go to understand what has to be done to make the plant profitable. His knowledge will lead to nothing unless he can communicate this knowledge to his staff, and to the work force on the shop floor.
Moreover, as the authors have constructed the book, the necessary insights do not appear out of nowhere in Alex Rogo's head. They originate with his college friend Jonah, who becomes his mentor in re-thinking the operations of the plant. But Jonah does not act simply as the authors' mouthpiece, laying out Goldratt's views in expository fashion. Instead, Jonah proceeds in a rather Socratic manner, asking leading questions of Alex, or making rather cryptic statements to him, the full implications of which Alex must puzzle out. Alex's communications skills, therefore, are tested at the listening end as well as at the speaking end. Thus, the book as a whole is almost more about communication in business than it is about production management.
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