The Theory of Constraints’ Thinking Process Approach to Developing Growth Strategies in Supply Chain

Abstract

Many attempts have been made to study factors influencing the performance of supply chains. These studies are generally quantitative and involve rigorous statistical analyses. This paper describes an application of a system approach known as the thinking process (TP) of the theory of constraints (TOC) not only to identify critical success factors in supply chain management, but also to understand causal relationships between these factors. The study was conducted in a group-based model building environment with a group of students who specialised either in logistics management or e-commerce. The results suggest that understanding the dynamic nature of supply chain through cause and effect relationships is critical to the formulation of supply chain growth strategies.