It's Not Luck
Author: Eliyahu M. Goldratt
List Price: $19.95
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ISBN: 0884271153
Publisher: North River Press Publishing Corporation (October, 1994)
Sales Rank: 4,332
Average Customer Rating: 4.24 out of 5
Customer Reviews
Rating: 5 out of 5
Luck Is for Rabbits
Goldratt has been an especially prolific author in recent years. This is the second of three books; the others are The Goal (1992) and Critical Chain (1997). In The Goal, Goldratt's primary focus is on the a-pplications of what he calls a Theory of Constraints (TOC) to the manufacturing process. In that book and in this one, he presents his ideas in the form of fiction (as a novel), complete with a cast of characters, a multi-dimensional narrative (or plot), a variety of settings, and perhaps most important of all, a series of conflicts. Few other authors with sufficient business acumen would attempt, much less succeed (as Goldratt does) in combining the two genres. Long ago, someone suggested that luck is the residue of preparation. Goldratt seems to agree. In this volume, he devotes much of his attention to demonstrating the relevance of TOC to marketing, sales, inventory control, distribution channels, strategic alliances, and conflict resolution. I believe it was Carl Rogers who suggested that one of the most effective strategies for conflict resolution is to set aside all points on which both parties agree, each party then makes whatever concessions are appropriate (i.e. terms and conditions of lesser importance); thereby, the parties involved can then concentrate on what are, for both sides, the most important differences. And do so with mutual respect and with goodwill. Goldratt applies the "Rogerian Model" to countless situations in this book, suggesting that conflict resolution is the result of sustained effort and patience, not luck. It is occasionally said of an especially well-written business book that "it reads like a novel." What we have here IS a novel. Never before have executives had more to read and less time for reading. One of this book's most appealing qualities is that it is so easy to read. (The challenge is to make effective applications of TOC in an increasingly more competitive marketplace.) Goldratt is an authority on the business subjects he discusses as well as an excellent teller of tales. That's a rare combination.
For whom will this book have greatest value? Obviously, decision-makers who now have one or more of the following needs: to set or re-set the direction of their organization; to formulate appropriate marketing and sales strategies; to improve production, logistics, and distribution; to launch or improve project management initiatives; and/or to strengthen the skills of line managers.
Those who share my high regard for this book are urged to read Goldratt's other books, The Goal and Critical Chain; also, to check out David Maister's Practice What You Preach and David Whyte's The Heart Aroused. With all due respect to the core concepts Goldratt examines in this volume, they are worthless unless and until embraced by everyone involved. Master and Whyte can help managers to achieve that "buy in."
Rating: 4 out of 5
Almost Perfect
This book describes Goldratt's method of solving problems, resolving conflicts, and how to apply his methods to sales, marketing (there is a difference), and general business management.As a novel, it doesn't really hold my attention. But the ideas do. Presenting them as a book is a, ahem, novel way of doing it. It holds my attention better than reading a how-to book.
The process is hinted at, but not completely described. This is different than "The Goal," which came right out and told you what to do. I think that Goldratt was trying to promote his consulting company as much as sell a book.
Rating: 5 out of 5
Excellent Book But Doesn't Stand Alone
I've read this book several times. It does a wonderful job teaching when to apply the various TOC tools and a little on how. Depending on what you are doing, I recommend combining It's Not Luck with Thinking for a Change by Scheinkopf and/or Throughput Accounting. Most people need both the 10,000' view from The Goal, The Race and It's Not Luck and the details provided by the APICS series and some of the North River Press books. Take care when purchasing detailed books, since the quality varies greatly. Similar Products
Critical Chain
The Race
Necessary But Not Sufficient
The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement
Theory of Constraints
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