About this Presentation
The purposes of this presentation are to assess TOC as a complete methodology; explore links with other methodologies, e.g. OR/MS and systems (Senge’s systems archetypes); and to suggest new directions for TOC (and its usage with other methods). How do we establish TOC tools as a comprehensive research methodology? Where it is recognized it is set next to OR/MS tools and systems dynamics and systems thinking tools. The last few days we have discussed templates for example in distribution. A template provides a set of circumstances to solve a given situation. We are trying to give students a set of tools to give them problem structuring capabilities. A methodology is a structured set of diagrams, a paradigm (a model for thinking), a constellation of concepts, a systematic set of ideas and methods, etc. In academia we must do a better job of discussing the nature of the methodology. This paper classifies various tools of TOC based on its methodological characteristics. It provides a causal loop diagram and evaporating cloud classification. An example of smoking versus not smoking is shown in a simple causal loop diagram then in a cloud then from the cloud a more well-defined causal loop diagram then from the cloud the resulting current reality tree with matched assumptions.
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.
TOC is a comprehensive methodology that provides a set of tools and methods that contribute to every dimension of problem solving and decision making.
TOC can be compared and used in conjunction with other methodologies, providing greater insights when used with other methodologies, especially when those methodologies are related.
TOC should be taken seriously by management science academics to bring it into the mainstream academic realm. It has a proper philosophical base and can be established as a methodology.
Instructor(s)
John Davies
Head of School, Victoria Management School
Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand
Vicky Mabin
Vicky Mabin, PhD FORS is Adjunct Professor at the Victoria University of Wellington’s School of Business and Government. She has taught several hundred students about TOC and conducted and supervised many projects using TOC. Vicky led the first implementation of TOC in New Zealand in 1987, and has written over 200 journal articles, books, chapters, conference papers, teaching texts, and technical reports, many of which are on TOC. She is leading author of TOC TP articles, and co-author of The World of TOC (2000), bibliographical articles on TOC, and co-creator of the TOC research articles database.
Vicky served on the TOCICO Board of Directors from 2016–2019 and is a frequent presenter at TOCICO and Operations Research/Decision Sciences conferences. She has received top awards including Fellow of the ORS (UK), the ORSNZ’s premier award the Hans Daellenbach Prize for her contributions to the theory and application of OR, particularly TOC, and most recently the Griffiths Medal for the best paper in the last 2 years in the Health Systems journal.
James F. Cox III
James F. Cox III Professor Emeritus, Management Dept. Terry College of Business, University of Georgia, Athens, GA. 30602 James F. Cox III, Ph.D., TOCICO certified, CFPIM, CIRM, JONAH’s JONAH, Professor Emeritus, was the Robert O. Arnold Professor of Business at the University of Georgia. Before an academic career of over 30 years, he held industry and military positions. He taught Jonah workshops and numerous TOC workshops and programs. Dr. Cox’s research has centered on TOC for over thirty-five years. He co-edited (with John Schleier) the TOC Handbook. He has written three books on TOC and has authored/co-authored over 100 articles in top academic and practitioner journals, including Decision Sciences, the Academy of Management Review and Journal, Production/Operations Management Journal, MIS Quarterly, International Journal of Production Research, Production and Inventory Management Journal, and Industrial Engineering. He was the co-editor of the APICS Dictionary (five editions with John Blackstone) and the TOCICO Dictionary, 2nd edition. Dr. Cox, an APICS member for over 40 years, held numerous chapter, regional, and national offices (BODs for 4 years, VP-Research for 2 years, APICS E&R Foundation BODs for 9 years including 4 as president). He also served on the founding TOCICO Board of Directors and as its first director of certification. He has spoken at over 50 APICS and other professional organization chapter meetings, regional seminars, and international conferences on TOC. He has received the APICS Voluntary Service Award and the TOCICO Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to the field. His research interest for 13 years has been the application of TOC in healthcare.