting novel. This book does definitely appeal to workaholic managers who have to balance their home life with their work.
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Summary: Entertaining but yet Informative
Review: I thought this book was very interesting, I would definatley recomment it to my friends. It made me as a reader included in the problem solving process. The book was far from dull, it was very entertaining. However, the theories of the book should not be taken too seriously, but more as a starting point in attempting to solve a problem. I definalty give this book two thumbs up, because its managerial theories are cleverly written into a novel that many workaholic managers can relate to.
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Summary: Creative....Entertaining
Review: The Goal was very entertaining, which suprised me when I knew it was going to discuss management principles and techniques. Throughout the book, Alex was improving his managerial skills along with trying to save his marriage-which was very interesting. The characters were faced with many issues that were revelant to real life situations in work and in their personal life. I felt that the Theory of Constraints could have been written more clearly to those managers trying to improve their productivity. The book gave a clear list on what to do when faced with a constraint, but did not provide a procedure on what to do-only gave examples. I recommend this book to anyone who wants to gain more knowledge on management or how to apply managing concepts to their company.
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