This document discusses Jelena Fedurko's background and experience in Theory of Constraints (TOC). It also discusses the impact of TOC on thinking and education. Specifically, it covers how TOC tools can help build important learning skills like comprehension, evaluation, application, analysis, synthesis, deduction, induction, balanced thinking and creative thinking. Key TOC tools discussed for building these skills include the Cloud, assumptions behind arrows in the Cloud, the Negative Branch, protocol for checking logic in the Cloud, and Categories of Legitimate Reservations.

1. TOC Strategic Solutions
Impact of TOC on Thinking
and Education
Jelena Fedurko
Vilnius, September 2012
Impact of TOC on Thinking and Education_Vilnius_Sept 2012
Copyright © 2012 by Jelena

2. Jelena Fedurko
Jelena has 13 years of TOC experience as a
trainer and consultant providing support in
TOC implementations in the areas of people
management, production, supply chain,
project management.
Jelena has worked in Japan, Poland,
Turkey, Italy, Russia, Ukraine, India, China,
Chile, Colombia, Mexico and other countries
throughout the world.
Jelena is the author of the book Behind the
Cloud – Enhancing logical thinking. The
book presents new developments in the
area of working with assumptions.
Together with Oded Cohen Jelena has co- jelenafedurko.gs@gmail.com
authored the book TOC Fundamentals,
recently published in Russian. www.toc-strategicsolutions.com
She has authored numerous articles on TOC
concepts and implementation, and has
contributed to and edited several TOC
books. Impact of TOC on Thinking and Education_Vilnius_Sept 2012
Copyright © 2012 by Jelena

3. The Role of Education
1. Transfer knowledge
2. Build skills
Teaching is only the means to achieve that.
Impact of TOC on Thinking and Education_Vilnius_Sept 2012
Copyright © 2012 by Jelena

4. Major learning skills
1. Comprehension
2. Evaluation
3. Application
4. Analysis
5. Synthesis
6. Deduction
7. Induction
8. Balanced thinking
9. Creative thinking
Impact of TOC on Thinking and Education_Vilnius_Sept 2012
Copyright © 2012 by Jelena

5. Major learning skills
1. Comprehension – understanding the meaning, interpretation, ability to state
a problem in one’s own words
(while knowledge is ability to recollect and reproduce data and information)
2. Evaluation – making judgments about the value of data/concepts
3. Application – using what has been learnt to real-life situations
4. Analysis – breaking down material/concepts into components to detect
relationship among the parts or the parts and the whole (requires comparing
and contrasting); distinguishing between facts and inferences; recognizing
logical fallacies in reasoning
5. Synthesis – forming a whole through building up/connecting elements to
create a larger and more coherent pattern
6. Deduction – moving from general principles to particular instances
7. Induction – moving from particular instances to generalized conclusions
8. Balanced thinking – examination of arguments for and against a particular
data/material/concept
9. Creative thinking – ability to devise innovative solutions
Impact of TOC on Thinking and Education_Vilnius_Sept 2012
Copyright © 2012 by Jelena

6. What is unique about TOC?
1. Search for a logical reasoning
The use of Cause & Effect relationships to structure our thinking,
record our analysis and understand the suggested solution for
any problem (based on Convergence)
2. Resolve conflicts
A strong belief that there should be no conceptual conflict within
our reality – hence – striving to find a win-win solution to any
perceived “no solution situation” (Local & Global)
3. Seek for collaboration and contribution
The use of TOC logical tools logic to communicate to ourselves
and thereafter to the team with the view of working together to
achieve the desired improvement (based on Respect)
Impact of TOC on Thinking and Education_Vilnius_Sept 2012
Copyright © 2012 by Jelena

7. TOC Tools for Building
Comprehension
Impact of TOC on Thinking and Education_Vilnius_Sept 2012
Copyright © 2012 by Jelena

8. TOC tools for building
Comprehension
While Knowledge is ability to recollect and reproduce data and
information,
Comprehension is ability to understand the meaning,
interpret, and state a problem in one’s own words.
The TOC tool to assist with Comprehension – the Cloud
Understanding and verbalizing the situation in which a person or a system
is caught between two mutually exclusive actions or modes of behaviour.
B D
The need that is
satisfied by the Action 1
A
action in D
The common objective
achieved by having Conflict
B and C C D’
The need that is
satisfied by the Action 2
action in D’
In the Cloud we state what for we want to take an action, and what for we
want to satisfy the need. With that we claim that if we do something – it will
give us a certain effect.
Impact of TOC on Thinking and Education_Vilnius_Sept 2012
Copyright © 2012 by Jelena

9. Inner Dilemma Cloud
Inner dilemma – is when you are faced with two options and do not
know which route to take.
In an inner dilemma:
B and C are both my needs to achieve the objective A
D’ is the action that I want to take.
D is the action that is forced on me by the system/situation.
B D
Means to Forced
My need 1 achieve
action
A Need 1
The Objective C D’
Means to
Preferred
My need 2 achieve
Need 2 action
Impact of TOC on Thinking and Education_Vilnius_Sept 2012
Copyright © 2012 by Jelena

10. Building Comprehension – presenting a
situation as an Inner Dilemma Cloud
A case when a father of a teenage son built a dilemma cloud on whether to
give his son a computer or a motor scooter for his fourteenth birthday.
The father was concerned with the whole situation, especially that the
birthday was coming close.
B D
Fulfil the son’s long Buy a motor scooter
A
standing dream for his
birthday
Be a good
father
C D’
Ensure
latest educational
and informational Buy a computer
opportunities for his birthday
for the son
Impact of TOC on Thinking and Education_Vilnius_Sept 2012
Copyright © 2012 by Jelena

11. TOC tools for building
Comprehension isComprehension
ability to understand the meaning, interpret, and
state a problem in one’s own words.
The major TOC tool to build Comprehension – the
assumptions behind the arrows in the Cloud
Assumptions B-D
B D
Assumptions D-D’
The need that
is satisfied by Action 1
A
The common the action in D
objective
achieved by
C D’
having B and C
The need that is
satisfied by the Action 2
action in D’
Assumptions C-D’
Impact of TOC on Thinking and Education_Vilnius_Sept 2012
Copyright © 2012 by Jelena

12. What are Assumptions?
In reference to the Cloud,
assumptions are facts, observations,
beliefs, expectations, convictions,
presuppositions, experiences,
interpretations, concepts, principles,
data, general knowledge and other
elements of thinking with which we
support our reasoning behind a logical
connection.
Impact of TOC on Thinking and Education_Vilnius_Sept 2012
Copyright © 2012 by Jelena

13. Building Comprehension –
working with Assumptions
B-D 1: The father has frequently told his son many stories about
having a motor scooter as a teenager, and for the son to get the
motor scooter will be a symbol of being accepted by the father as
mature and grown-up.
B D
Fulfil the son’s long Buy a motor scooter
A
standing dream for his
birthday
Be a good
father
C D’
Ensure
latest educational
and informational Buy a computer
opportunities for his birthday
for the son
C-D’ 1: Most of the information and communication goes through the
internet.
Impact of TOC on Thinking and Education_Vilnius_Sept 2012
Copyright © 2012 by Jelena

14. Day-to-Day Conflict Cloud
Day-to-Day Conflicts are between you and someone else; they are not
deep problems and they do not happen all the time.
In a day-to-day conflict between you and somebody else:
C is my need and D’ is the action I want to take.
B is the other side’s need and D is the other side’s desired action.
B D
Means to
Need 1 achieve
Other
A Need 1
Side
Common
Objective C D’
Means to
Need 2 achieve Me
Need 2
Impact of TOC on Thinking and Education_Vilnius_Sept 2012
Copyright © 2012 by Jelena

15. Building Comprehension – presenting a
situation as a Day-to-Day Conflict Cloud
The son’s side
B D
Fulfil the long Receive a
standing dream
A motor scooter
Feel good in
the family
C D’
Ensure latest
educational and
informational Give a
opportunities for the computer
son
The father’s side
Impact of TOC on Thinking and Education_Vilnius_Sept 2012
Copyright © 2012 by Jelena

16. TOC tools for building
Comprehension
Comprehension is ability to understand the meaning,
interpret, and state a problem in one’s own words.
TOC tool to assist with Comprehension – the Negative Branch
Understanding and verbalizing possible negative outcomes of a
decision/action.
Possible negative outcome
will happen
Exists/ will happen will happen Exists/ will happen
independently independently
Exists/ will happen
will happen independently
Decision/action
Impact of TOC on Thinking and Education_Vilnius_Sept 2012
Copyright © 2012 by Jelena

17. TOC Tools for Building
•Evaluation
•Application
Impact of TOC on Thinking and Education_Vilnius_Sept 2012
Copyright © 2012 by Jelena

18. TOC tools for building Evaluation
Evaluation – making judgments about the value of
data/concepts.
TOC tool to assist with Evaluation –
the protocol of checking the logic in the Cloud
Check the logic: "In order to (tip of arrow)….. I must (tail of arrow)……"
Does the flow of the words make sense? If not, correct the wording accordingly.
3.In order to [B] 4. I must [D]
2. I must [В]
1. In order to [А] B D
A
6. I must [C]
C D’
5. In order to [А]
9. [D] and [D’] are in conflict 7. In order to [С] 8. I must [D’]
10. [D] jeopardizes achieving the need in [C]
11. [D’] jeopardizes the need in [B]
Impact of TOC on Thinking and Education_Vilnius_Sept 2012
Copyright © 2012 by Jelena

19. TOC tools for building Evaluation
Evaluation – making judgments about the value of data/concepts.
TOC tool to assist with Evaluation –
challenging assumptions behind the arrows in the Cloud
The process aimed at challenging the validity of one or several
assumption behind the causalities in the Cloud.
Finding and negating an erroneous assumption leads to
developing a solution to a problem described in the Cloud.
Impact of TOC on Thinking and Education_Vilnius_Sept 2012
Copyright © 2012 by Jelena

20. TOC tools for building Evaluation
Evaluation – making judgments about the value of data/concepts.
TOC tool to assist with Evaluation –
Categories of Legitimate Reservations (CLR)
The protocol of checking
logic in a cause-effect relationship
In logical reasoning it is important to check each causality connection
between two entities to ensure that it is clear and irrefutable.
The process of checking logic is called scrutinizing that has its own
terminology and sequence. We check for:
1. Clarity
2. Entity Existence
3. Causality Existence
4. Cause Insufficiency
5. Additional Cause
6. “House on Fire”
7. Predicted Effect Existence
Impact of TOC on Thinking and Education_Vilnius_Sept 2012
Copyright © 2012 by Jelena

21. TOC tools for building Application
Application – using what has been learnt to real-life
situations.
TOC tools to assist with Application – the Cloud, the
Negative Branch, the Positive Branch, CRT, FRT
Presenting one’s own reality or
projection of a future outcome
(negative or positive) through logical structures
that present and justify causality.
Impact of TOC on Thinking and Education_Vilnius_Sept 2012
Copyright © 2012 by Jelena

22. TOC Tools for Building
•Analysis and Synthesis
•Deduction and Induction
•Balanced Thinking
•Creative Thinking
Impact of TOC on Thinking and Education_Vilnius_Sept 2012
Copyright © 2012 by Jelena

23. TOC tools for building
Analysis and Synthesis
Analysis – breaking down material/concepts into components to
detect relationship among the parts or the parts and the whole
(requires comparing and contrasting); distinguishing between facts
and inferences; recognizing logical fallacies in reasoning.
Synthesis – forming a whole through building up/connecting
elements to create a larger and more coherent pattern. lution
solution
direction of
d tion TOC A
A
A
A
TOC
TOC
A major TOC tool to assist PIVOT C
C B
B
B
B
’’
’’
D
D
with Analysis and Synthesis
D
D
D
D D
D
Future Reality
Current Reality
– the U-Shape Rs T Injec ns
TOC Injections
NB DE UDE UDE
UDE
DE
DE
Also, Categories of
DE UDE
UDE
DE DE
DE DE
DE UDE UDE
UDE UDE
Legitimate Reservations
DE
DE UDE
UDE
Measurementsts
play an important role in building
easure
rformance
High Perform
Hig surem ts
Measurements
Low Performance
Low rforman
skills for Analysis and Synthesis
Impact of TOC on Thinking and Education_Vilnius_Sept 2012
Copyright © 2012 by Jelena

24. TOC tools for building
Deduction and Induction
Deduction – moving from general principles to
particular instances.
A major TOC tool to assist then
with Deduction – the
protocol of establishing
logic in causality branches If and if
“if…, and if…, then…”
A
A
B
B
Induction – moving from particular instances to
CC D
D
D
D
generalized conclusions. ’’
A
A
B
B
Major TOC tools to assist C
C D
D
with Induction: D
D
’’
A
A
•Convergence B
B
C
C D
D
•Clouds Consolidation D
D
’’
process
Impact of TOC on Thinking and Education_Vilnius_Sept 2012
Copyright © 2012 by Jelena

25. TOC tools for building
Balanced thinking
Balanced thinking – examination of arguments for and
against a particular data/material/concept.
Major TOC tools to assist with
B D
Balanced Thinking:
A
•Checking logic in the Cloud:
C D’
“D is a necessary condition for B,
but endangers C” and
“D’ is a necessary condition for
C, but endangers B”
Possible negative
• Negative Branch outcome
Looking for a possible
negative outcome of a
decision/suggested Decision/ suggested
solution/planned (desired) solution/ planned
action (desired) action
Impact of TOC on Thinking and Education_Vilnius_Sept 2012
Copyright © 2012 by Jelena

26. TOC tools for building
Creative thinking
Creative thinking – ability to devise innovative solutions.
Major TOC tools to assist with
B
Creating Thinking:
A Injection
•Developing Injections to the
C
Cloud
Possible negative
outcome
• Developing Supporting +
Injections to trim identified +
Supporting
Negative Branches Injection
+
Injection
Impact of TOC on Thinking and Education_Vilnius_Sept 2012
Copyright © 2012 by Jelena

27. Addressing Resistance to Change
with TOC Thinking Processes
1. Disagreement on what the problem is
2. Disagreement with the direction of
solutions
3. Disagreement that the solution will bring
the desired benefits
Yes, but…
4. Fear that the solution will result in
negative consequences (Risks)
ssec o P gn k n hT
5. Obstacles to implementation seem to be
h f o not acl pp A
impossible to overcome
i i
i i
6. Say “Yes” and do nothing
r
t
Impact of TOC on Thinking and Education_Vilnius_Sept 2012
Copyright © 2012 by Jelena