Critical Chain

Brad Newbolt, the president of QEC, the company at which Richard’s student Charlie works, invites Richard to present at the YPO, the Young President’s Organization. QEC is implementing Richard’s methods through Charlie’s classwork, and Pullman, who is implementing the methods through Mark, Ruth, and Fred, is also a member of the YPO. Richard agrees and relays the information to B. J., who then arranges to go to the meeting. B. J. pressures Richard to emphasize the need for greater enrollment in the MBA program, noting that Richard should include suggestions about how much money companies can save by training their managers in these methods. Richard gives his presentation, forgetting to include B. J.’s suggestions, and the crowd is thrilled. Afterward, B. J. commands the group’s conversation toward supporting MBA programs, and she organizes a committee among the presidents to tailor the Executive MBA program to their specific needs. Richard walks with B. J. to her car, a Cadillac, and she expresses her approval of Richard’s methods and the improvements occurring in the business school.

Jim and Charlene attend Richard’s class, but he is not sure what he will teach. He wants to avoid the issue of shared resources, and Ruth asks about shifting the critical path following a delay.