Cloud (thinking tool)

The cloud ( English Evaporating Cloud ) is a "thinking tool" ( English Thinking Process ) in throughput management ( Theory of Constraints ). The thinking tools are used to represent facts graphically in order to be able to analyze them and find solutions. The cloud is also called the “dilemma cloud” or “conflict cloud” after its most common areas of application. In English, the tool is also known as “cloud” or “conflict resolution diagram” (CRD) for short.

description

The cloud is a logical diagram that can be used to graph a problem that has no obvious solution. It helps to better understand the problem and those involved and to find a win-win solution. For this purpose, the assumptions underlying the problem, which lead to the conflict or dilemma, are made aware and methodically examined.

The cloud has a fixed structure of five fields, which are usually marked with A, B, C, D, D 'and are arranged as follows and connected with arrows:

   [B] ← [D ]                      [A]
  /       ↑                       /   \
[A]       Konflikt      ODER    [B]   [C]
  \       ↓                      ↑     ↑
   [C] ← [D’]                  [D ] ↔ [D’]

The conflicting, opposing options for action (called wants in English) are entered in fields D and D '(pronounced "D-dash", in English "D-prime") . The conflict can be in the form of "doing or not doing something" or in the form of "doing action 1 or doing action 2", where both actions cannot be done (simultaneously). B and C are the needs behind the respective options for action ( called needs in English ). A is the common objective that the parties involved have in common and that both needs are necessary to achieve.

The arrows represent prerequisite connections. Therefore, they are read as follows: "To reach ... [arrowhead] ... we must ... [end of arrow] ...". For example: “To reach A we have to ensure B because it is impossible to reach A without B. ” At the point of conflict between D and D ': “It is impossible to do D and D' (simultaneously). "

Types of clouds

Depending on the area of application, different names are used for the tool - but the structure of the cloud with the five fields is always the same.

Conflict cloud

A "conflict cloud" is used when the cloud is used to analyze and resolve a conflict between two people or groups. A win-win solution in this case means a solution with which both parties are more satisfied than with their respective original wishes for action. The clear structure of the cloud helps to create a cooperative climate and to focus on the common solution orientation. The conflict cloud is also used for mediation and the like. a. used in schools, for examples of use with children, see z. B. the page of TOC for Education under "Web Links".

Dilemma cloud

Under the name dilemma cloud, the cloud is used to process a decision dilemma of a single person who is torn between two conflicting options for action. The dilemma cloud will u. a. used for business consulting and coaching.

Cloud of fire

The fire cloud (English Lieutenant's cloud) serves the sustainable solution of recurring problems in organizations, with which "fire extinguishing" (interventions / decisions by the management) is less necessary. A "fire" for which the fire cloud can be used is a situation in which an employee finds himself in a dilemma: He or she must now do something for the good of the organization, but is not allowed to. The cloud is used to analyze the specific problem situation and to find a sustainable solution that prevents the problem from recurring - by identifying outdated or optimizing necessary rules.

Three cloud method

The three-cloud method (“3-cloud-process” or “Core Conflict Cloud”, abbreviated to “CCC”) assumes that most of the problems in an organization have a common core cause. By combining three clouds for problems from different areas in one generic cloud, the core problem is to be identified and the organization's situation improved in the long term by solving it.

Origin of name

According to Scheinkopf (2002), the inventor Eliyahu M. Goldratt was inspired by Richard Bach when giving the name . In his 1977 book Illusions , the main characters use the power of thoughts to make storm clouds disappear from the sky.

If you really want to remove a cloud from your life, you do not make a big production out of it, you just relax and remove it from your thinking. That's all there is to it.

[The cloud is based on] that every problem is a conflict, and that every conflict arises because we create it ourselves by accepting at least one false assumption as correct. Hence, we should be able to resolve any conflict with the power of our thoughts simply by questioning the assumptions that caused the conflict to exist.

literature

Jelena Fedurko: Behind the cloud: Enhancing logical thinking. TOC Strategic Solutions Ltd, 2011, ISBN 9-949-91483-3 .
Eliyahu Goldratt: The Goal II. Campus, 2003, ISBN 3-593-37301-7 .
Lisa Scheinkopf: Thinking for a Change: Putting the TOC Thinking Processes to Work. CRC Press, 2002, ISBN 1-574-44101-9 .
H. William Dettmer: The Logical Thinking Process: A Systems Approach to Complex Problem Solving. ASQ Quality Press, 2007, ISBN 0-873-89723-4 .
Uwe Techt: Goldratt and the Theory of Constraints: The quantum leap in management. ibidem, 2015, ISBN 3-838-20696-7 .
Christoph Lenhartz et al .: Win-Win-Solutions: A workbook for the effective resolution of dilemma and conflict situations Editions La Colombe, 2001, ISBN 3-929-35133-1 .

Web links

http://www.tocforeducation.com Official website of TOC for Education, the non-profit organization for the promotion of education and personal development of children and young people using the TOC thinking tools

Individual evidence

↑ HW Dettmer: The conflict resolution diagram: Creating win-win solutions. Quality Progress, 32 (3): 41. 1999.
↑ ^a ^b Fedurko, Jelena. Behind the cloud: Enhancing logical thinking. TOC Strategic Solutions Ltd (2011)
↑ Victoria J. Mabin, Steve Forgeson and Lawrence Green. Harnessing resistance: using the theory of constraints to assist change management. Journal of European Industrial Training. 25/2/3/4 [2001] 168 ± 191
↑ Lenhartz, Christoph et al. Win-win solutions: A workbook for the effective resolution of dilemma and conflict situations. Editions La Colombe (2001): 84.
↑ Lenhartz, Christoph et al. Win-win solutions: A workbook for the effective resolution of dilemma and conflict situations. Editions La Colombe (2001): 3.
↑ Lenhartz, Christoph et al. Win-win solutions: A workbook for the effective resolution of dilemma and conflict situations. Editions La Colombe (2001): 9.
^ Cox, James F. Theory of Constraints Handbook. McGraw-Hill (2010): 755-760.
^ Bach, Richard, Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah. Dell Publishing, 1977.
^ Scheinkopf, Lisa J. Thinking for a change: Putting the TOC thinking processes to use. CRC Press, 2002.

[1] HW Dettmer: The conflict resolution diagram: Creating win-win solutions. Quality Progress, 32 (3): 41. 1999.

[fedurko2011-2] Fedurko, Jelena. Behind the cloud: Enhancing logical thinking. TOC Strategic Solutions Ltd (2011)

[mabin2001-3] Victoria J. Mabin, Steve Forgeson and Lawrence Green. Harnessing resistance: using the theory of constraints to assist change management. Journal of European Industrial Training. 25/2/3/4 [2001] 168 ± 191

[4] Lenhartz, Christoph et al. Win-win solutions: A workbook for the effective resolution of dilemma and conflict situations. Editions La Colombe (2001): 84.

[5] Lenhartz, Christoph et al. Win-win solutions: A workbook for the effective resolution of dilemma and conflict situations. Editions La Colombe (2001): 3.

[6] Lenhartz, Christoph et al. Win-win solutions: A workbook for the effective resolution of dilemma and conflict situations. Editions La Colombe (2001): 9.

[7] Cox, James F. Theory of Constraints Handbook. McGraw-Hill (2010): 755-760.

[8] Bach, Richard, Illusions: The Adventures of a Reluctant Messiah. Dell Publishing, 1977.

[9] Scheinkopf, Lisa J. Thinking for a change: Putting the TOC thinking processes to use. CRC Press, 2002.