Project Management in the Fast Lane: Applying the Theory of Constraints

by Robert C. Newbold

Book Overview

This cutting edge, "how to" manual details proven methods for turning around chronically late, overbudget, and underperforming projects. Project Management in the Fast Lane explains how Theory of Constraints tools can be applied to achieve effective, breakthrough solutions in virtually any environment. It includes a complete discussion of the Critical Chain scheduling approach pioneered by Eli Goldratt-the most significant new development in project...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1574441957
• ISBN13: 9781574441956
• Release Date: March 1998
• Publisher: CRC Press
• Length: 318 Pages
• Weight: 0.95 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.3" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

An excellent "how to" on Critical Chain

This book really digs into the "how to" of critical chain, and even how to use it alongside critical path when you've got stakeholders that make it necessary. It's very clear and has some good illustrations of the concepts via scenarios and lots of figures. I think the novels "The Goal" and "Critical Chain" by Goldratt should probably be prerequisites to this book so the concepts are clear, or maybe just "Critical Chain". If you start out with those books, which are both written as novels, you'll have some easy reads and a way to become immersed in TOC concepts before diving into the details.

Which ToC PM book to choose?

If you're looking for a good introduction to Theory of Constraints project management, you really have only three choices: this book, Lawrence Leach's "Critical Chain Project Management", and Goldratt's original "Critical Chain" explanation cum novel. Leach can be dismissed out of hand -- his book only marginally discusses ToC PM and it's the most expensive of the three to boot. Goldratt is "the source", but making practical sense of "Critical Chain" and converting it into usable techniques is a chore. That leaves Newbold's "Project Management in the Fast Lane", and it's the star of the group. Newbold clearly describes the various techniques needed by a project manager to actually USE ToC PM. In addition, he addresses the equally thorny issue of how to introduce these concepts to an organization. And all from a very practical, down-to-earth perspective. If you get only one ToC PM book, it needs to be this one.

Proactively deals with inaccurate project estimates

The achilles heal of project management, especially in product development, are the estimates of time and resources. Traditional project management approaches do a lousy job of solving this. For example, although traditional PERT was developed to do this, it is not used. (In fact, in most environments PERT is not defined as the tool but as a network diagram because of this.) Finally, there is an effective approach to proactively dealing with inaccuracy in estimates. The critical chain approach can accomplish this, and this is the best book for defining what critical chain is.

One step beyond TQM

Excelente libro para todos aquellos que quieran comprender de una manera progresiva y efectiva los fundamentos y estado del arte en la programación de proyectos. No son necesarios conocimientos previos de TOC aunque si son deseables, asi como tener claros conceptos de TQM y análisis de causas raices, al objeto de aplicar con exito las recomendaciones del libro. Outstanding book for those who want to understand in a progressive and straightforward manner the fundamentals of nowadays realistic project scheduling. TOC background is not necessary but preferable for a better understanding of the philosophy behind these pages. Root Cause Analysis and TQM concepts are also desirable to succesfully implement TOC to project management.

Very thorough examination of the concepts and clear examples

Many times these kinds of books are written as marketing brochures with very little information that allows the reader to implement the process improvements. Rob takes a completely different approach by very clearly deliniating the concepts and giving the reader very appropriate examples. You can't find a single reference in his book to his company or their software tools.Our entire senior management team has been given this book as part of our executive education program. This is a must read for anyone who is involved in the scheduling and management of projects.