A review by wolvereader
Critical Chain by Eliyahu M. Goldratt

4.0

Critical Chain is the followup to Goldratt's [b:The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement|113934|The Goal A Process of Ongoing Improvement|Eliyahu M. Goldratt|http://photo.goodreads.com/books/1171682162s/113934.jpg|462428], and attempts to take Theory of Constraints and make it more obvious how it applies to project management. The book is written in a "business novel" style like The Goal, or like the books of [a:Patrick Lencioni|11503|Patrick Lencioni|http://photo.goodreads.com/authors/1330247460p2/11503.jpg], and as with every other example of the genre I've read, it is not fine literature, but it keeps things moving a little more than a dry business treatise would.

The basic philosophy is an examination of critical path project management with TOC's focus on throughput as critical for reducing risk and eliminating waste. (In a TOC approach, 'inventory' is the extra padding you build into your schedule.) It's a novel approach, and addresses some of the very real challenges of project planning. Recommended.