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  • The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement

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The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement Paperback – 22 April 2022

4.6 out of 5 stars (1,111)

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Alex Rogo is a harried plant manager working ever more desperately to try and improve performance. His factory is rapidly heading for disaster. So is his marriage. He has ninety days to save his plant - or it will be closed by corporate HQ, with hundreds of job losses. It takes a chance meeting with a colleague from student days - Jonah - to help him break out of conventional ways of thinking to see what needs to be done.

Described by Fortune as a 'guru to industry' and by Businessweek as a 'genius', Eliyahu M. Goldratt was an internationally recognized leader in the development of new business management concepts and systems. This 20th anniversary edition includes a series of detailed case study interviews by David Whitford, Editor at Large, Fortune Small Business, which explore how organizations around the world have been transformed by Eli Goldratt's ideas.

The story of Alex's fight to save his plant contains a serious message for all managers in industry and explains the ideas which underline the Theory of Constraints (TOC) developed by Eli Goldratt. Written in a fast-paced thriller style, The Goal is the gripping novel which is transforming management thinking throughout the Western world. It is a book to recommend to your friends in industry - even to your bosses - but not to your competitors!

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About the Author

Eliyahu M. Goldratt was an internationally recognized leader in the development of new business management concepts and systems, and acted as an educator to many of the world's corporations.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Routledge
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ 22 April 2022
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 3rd
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 376 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0566086654
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0566086656
  • Item weight ‏ : ‎ 612 g
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 15.19 x 2.16 x 22.91 cm
  • Best Sellers Rank: 6,034 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • Customer reviews:
    4.6 out of 5 stars (1,111)

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Eliyahu M. Goldratt
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Eliyahu M. Goldratt was an educator, author, physicist, philosopher and business leader, but first and foremost, he was a thinker who provoked others to think. Characterized as unconventional, stimulating, and "a slayer of sacred cows," he urged his audience to examine and reassess their business practices with a fresh, new vision.

Dr. Goldratt is best known as the father of the Theory of Constraints (TOC), a process of ongoing improvement that continuously identifies and leverages a system’s constraints in order to achieve its goals. He introduced TOC’s underlying concepts in his business novel, The Goal: A Process of Ongoing Improvement, which has been recognized as one of the best-selling business books of all time. First published in 1984, The Goal has been updated three times and sold more than 7 million copies worldwide. It has been translated into 32 languages.

Heralded as a "guru to industry" by Fortune magazine and “a genius” by Business Week, Dr. Goldratt continued to advance the TOC body of knowledge throughout his life, building on the Five Focusing Steps (known as the process of ongoing improvement or POOGI) with TOC-derived tools such as Drum-Buffer-Rope, Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM) and the Thinking Processes. He authored ten other TOC-related books, including four business novels.

Born in Israel on March 31, 1947, Dr. Goldratt earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Tel Aviv University, and a Master of Science and Doctor of Philosophy from Bar-Ilan University. He is the founder of TOC for Education, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing TOC Thinking and TOC tools to teachers and their students, and Goldratt Consulting. In addition to his pioneering work in business management and education, Dr. Goldratt holds patents in a number of areas ranging from medical devices to drip irrigation to temperature sensors. He died on June 11, 2011, at the age of 64.

Customer reviews

4.6 out of 5 stars
1,111 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find this book well worth reading and consider it one of the best business books of all time, particularly praising its effectiveness as a learning tool. The book is written like a novel and customers find it entertaining, with one review highlighting its excellent simple examples for explaining principles. They appreciate its relevance to business, with one customer noting it's essential reading for anyone involved in manufacturing.
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29 customers mention readability, 28 positive, 1 negative
Customers find the book easy to read and well worth their time, particularly noting it as a must-read for those entering business.
An excellent insight into Lean facillitation, making it easy to follow and understand the theory of constraints, see if you can find the Herbie in...Read more
Great readRead more
...Well worth readingRead more
...In my opinion definitely worth a read.Read more
26 customers mention content, 23 positive, 3 negative
Customers praise the book's content, describing it as one of the best business books of all time.
Great book. Had previous copies and given them to colleagues. Manufacturing management techniques described in simple terms in a very readable story....Read more
Still an excellent book 20 years after 1st reading it.Read more
Actually This is a good book many ppl recommended but I can't understand why it had the poor printing issues...Read more
Good, as expected for a pre-owned book. Arrived in good time, would recommend. Only issue was a little over priced.Read more
26 customers mention informative, 24 positive, 2 negative
Customers find the book informative, with several noting it is a very effective learning technique. One customer specifically mentions it serves as a great primer for systems thinking, while another appreciates the simple examples used to explain the principles.
A must read for all those who work in industry or manufacturing, very insightful.Read more
...of improving the processes though is easy to follow and is explained well.Read more
...edition this is the third edition and is still one of the best management books I have ever read....Read more
good book good for information or just to cross ref, the lean manager enjoyed the book and keeps buying more to look atRead more
10 customers mention writing style, 9 positive, 1 negative
Customers appreciate the writing style of the book, which is written like a novel.
Loved reading this book by Eliyahu Goldratt as it's written as a novel in a fast-paced thriller style, so once you start reading it it's hard to put...Read more
...Brilliant read and fantastically written, with tons of useful information in it.Read more
easy reading. written like a novel. the story unwinds problems that exist today in Manufacturing. Interesting how inventory is classified.Read more
...Written as a story, the book guides you through the processes of Continuos Improvement in such a way that you don't realise you're learning a new...Read more
9 customers mention engaging, 7 positive, 2 negative
Customers find the book engaging and entertaining to read.
...As a novel it's an interesting read and I enjoyed it. On reflection though I can't say I've taken much away to apply to my day to day work....Read more
...the 3/4 of the book in just over a week, which is goo because it keeps you gripped and you move on....Read more
...It's more interesting to read than a textbook on management theory would be, but not as convenient a reference source nor as enjoyable as a good...Read more
...a good follow up read after the Phoenix Project but it takes far too long to get interesting and there is far too much fluff around the family life...Read more
8 customers mention story, 7 positive, 1 negative
Customers appreciate the story format of the book, with one customer noting how the real-life examples make it an effective learning tool.
...management techniques described in simple terms in a very readable story. If you're in manufacturing management/supervision you need to read this.Read more
...This book inspired me to change things. It is told in a story format that that got me emotionally involved....Read more
...I'm really enjoying the easy way in which the story unfolds and it's comforting to read that the characters 'don't get it' to begin with either, so...Read more
...Goldratt approaches with real life stories, which if you are bright enough will ring a bell ('I knew I could do it differently')....Read more
7 customers mention relevance to business, 6 positive, 1 negative
Customers find the book highly relevant to business, particularly for those studying it, with one customer noting it is essential reading for business leaders and managers, and another mentioning its wide applicability in manufacturing.
The book is excellent for anyone that is studying Business or wanting to attain a true meaning of goal settingRead more
I was riveted! makes a change for a business book, the final chapter encourages you to understand the fundamentals, which considering the Socratic...Read more
...from its means of communication as it is an important one, widely applicable in business and has propelled the book to its multi-million selling...Read more
A must have for any business leader or manager. It helped us in our business to understand many of the issues we faced and how to solve them....Read more
Loved this book as it's written as a novel in a fast-paced thriller style
5 out of 5 stars
Loved this book as it's written as a novel in a fast-paced thriller style
Loved reading this book by Eliyahu Goldratt as it's written as a novel in a fast-paced thriller style, so once you start reading it it's hard to put down. Although it tells a heroic story of a manufacturing plant being saved from closure, the improvements closely resemble modern software development techniques - especially Kanban, as it touches on managing constraints, throughput optimisation, continuous improvement, less (smaller batch sizes) but more frequent, prioritisation, waste, the right KPIs (Goal), capacity, effort, WIP, value, estimation, and teamwork. Throughout the book, rather than the external consultant (Jonah) just telling the plant manager (Alex) how to solve all of the problems they were facing at each stage of their continuous improvement journey to save the plant, Jonah coached Alex by asking him questions instead and getting him to find the answers out for himself, which sets Alex up for success in the future...reminded me of The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stainer. If you liked The Phoenix Project by Gene Kim you'll love this book as it's written in a similar style, and comes with all of the drama of balancing family life with a high demanding job.
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Top reviews from United Kingdom

  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 September 2021
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Loved reading this book by Eliyahu Goldratt as it's written as a novel in a fast-paced thriller style, so once you start reading it it's hard to put down.

    Although it tells a heroic story of a manufacturing plant being saved from closure, the improvements closely resemble modern software development techniques - especially Kanban, as it touches on managing constraints, throughput optimisation, continuous improvement, less (smaller batch sizes) but more frequent, prioritisation, waste, the right KPIs (Goal), capacity, effort, WIP, value, estimation, and teamwork.

    Throughout the book, rather than the external consultant (Jonah) just telling the plant manager (Alex) how to solve all of the problems they were facing at each stage of their continuous improvement journey to save the plant, Jonah coached Alex by asking him questions instead and getting him to find the answers out for himself, which sets Alex up for success in the future...reminded me of The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stainer.

    If you liked The Phoenix Project by Gene Kim you'll love this book as it's written in a similar style, and comes with all of the drama of balancing family life with a high demanding job.
    Customer image
    5.0 out of 5 stars
    Loved this book as it's written as a novel in a fast-paced thriller style

    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 1 September 2021
    Loved reading this book by Eliyahu Goldratt as it's written as a novel in a fast-paced thriller style, so once you start reading it it's hard to put down.

    Although it tells a heroic story of a manufacturing plant being saved from closure, the improvements closely resemble modern software development techniques - especially Kanban, as it touches on managing constraints, throughput optimisation, continuous improvement, less (smaller batch sizes) but more frequent, prioritisation, waste, the right KPIs (Goal), capacity, effort, WIP, value, estimation, and teamwork.

    Throughout the book, rather than the external consultant (Jonah) just telling the plant manager (Alex) how to solve all of the problems they were facing at each stage of their continuous improvement journey to save the plant, Jonah coached Alex by asking him questions instead and getting him to find the answers out for himself, which sets Alex up for success in the future...reminded me of The Coaching Habit by Michael Bungay Stainer.

    If you liked The Phoenix Project by Gene Kim you'll love this book as it's written in a similar style, and comes with all of the drama of balancing family life with a high demanding job.
    Images in this review
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    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 24 August 2022
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I first read The Goal in 1985 when working with Eli and others to implement the world's first JIT/TOC system. It is Verne Harnish (The Rockefeller Habits & Scaling Up) who rates The Goal as the best business book of all time - and I agree. I've read the critical reviews on here and they are laughable, particularly the one that says the TOC message needs to be rescued from its means of delivery. Its means of delivery is why people actually read it as opposed to it gathering dust.

    As you become unconsciously competent at the five focusing steps of TOC, you will find you use it everywhere. The lessons in this book can quite literally change your life, if you let them. I've recommended this book countless times to clients over the years. It doesn't matter what kind of business you have, it will have a constraint be it physical, attitudinal or a policy. In small businesses the owner is most often the biggest constraint!

    If you are an employer, give it to your employees. We've found they have less conditioning than managers so will more easily make better decisions, having read this book.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 2 September 2010
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I first read The Goal about 20 years ago - I was working as a design engineer for an automotive manufacturing company and it was seen as essential reading for anybody who wanted to understand the reasoning behind our processes. I recently joined a small manufacturing company whose problems with lead times and satisfying customer demand reminded me that these are not new issues and prompted me to buy this book again.

    It's a cliche but I couldn't put it down - the novel style is engaging and far from detracting from the wealth of information in the book, reinforces it with real life examples and analogies. There is a lot to be learnt from this book; on one level it explains the principles behind modern manufacturing processes such as Optimised Production Technology, MRP,Kan-ban etc. Now these techniques are well established it serves as a useful reminder as to their core principles and why they were first introduced. However it also demonstrates some excellent management techniques including how to manage a team, how to tackle complex problems and even how to think.

    Although the book is based upon the problems facing the manager of a production facility, the ideas it contains are transferable and I'm struggling to think of a business that wouldn't benefit from them.

    If you're involved in business processes (and who isn't?) and haven't read it then I'd strongly recommend you do - at the very least you'll have read a good novel. If, like me you read it a while ago, it is well worth another visit.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United Kingdom on 5 March 2010
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Everyone can spot a myriad of problems within any business and in too many cases people try tackling all of them. This amounts to a huge game of 'whack a rat', that circus game where plastic rodents appear out of holes and you bash them with a big rubber hammer to make them go away. Only each time you get rid of one rat, or problem, another appears from a different hole and before long there are loads of problems springing up all over the place. You end up running round in circles trying to fix a never ending growing list of problems. Sound familiar?

    The Goal is a business novel set at a manufacturing plant. Don't let this put you off if you're in a business or department that doesn't manufacturing! The physical nature of the problems described in the book helps you to visualise the core message that Goldratt's putting across: The Theory of Constraints (TOC) in which any system can be viewed as a 'chain' and somewhere in that chain is a weak link that limits the throughput of the entire system. Using TOC to correctly identify the weak link, or 'constraint', is a vital first step to solving a multitude of problems. The book goes on to explain how to work with the constraint from a holistic perspective enabling you to focus your activities where they will have the highest possible beneficial impact on your business for the least amount of effort. In other words, TOC tells you which rat to whack!

    I've now encountered a few people who've read this book and somehow come away with the impression that it's telling you to focus on local optima -this is certainly not the case. If, after reading the book, you have this view then I'd highly recommend reading The Logical Thinking Process by Dettmer.

    TOC in itself is obvious - once you understand it. You'll wonder how you managed to get anything done in the past and recount countless unnecessary endeavours that you would have avoided had you known about TOC sooner.

    Other highly recommended books include:

    * Goldratt - It's Not Luck (sequel to The Goal)
    * Goldratt - The Choice - the simple reasoning that underpins both TOC and also The Logical Thinking Process
    * Dettmer - The Logical Thinking Process - one of the greatest works on TOC and TLTP in my opinion
    * Various authors - Velocity - great explanation of how to make Lean and Six Sigma deliver results by focussing them with TOC
    * Klarman - Release the Hostages - one of the few service orientated TOC books I've found

    But before reading any of those, start with The Goal - it's a great introduction to TOC.
    26 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Rajeev
    5.0 out of 5 stars Basics of manufacturing industry is cleared.
    Reviewed in the United Arab Emirates on 24 April 2023
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Many basic concepts which are overlooked in manufacturing industry has been taken into consideration.
  • DOO
    5.0 out of 5 stars 100% recommended
    Reviewed in Germany on 28 March 2026
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    A very nice book written in a flowing style
  • Client d'Amazon
    5.0 out of 5 stars Super livre
    Reviewed in France on 16 April 2026
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Livre top, à lire au moins une fois.
    Qualité occasion ok!
    Report
  • PAOLO
    5.0 out of 5 stars Good read
    Reviewed in the United States on 15 July 2025
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Very instructive
  • Oils
    5.0 out of 5 stars A Story of Collaborative Consultation
    Reviewed in Australia on 14 September 2020
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    An ever reliable text/resource! I lent my earlier copy out, which has failed to materialize following a top to bottom search! An invaluable tool when sharing the 'what is possible' with learners and industry clients alike!