We can do more useful work with the same resources. This simple idea changed the way I think about leadership. It will change you too.
I work in a b2b software startup as a product manager. Startups have a lot of limitations. There’s always not quite enough money, people, time. That’s why we use methodologies like Lean to minimise waste. Work smarter, not harder, right?
About a year ago I’ve started using Theory of Constraints (TOC). That management philosophy helped us focus and prioritize work as well as see and patch holes in our strategy as a company. It’s been a huge relief for me personally as a product person.
Constraints Management is a natural successor to Lean, but it works on a different scale. TOC is about improving things globally rather than making local optimisations. Here is its main principle. Any system has one or two constraints (processes, departments) that control its output. Hence, focusing on one thing will improve your effectiveness as an organization! Isn’t that liberating?
We’ll talk about applications of Theory of Constraints. I’ll share my experience from a software startup, and things I’ve learned from people working in cinema and manufacturing. We’ll have a chance to practice those concepts, discuss and learn from each other.
Andrey is making sure Productive Mobile is building the right thing. In his spare time he runs Kaizen Berlin where people discuss better ways to lead teams and manage work. He has background in programming and occasionally indulges in over-engineering cute but utterly useless software.