Abstract:
This research is concerned with the problems faced by managers within
manufacturing when they are expected to successfully implement a major
change within their organisation. It uses, as the vehicle for the research, the
Theory of Constraints Thinking Process (TOC/TP) first developed by Dr
Goldratt between 1986 and 1994. The TOC is used by managers to determine
what requires to be changed within their organisation and then to develop
both the solution and the implementation strategy.
The research has used the access obtained by the researcher to examine the
approaches adopted by manufacturing managers in implementing
improvement projects, which involve significant change. The primary focus
of the research was to confirm the existence of a significant barrier to change
and to determine whether this was a function of the individual. Once the
obstacle had been identified in specific situations, the second step was to
consider whether the obstacle could be described in a generic form with
application to a much wider range of change environments.
The final stage was to replicate the exploratory stage in other companies in
other countries through the involvement of colleagues of the researcher and
then consider what might be included in any change project, which would
overcome the obstacle so defined.
The primary method of data collection was through the application of action
research and the development of the data in the form of case studies. The
number and types of companies that took part in the study and the range of
countries was intended to ensure a reasonable spread of data.
The results suggest that one of the key obstacles to change is that outlined in
the research problem and that the TOC/TP, through the use of the cloud
technique, can describe this obstacle and give direction to the way of
successfully dealing with it.
