About this Presentation
This masterclass introduces the Theory of Constraints Thinking Processes as a disciplined way to understand problems, challenge assumptions, and create meaningful improvement. Lisa Scheinkopf explains the foundations behind Jonah’s way of thinking, outlines the classic TOC thinking tools and the questions they are designed to answer, and emphasizes that breakthroughs come from exposing invalid assumptions rather than accepting conflict, blame, or complexity as inevitable. The session then moves into a hands-on application of the Evaporating Cloud, showing how to work through conflict step by step by understanding both sides, testing assumptions, and identifying a win-win path forward.
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.
This masterclass presents the TOC Thinking Processes as a practical way to improve reality by understanding it more clearly first. Lisa Scheinkopf frames the work around Jonah’s disciplines of meaningful improvement, guiding Socratically, understanding reality, and thinking clearly rather than jumping straight to solutions.
A central takeaway is that assumptions sit underneath decisions, actions, and outcomes. The session argues that assumptions themselves are not the problem; the real issue is making decisions based on assumptions that are not valid for the specific situation.
The presentation gives a useful overview of the classic TOC Thinking Processes and the core questions they are meant to answer: what to change, to what to change, and how to cause the change. It also shows how the body of knowledge expanded over time with tools such as the Goal Tree, IO Map, Strategy and Tactic Tree, Layers of Resistance, and Change Matrix.
The most practical part of the session is the step-by-step use of the Evaporating Cloud for conflict resolution. It walks participants through identifying their side, the other side, the assumptions behind each side, the common objective, and a path toward a solution that works for both rather than settling for compromise.
Instructor(s)
Lisa Scheinkopf
Lisa Scheinkopf founded Jenrada LLC in 2019 after more than 30 years in the TOC consulting and training field, which culminated in 14 years as a Partner with Goldratt Consulting. There, she served as global processes director, headed up the firm’s consulting practice in North America and India and headed up the Goldratt School. After working with Dr. Eliyahu Goldratt to develop the TOC Thinking Processes, Lisa wrote the definitive TOC reference, Thinking for a Change: Putting the TOC Thinking Processes to Use (St. Lucie Press, 1999). "I am proud of the fact that this is the only book on the TOC Thinking Processes that Eli Goldratt personally endorsed." Lisa has been at the forefront of TOC for more than 30 years, using her passion for breaking down barriers between people to transform the powerful breakthrough thinking of TOC into actions and results that benefit all stakeholders. Lisa has consulted to companies large and small around the world, teaching and coaching from the top floor to the shop floor. Along the way, she has developed new TOC based solutions that apply across a broad spectrum of industries. Lisa is a contributing author to the TOC Handbook (McGraw-Hill, 2010) and her articles have been published in a variety of professional publications. Her passion and knowledge, combined with a unique ability to connect with people from the podium, have gained her popularity as a public speaker on a wide range of TOC subjects. Lisa is a former TOCICO Board Member and Chairperson and in 2018, she was awarded the TOCICO Lifetime Achievement Award. Lisa has worked with hundreds of leaders, change makers and companies around the world to radically increase performance by creating an environment of innovation, inspiration, and harmony.