About this Presentation
The presentation is based on Rob’s new book, The Project Manifesto and is organized as follows: introduction, the problem, the solution: relay race, the project manifesto summary and wrap-up. Learning points include: we are approaching critical chain (and many other things) backwards; many problems are self-inflicted; behaviors and values matter; and challenge everything. Rob asks the question: What is the purpose of a project buffer? The actual purpose is to make protection visible and protect us from wasting it. We have been attacking multitasking for 15-20 years and we are still failing. What compels people to multitask? Multitasking is not the core problem it is a symptom. Rob believes it is values. What do we value in today’s organization? We are expected to be responsive, getting things started, and meeting deadlines. Rob has several games to illustrate each of these issues. He provided the URLs for each of these games.
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 TOC Critical Chain Approach to Project Management is not just about scheduling, but also about how to describe it clearly and understand its values.
Multitasking is a significant issue in project environments, even where CCPM has been implemented, leading to inefficiencies and productivity loss.
Deadlines, while commonly used in organizations, can cause a homeostasis effect, creating incentives to work harder or less hard, which can be detrimental to project progress.
Instructor(s)
Jennifer Eckman
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.