Purpose -The purpose of this paper is to suggest that the theory of constraints (TOC) can serve as a general theory in operations management. The paper first investigate linkages between TOC and the core concepts/components of operations management (OM) and show how OM concepts can be integrated with TOC using examples from the published TOC literature. A second important purpose is to show that TOC, as a theory, has properties essential for a good theory. Design/methodology/approach -Using a commonly accepted categorization of operations decisions (process, quality, inventory and capacity), traditional views, and approaches to operations decisions to those inherent in the TOC are compared. Findings -The paper concludes that the TOC provides approaches to operations decisions that avoid pitfalls of local optimization by reaching across functional boundaries in organizations. In addition, while the TOC appears to meet the criteria of a good theory, it has not been empirically tested for the most part. Originality/value -The TOC can serve as a unifying theory or theme for operations management, providing new insights for researchers and an organizing principle for teachers.

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Purpose -This article has two purposes. The first is to synthesize the important current concepts, definitions, and styles of resolving and/or managing workplace conflicts. The second is to introduce a systematic approach to resolving workplace conflicts. Design/methodology/approach -Historical approaches to conflict management are briefly reviewed and Goldratt's evaporating cloud is introduced as a structured approach to achieving win-win solutions to workplace conflicts. A comprehensive case is used to demonstrate the application of the suggested approach. Findings -Goldratt's evaporating cloud provides a systematic approach to identifying the conflicting needs or interests of the parties to a conflict, and a process for making explicit the assumptions underlying the conflict and challenging their validity, leading to win-win solutions to workplace conflicts. The evaporating cloud incorporates well-accepted principles of achieving win-win solutions and complements existing approaches. Research limitations/implications -Although there is a growing community of users of the evaporating cloud, it is still a relatively new approach. Although anecdotal examples of applications of the cloud have been published in trade journals, web sites and conference proceedings, additional empirical research should be done to evaluate the usefulness of the cloud in resolving workplace conflicts once a critical mass of users exists. Practical implications -The evaporating cloud is a practical and intuitive tool that can be used by employees at all levels of an organization to understand and resolve conflicts. Originality/value -The paper identifies the shortcomings of existing conflict management approaches and shows how the evaporating cloud complements existing approaches. In addition, the applicability of the cloud to a wide range of workplace conflicts, from intra-personal to inter-organizational, is demonstrated.One of us (Kuzmits) recently attended a conflict resolution workshop held at a prestigious Northeastern university where seminar leaders were drawn from the "cream of the crop" of academic researchers in the fields of negotiation and conflict resolution. Contemporary conflict management theories and methods were presented and individual and team exercises and games were both fun and invigorating. But after the dust settled, the realization set in that what was learned was simply a smattering of neat academic models and several lists of "do's and don'ts" of negotiation and conflict resolution. What was not learned was actually how to resolve a conflict -how to engage in a dialogue that actually led individuals from conflict to an optimal resolution. Notably absent were useful methods for asking the right questions about a conflict, probing the right issues, and effectively examining each party's assumptions and beliefs. Thus, the primary purpose of this article is to provide a managerial tool The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available at