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The Goal

A Process of Ongoing Improvement - 30th Anniversary Edition

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The Goal

By: Eliyahu M. Goldratt, Jeff Cox
Narrated by: uncredited
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About this listen

In this intriguing business novel, which illustrates state-of-the-art economic theory, Alex Rogo is a UniCo plant manager whose factory and marriage are failing. To revitalize the plant, he follows piecemeal advice from an elusive former college professor who teaches, for example, that reduction in the efficiency of some plant operations may make the entire operation more productive. Alex's attempts to find the path to profitability and to engage his employees in the struggle involve the listener; and thankfully the authors' economic models, including a game with matchsticks and bowls, are easy to understand. Although some characters are as anonymous as the goods manufactured in the factory, others ring true. In addition, the tender story of Alex and his wife's separation and reconciliation makes a touching contrast to the rest of the book. Recommended for anyone with an interest in the state of the American economy.

©1984 Original material © 1984, Revised 1986, 1992, 2004, 2014 Goldratt1 Ltd. "Standing on the Shoulders of Giants" © 2008 Eliyahu M. Goldratt. (P)2014 (p) 2014 Goldratt1 Ltd. Management Management & Leadership Organisational Behaviour Workplace & Organisational Behaviour Business Marriage Inspiring Leadership Process Improvement
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Not your typical business book. The Goals turns a potentially very dry subject into a fun and insightful listen. The production style is very nostalgic as well!

Unique, entertaining and educational

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This book is just fantastic for anyone looking to maximise their business, love the storyline.
Checkout The Phoenix Project, it’s a spinoff & equally as great !

Great lessons for productivity

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I really enjoyed this book, story was great, it has sound of machinery when walking through a factory, birds chirping when hiking a trail, to rock music while driving home after a promotion. It has different voices of all the character's too, by far the best audio experience compared to other audio story books.

You get to see how a manufacting plant is run from the managers perspective, seeing the effects of new improvements. As a small business owner myself i have noticed areas that can be improved, based from the methods taught in this book.

Great story and useful information

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The delivery of this book was the best of any audiobook I've read. They use different voices and background noises to bring you into the story.

The plot becomes a bit thin when the author tries to apply the underlying process of ongoing improvement to the main character's marital problems. I can see where the author was trying to show that these techniques could be used in all aspects of life, but in this example I think that offloading his parenting duties to his mother and winning an epic promotion at work probably had a lot more influence in saving his marriage than directly applying his mentor's techniques of process improvement.

I'm very glad to have read this book, it helped me understand the process of identifying what the goal is in any situation.

A great read

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A bit 1980’s style but an excellent narrative used to articulate some dry business review practices based on Just In Time and Lean theories.

Great listen for SME leaders

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