About this Presentation
This is a live interview of Alex Knight by Eli Schragenheim on the topic of how-to develop a TOC breakthrough solution for an industry. Healthcare will form an example of the process but the webinar will not just be about healthcare. The discussion will cover what is necessary and sufficient to create a breakthrough solution and how to bring it to market. This will include new insights into his book 'Pride and Joy', the development of a strategy and tactics tree for an industry, the development of supporting software and the importance of educational materials. Alex was first introduced to the theory of constraints when he met Dr Goldratt at a three-day workshop in 1983. That meeting was the start of a long mentorship and friendship lasting up to Dr Goldratt’s untimely passing. Over the last thirty years Alex has taken the TOC principles into a number of different industries, including financial services, insurance, tourism, IT, manufacturing and healthcare. Throughout this period Alex has written a number of articles in both business magazines and academic journals. He has also taught on many leadership and management development programs.
What Will You Learn
To help you get the most value from this session, we’ve highlighted a few key points. These takeaways capture the main ideas and practical insights from the presentation, making it easier for you to review, reflect, and apply what you’ve learned.
The Theory of Constraints can be applied to health and social care to develop a breakthrough solution.
The solution involves creating a clinically-based planned discharge date for each patient, and then scheduling tasks based on this date.
This approach takes into account the natural variation in healthcare systems and aims to identify which tasks and resources most often cause disruption and delay.
Instructor(s)
Steve Holt
Steve Holt is a Boeing Technical Fellow with a primary focus on the socio-technical aspects of Systems Engineering, especially for the development of large scale, complex products. He was one of the leaders of the implementation of Critical Chain Project Management on several airplane programs. He is a practitioner and instructor in Theory of Constraints, Cynefin Framework, and Critical Thinking. He was a past member of the TOCICO Board of Directors and received a TOCICO Lifetime Achievement Award in 2019.
Ms Alka Wadhwa
Alka Wadhwa is an experienced consultant and process improvement expert with over 24 years of expertise in the Theory of Constraints (TOC), Lean Six Sigma, and organizational performance optimization. She has successfully led projects in healthcare, financial services, and manufacturing, driving significant improvements such as a 67% boost in hospital operations and a 140% increase in outpatient visits.
Previously, Alka Wadhwa spent 17+ years at GE Global Research Center, where she led initiatives to enhance various GE businesses through advanced technologies, process redesign, and system optimization. Founder of Better Solutions Consulting, LLC, she specializes in using TOC, Six Sigma, and data analytics to streamline operations and build high-performance teams.
Her work has earned her multiple accolades, including the Empire State Award of Excellence in healthcare.
Dr Gary Wadhwa
Dr. Gary Wadhwa is a Board Certified Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeon with extensive experience in the field. He completed his Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery training at Montefiore Hospital, Albert Einstein College of Medicine in Bronx, NY, and has served as an Attending at prestigious institutions like St. Peters Hospitals, Ellis Hospital, and Beth Israel Hospital in NY. With a career spanning over two decades, he was the former CEO and President of a group specialty practice in NY from 1994 to 2015. Dr. Wadhwa holds an MBA from UT at Knoxville, TN, and has undergone additional training in System Dynamics at MIT, Health System Management at Harvard Business School, and Entrepreneurship and healthcare innovations at Columbia Business School. Committed to expanding access to Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery care, he is currently engaged in a meaningful project to provide healthcare services to underserved populations in inner city and rural areas through non-profit Community Health Centers.