Apply the Theory of Constraints to Your Own Working Environment (Past or Present).

Apply the Theory of Constraints to your own working environment (past or present). Explain why your organization doesn’t have unlimited resources (space, inventory, product line, etc). Explain why there are always limits to what your organization can do. Respond to at least two of your fellow students’ postings.

Our text describes constraints as any factor that limits individuals or organization from getting more of whatever they strive for. Individuals may possibly strive for money, status, time, etc., and usually, organizations strive for profit. It is not hard to find constrains in our work or daily life; it is determined by the step that has the smallest capacity (Noreen, Brewer, & Garrison, 2011).

Every system or organization faces at least one constraint (Noreen, Brewer, & Garrison, 2011), which limits its ability to achieve to its maximum capability. There are these limits because no one has unlimited resources, people are held responsible for inputs and outputs.

Working in healthcare, I realized in healthcare industry there are more than one constraints- time, space, inventory, and care providers. The hospital (where I work) is located in a small town with the populations of 9000. At present we have 6 doctors, the patients get good service during normal days, however if flu hits our town and the number of patients double, we cannot provide same level of service; our patients have to wait longer hours for service. The constraint in this example is care provider.

The hospital administration has realized the constraint and to prevent such circumstance, the hospital is planning to partner with neighboring town and share resources (care providers) in such events. This decision will not eliminate the constraint; nonetheless it will help manage the constraint.