The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement: Revised Third Edition

I picked up this audio book even though I had read the printed version several years ago. The audio experience of this masterpiece is even better! Whether you are a student of science, a project manager or working in manufacturing organizations or IT... the Theory of Constraints has its application in each field. The Goal explains the Theory of Constraints via a fictional story. If you want to understand ToC, start here and do not miss the other books (Its Not Luck, Critical Chain and ToC).

If operations research, cost accounting, business metrics, manufacturing, and asset utilization are interesting topics for you, you're in for a treat with The Goal. It's a novel.

The audiobook uses different readers for each role. The feel is like a radio play. It's a 100% first-class audio production.

As a novel, it's not great literature. But it's great as a spoonful of sugar to cover topics most people would not find interesting. The novel format makes the technical material interesting, making it a brilliant execution for a business book.

It's not really all that technical, but the Theory of Constraints is counter-intuitive to a lot of people. Common and traditional measures of efficiency often give rise to bad decisions. I've seen this first hand. The Theory of Constraints is a model for avoiding those bad decisions. Everyone with any responsibility for cost accounting or running operations needs to be familiar with the Theory of Constraints. There's no more pleasant way of doing that than reading The Goal.

This is a great way to learn more about how to manage factories, projects, etc. I was turned on to this book when I learned about CCPM, a Project Management methodology that evolved from Goldratt's ideas. Even though the story may be considered cheesy, it is fine when you realize that it is a vehicle by which you learn about this approach to management. As the authors says, learning this way is much easier than just reading a manual.

I highly recommended to all persons who need to manage a process or operation. I am sure I will re-read this several times to reinforce it's teachings.

I don't know why anyone would read this book for fun...but as this book is mandatory reading in many courses, I found the audiobook worth while. The revelations that the main character develops are easier to follow with the audiobook than reading the book. If you are reading this for a class you will still probably need the book to reference.

I think this is one of the better business books I've read. The style is engaging and although it's a bit dated in terms of technology (these days you would deal with an inbox of email not telephone slips), the underlying business ideas of increasing efficiency/effectiveness and the challenges most managers feel in balancing personal and work committments are timeless. I would definitely recommend this book.

The recording of this book is excellent. Using different voices for different casts provides a dramatic result. It is fun and exciting. You will not want to stop it. It almost like listerning to a play. I highly recommended if you are a audio pearson or if you don't have time to read it.

Everything. The story, the theory, the caracters.

Loved the extras. They helped me a lot understanding in general Goldratts theory and aplication.

Yes. Useful details.

The main character.

It provides the level of intrigue and drama making the book less monotonous to listen to.

Yes. Unfortunately I couldnt since it is pretty long.

It not only tells just a story, but also tells the story by interacting characters each other.

Definitely! The concepts in this book can change the way you do business if you choose to follow them. The story is written in a way that keeps your attention while internalizing the methods of the Theory of Constraints (TOC). I will listen to this book again and have already sought out other material by Goldratt.

Easily one of the top 5 business books I have read.

This was my first audiobook that featured an ensemble cast. I loved it! While the music and characters were a bit cheesy at times, the plot flowed and kept my attention. I didn't even realize I was basically listening to a TOC textbook at times.

Herbie- who wouldn't love the chubby, slow kid that turns out to play an important role in productivity?

The New Millenium Meets 70's Business Porn

If you are employed in finance, operations, or other form of engineering, you would be wise to listen to this book. Even if you don't fully buy into the concepts, it provides a new way of looking at accounting, bottlenecks, and process flow.