Thinking processes in theory of constraints are the five methods initially developed by Eliyahu M. Goldratt to enable the focused improvement of any system (especially business system).

The purpose of the five thinking processes is to help one answer three question essential to achieving focused improvement:

1. What to change?
2. What to change to?
3. How to cause the change?

The five thinking processes are:

• current reality tree
• conflict resolution diagram (a.k.a. evaporating cloud)
• future reality tree
• prerequisite tree
• transition tree.

Books

• Eliyahu M. Goldratt. It's Not Luck. ISBN 0884271153
• Eli Schragenheim. Management Dilemmas: The Theory of Constraints Approach to Problem Identification and Solutions. ISBN 1574442228
• Lisa J. Scheinkopf Thinking For a Change: Putting the TOC Thinking Processes to Use. ISBN 1574441019
• William H. Dettmer. Goldratt's Theory Constraints: A Systems Approach to Continuous Improvement. ISBN 0873893700

Links

• Goldratt Institute web site