Apply for the Dale T. Houle 2008 Educational Scholarship

In recognition of Dale T. Houle's service as Managing Partner of the Avraham Y. Goldratt Institute from 1997-2006, the Partners of AGI established an educational scholarship in his name to be awarded annually, enabling recipient(s) to attend their choice of an AGI Open Course (Jonah Program^®, Supply Chain or Project Management Technical Expert Training Programs). The programs are normally two one-week sessions scheduled throughout the year.

On March 31, 2006, Dale T. Houle completed his third (maximum) term as Managing Partner of the Avraham Y. Goldratt Institute, LLP. When Eli Goldratt announced in 1996 his intention to retire in March of 1997, the partners of AGI turned to Dale to lead AGI into the 21st century. Dale ably filled that role as he led the Institute from an educational institute to an organization that is able to lead large-scale organizations to fully deploy the TOC Enterprise Architecture, while still excelling in the Institute’s educational roots.

• Successful applicant(s) will submit a one-page essay detailing why they want to attend the applicable program. Included in the essay will be the specifics on how the applicant intends to use his or her education, and why the scholarship is needed.
• The Scholarship Selection Committee will review all applications and has the full authority to determine scholarship awardee(s).
• The scholarship covers only the program fee. All other costs (travel, housing, food, etc.) shall be borne by the awardee(s) or their organization.
• The applicant agrees, if he or she is awarded a scholarship, to update the Goldratt Institute annually for two years on how they have applied the education received.
• Applications are to be submitted not later than March 24 th, 2008 either by email to Jeff Jackson at jeff.jackson@goldratt.com, or in writing to AGI, 442 Orange St, New Haven, CT 06511. If an applicant has not received confirmation by March 26th that their application has been received, they should contact AGI at +1 (203) 624-9026. The 2008 scholarship winner(s) will be announced at Velocity World ^SM- The Conference on TOC, Lean & Six Sigma, April 15-17, 2008 at Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, CT.

The Dale T. Houle 2007 Educational Scholarship

The Avraham Y. Goldratt Institute is proud to announce the selection of two 2007 scholars, Teresa McBride and Steven Holcomb. Both winners intend to apply their scholarship to attend the Jonah Program^® intent on gaining a deeper understanding and mastery of the Theory of Constraints (TOC) Thinking Processes (TP).

In her application, Teresa noted, “...I have found myself frustrated with the lack of effective, lasting, change most of these [improvement] efforts produced. Over the past five years I have been intensively involved with the application of Lean and Six Sigma tools in the aviation maintenance, repair, and overhaul industry and though I have seen these methodologies used to great benefit, once again I always felt there was something missing.” She summarized her motivation for the scholarship in saying, “My passion for TOC is rooted in the fact that I believe I have found in it the explanation for my past frustrations with continuous improvement efforts, and with that a vaccine of sorts, to prevent repeating the similar pattern of frustration in the future.”

Steven Holcomb also applied to attend the Jonah Program^® and “continue spreading Theory of Constraints knowledge” in his company. Through a better understanding of the TOC TP, he anticipates the benefits of shifting strategic and action planning methods from a “brainstorming” based model to a “constraints” based model; further enhancing shop floor manufacturing execution using TOC Drum-Buffer-Rope (DBR) for improved velocity, synchronization, capacity and visibility; and shifting production planning away from critical path methods to TOC Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM). Through his previous experience with attempts to implement DBR and CCPM, he recognized that “TOC TP is foundational for identifying and overcoming obstacles to major change.”

We salute the 2007 scholarship winners and look forward to hearing more stories of their success.