Critical Chain
by Eliyahu M. Goldratt · first published 1997
44% recommend44% neutral12% critical
Why HN recommends it
Written as an easy-to-read business novel, it applies theory of constraints to project scheduling, estimation, and buffers, offering fresh ideas for managers and software project planners.
Common criticism: Critics say its prose is weak and its software relevance is limited.
Summarised by Claude from recommending comments
Powerful yet simple techniques to solve project management s toughest problems. This book teaches companies to drastically cut project development times resulting in early completion within budget and without compromising quality or specifications. Project managers and your teams will benefit from Goldratt's techniques of how to remain focused on the few critical areas and how to prevent your attention from being divided among all of the how to prevent your attention from being divided among all of the projects tasks and resources. Especially useful for dealing with one of the most difficult a
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…The entire book is written as a novel. The author talks in the intro about how showing the Socratic method in practice is one of his key goals. It’s also excellent on Audible. The follow-up book, The Critical Chain, is about project management and is also life-changing with its awesome concepts. [1] https://www.amazon.com/Goal-Process-Ongoing-Improvement/dp/0...
on “Socratic method to teaching by asking” ↗Assuming you mean Phoenix Project, I highly recommend reading Goldratt's books: The Goal, It's Not Luck, and Critical Chain. They're the inspiration for Phoenix Project and cover a good bit more material. I can't say they're great novels, they're no worse than Phoenix Project with regard to their prose, but they aren't stellar…
on “Ask HN: What is your learning plan for 2020?” ↗IMHO, this book is better read after at least reading Goldratt's The Goal. It's a sort of spiritual sequel. His Critical Chain is also worth reading before or after The Phoenix Project as it has a more direct connection. The Goal, as written, is about manufacturing processes and a lot of people have trouble seeing past that…
on “Ask HN: Books to read when you transform from SWE into SWE Management?” ↗If you liked this article, you might like the book The Goal or its application to the “project context” that software companies find themselves in, Critical Chain. They define a lot of business thinking as being focused on controlling costs, when in fact you want to first maximize revenues, and the kind of funky idea of measuring “dollar days” that one eventually…
on “Games people play with cash flow” ↗For some useful theory for estimation and planning of projects, Eli Goldratt wrote amazing content in the book "Critical Chain" which is an easy to read novel. Should you find yourself developing this tool further, these books will give you an edge that most other tools lack - http://www.amazon.com/Critical-Chain/dp/B002LHRM2E/…
on “Super easy project planning and estimation” ↗…thought into how to manage these risks in ways that make sense for the company. For some fresh, eye opening ideas on how to do project management for software and other businesses, check out the book The Critical Chain. The short section at the end on metrics for investment is worth the price of admission alone.
on “Project delays: why good software estimates are impossible” ↗…Sufficient / Eli Goldratt https://www.amazon.com/dp/0884271137 It's Not Luck / Eli Goldratt https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00408ALES Isn't it Obvious? / Eli Goldratt https://www.amazon.com/dp/B002LHRM2E Critical Chain / Eli Goldratt https://www.amazon.com/dp/B004THZ9VK Be Fast or Be Gone / Andreas Scherer https://www.amazon.com/dp/1499660901 Hanging Fire / Jeff Cox https://www.amazon.com/dp/1439158932 Velocity /…
on “Ask HN: Any recommended resources to develop system thinking?” ↗Goldratt's "Critical Chain" work is the closest I've seen to 'mathematically mature' project management. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Critical_chain_project_managem...
on “The Math Behind Project Scheduling, Bug Tracking, and Triage [video]” ↗Following on from The Goal are It's Not Luck and Critical Chain. The latter of those is particularly good in combination with the more recent Phoenix Project. Each of these books is a bit utopian or idealistic. By doing what's suggested by the guru everything magically…
on “Ask HN: What makes a good technical leader – any recommended books?” ↗I'd recommend reading The Goal and, optionally, Critical Chain before The Phoenix Project. It sets up a lot of the context of the ideas around theory of constraints that The Phoenix Project builds on, but doesn't delve into. I read them in the order of The Goal,…
on “Ask HN: What makes a good technical leader – any recommended books?” ↗'The Deadline: A novel about project management' by Tom DeMarco Critical Chain by Eliyahu M. Goldratt The Unicorn Project by Gene Kim (sequel to the Phoenix Project) Makers by Cory Doctorow Daemon & Freedom™ by Daniel Suarez The Affinities by Robert Charles Wilson Zodiac by…
on “Ask HN: What's some great fiction for founders and entrepreneurs?” ↗I listened to 40 hours of Moby Dick on a series of long road trips and couldn't wait to start each one, just me and Melville for a few hours every day. On a business level, Critical Chain (Goldratt) and the Phoenix Project (Kim, Spafford, Behr) were necessary eye-openers once I got into top management.
on “Ask HN: Which book has had the most meaningful contribution in your life?” ↗Read "It's Not Luck", followed by "The Critical Chain", then pick up any Agile Methodology book. You might be amazed at the new insights you may have.
on “RIP Eliyahu M. Goldratt” ↗I just wish more people would read Critical Chain books, there are several very interesting books that discuss this technique - including some that were released just last year. amazon.com/dp/1934979074/ amazon.com/dp/1499660901/ amazon.com/dp/1498746039/…
on “To finish projects on time, start every single step as late as possible” ↗…to learn how to think. It is a more concrete example of Systems Thinking that is applied to various environments, manufacturing in "The Goal", marketing and strategy in "It's Not Luck", projects in "Critical Chain", retail in "Isn't it Obvious", and personal improvement in "The Choice".
on “Ask HN: Which books teach mental models?” ↗