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Build Your Own High-Performance Framework - Part 2 (remastered)

Wolfram Müller · 2025-05-25 · 13 min read
Theory of Constraints Critical Chain Project Management Drum Buffer Rope Flow Build Your Own High-Performance Framework - Part 2 (remastered)

Build Your Own High-Performance Framework - Part 2 (remastered)

May 25, 2025

How to combine the TOC building blocks into a perfect framework - tailored to your situation - Wolfram Müller // DolphinUniverse // CC-BY-SA 2025-05-24

Background - Our Why - The DolphinUniverse Mission

At DolphinUniverse, our mission is simple but powerful: to make the knowledge and practical tools of the Theory of Constraints (TOC), especially Critical Chain Project Management (CCPM), available to everyone. Whether you're leading a startup or managing a large enterprise, we want you to build a tailor-made, high-performance framework that works for your organization.

In this article, you'll discover how to construct your optimal framework—using proven, modular building blocks. Think of them as TOC-powered “Lego bricks” that snap together to form a scalable, effective operating model—whether for agile product development, project management, or continuous operations.

The TOC Lego Bricks: Modular, Scalable, Proven

We’ve identified six foundational TOC templates (A to F)—your Lego bricks—each one designed for a different type of work: either production-like (agile) systems or project-based environments. Every template comes in three sizes (small, medium, and large) to fit the complexity and scale of your operations. These are not random best practices—they are grounded in TOC paradigms and validated through real-world application.

Overview of the TOC templates used

If you don't know the blocks yet, click here for Build Your Own High-Performance Framework - Part 1A: The Theory of Constraints Lego Bricks (remastered), and for the project-specific ones, Build Your Own High-Performance Framework - Part 1B: The Theory of Constraints Lego Bricks (remastered).

If you are not familiar with the Theory of Constraints, you can explore the foundations in greater depth in our article “Theory of Constraints (TOC) in a Nutshell (remastered)”.

How It All Fits: From Building Blocks to Tailored Frameworks

Once you understand the individual building blocks, the magic happens when you combine them. By mixing and matching the bricks, you can create a complete, end-to-end framework that fits your organization's specific needs. These combinations are more than theory—they align with the three organizational levels and five systemic functions defined in the Viable System Model (VSM).

Choose Your Fit: Three Framework Examples

All you have to do is look at your work system and determine which complexity you see (portfolio, coordination, or team) and what kind of work you do (project or production/agile). Then you can take the corresponding building blocks - finished!

To make your journey even easier, we’ve included three common combinations in this article—complete example frameworks that span from lean operations to agile innovation. These serve as a starting point, or inspiration, for building your own.

Join the Conversation—and Start Building

This article is your toolkit. But if you want to dig deeper into how the layers connect, we recommend reading “Why SAFe®, Flight Levels®, and Theory of Constraints Show Three Layers - And What It Means for Your Success”. It explains how your organization can be viewed—and optimized—through the TOC lens.

We also invite you to join our growing community. There you'll find experts you can ask whether you've chosen the most suitable combination.

Ready to Play Lego?

Now it's your turn. Start experimenting. Combine your own set of TOC building blocks and design a high-performance, agile, and scalable framework that truly fits your team and mission.

Let’s get building!

But first we need one additional small building block 🧱 ...

Simplified Project Management [g]

Let’s call this one the “black sheep” of the bricks—not because it doesn’t work, but because it’s not strictly TOC. Instead, this is a practical, lightweight approach to classic project management, layered over whatever value stream can deliver on time.

Used the right way, it becomes a powerful coordination tool for organizations running multiple value streams with project-like characteristics.

The idea is simple: if you are able to cut an epic, release, delivery, or project into small parts (see (2) and (3) in the graphic below), then you can put them into different queues (1) and use simple math to determine your due date:

A very simplified project execution control on top of an sDBR - very simple but nerdy

If you want, you can even put a Critical Chain-like fever curve on top (4). You just have to take your due date (which should include some buffer). The progress is simply the time spent. That's it.

And here's the best part: if the latest due date out of a queue is too late, you can see what's ahead in the queue, allowing for smart prioritization and better conversations about what really matters next. 👀

Works for Simple and Complex Projects

This method is intentionally lightweight—perfect for managing simpler initiatives with minimal overhead. But it also scales:

Not a Replacement—An Evolution

This Lego brick isn't here to replace frameworks like SAFe® or Flight Levels®—it complements and evolves them. Think of it as a bridge between operational flow (at the team level) and tactical project control (at the coordination level). It helps you streamline project visibility without adding complexity.

But now to the real TOC frameworks ...

[Bg] – sDBR Value Streams [B] with Simplified Project Control [g]

If you’ve been searching for a lean, flow-driven alternative to SAFe®, this might be the breakthrough you've been waiting for. The [Bg] Framework is a powerful combination of TOC building blocks—Simplified Drum-Buffer-Rope (sDBR) [B] at the team level, and lightweight project management [g] at the coordination layer.

The result? A practical, scalable system that maximizes flow across value streams, integrates effortlessly with agile delivery, and avoids the overhead of traditional scaling frameworks.

The Concept: Value Streams as Pipelines, Not Cadences

At its core, this framework reimagines product and feature delivery as a continuous pipeline—not as time-boxed sprints or rigid cadences. Every team operates like a flow system, where work items are pulled and scheduled first-in, first-out (FIFO) based on capacity and complexity. That is the sweet spot for an sDBR [B].

Using the sDBR heuristic, each work item receives clear start and due dates, automatically reflecting team velocity and pipeline load.

When delivery targets don’t match the requested delivery date, simplified project management [g] facilitates quick adjustments—reordering work to manage dependencies and strategic priorities without the need for heavyweight planning cycles.

If you need to, you can even add the TameFlow boards [C]. These ensure perfect flow at the level of the individual team member. This is possible for all the following frameworks, so we don't make it an extra letter - but if you want, you can call this one [BgC]!

What Sets It Apart from SAFe®?

Unlike SAFe®, which relies heavily on fixed cadences and layered ceremonies, the [Bg] framework:

Over time, this approach can eliminate the need for artificial cadences altogether, replacing them with natural, continuous flow that's easier to coordinate and much more efficient to run.

Not Just a Theory—Proven in Practice

This isn’t conceptual—it’s been implemented at scale. One of our clients, with 4,500 developers across 120 value streams, used this framework to increase flow by a factor of 2.6. That’s not an iteration—it’s a transformation.

Summary: A Scalable, Agile Operating System for Value Delivery

Framework [Bg] offers a smarter, simpler alternative to SAFe®—designed for organizations that value speed, visibility, and control without the bureaucratic weight. It's ideal for product-led, flow-based environments where time-to-value matters and coordination must scale cleanly.

Flow. Focus. Flexibility. That’s the promise - but there is more ...

[BxF] – Full-Scale Agile Framework for Products and Projects

It may be over a decade old, but Framework [BxF] is more relevant than ever. Originally introduced at TOCICO 2013 alongside the book Tame the Flow (co-authored by Steve Tendon and Wolfram Müller), this framework has since been implemented in many major organizations—delivering proven gains ➡️ Throughput doubled or more ➡️ Lead times reduced by 50–70%

It is called BxF because it includes more or less all the bricks from B to F.

Today, as organizations rediscover the value of real projects alongside agile product work, [BxF] is gaining renewed momentum. It offers the only framework fully equipped to handle both—product delivery and project execution—within a single, integrated system.

A full-scale product and project framework based on TOC

What Makes [BxF] Different?

This isn’t just another agile-at-scale model. It’s a comprehensive operating system for high-performance delivery across all types of knowledge work—rooted entirely in the Theory of Constraints (TOC), but fully compatible with modern agile methods.

Here’s what sets it apart:

🎯 1. Three Systemic Layers: Portfolio, Project, Team

[BxF] brings a clear, structured model built on three interconnected layers:

Each layer inherits clear priorities from the one above, ensuring alignment from long-term goals to daily actions. Teams stay focused on the right work—and blockers and subtasks are surfaced and resolved with precision.

⏰ 2. Deadline and Dependency Mastery

Deadlines matter—whether in product releases or project milestones. [BxF] gives you full control:

No guesswork. No artificial urgency. Just flow backed by data.

📊 3. Strategic Portfolio Management with Throughput Accounting

At the top, [BxF] introduces Constraint Management and even Throughput Accounting—a TOC-based approach to prioritizing what truly drives value.

This enables leaders to:

The result? Smarter bets, fewer delays, and higher ROI across the portfolio.

🔄 4. Continuous Improvement at Every Layer

[BxF] embeds continuous improvement into its core—not as a side ritual, but as a fundamental operating principle. Every time a task is expedited (a “red” signal), the cause is tracked and analyzed. This drives:

Improvement isn't a project. It's a daily habit, built into the framework itself.

One Framework, All Work

[BxF] isn’t “one size fits all”—but it fits everything. Whether your organization is:

…this framework adapts. Depending on your delivery mix, different elements take the lead—but everything connects through a single logic of flow, priority, and continuous improvement.

It's not a silver bullet - it's a bullet that takes whatever form and material it needs to deliver optimal value.

Summary: Proven, Scalable, Built for the Real World

If you’re looking for a battle-tested framework that can scale across product lines, project portfolios, and delivery teams—without adding unnecessary overhead—TOC Framework [BxF] is the blueprint you've been searching for.

It’s not a theoretical model. It’s proven, adaptable, and already in the field.

Ready to master both product and project work with one powerful system? [BxF] is your full-stack agile engine.

[B²] – Essential Flow: The Perfect Starting Point

If you’re new to TOC or looking for a lightweight way to boost delivery reliability without overhauling your entire system, Framework [B²] – Essential Flow is your go-to starting model.

Instead of chasing down bottlenecks or building complex project plans, this approach invites you to focus where it really matters—on the phase that needs your best people and the most collaboration.

We call it B² because at its core it's a Simplified Drum-Buffer-Rope, but for projects rather than production. So it has to be more than just B - hence B²!

The Core Idea: Focus on the Critical Phase

[B²] simplifies project planning by dividing each initiative into three logical phases:

1️⃣ Pre-Critical Phase – preparation, early work, setup

2️⃣ Critical Phase – the heart of the project, requiring top talent and focused effort - the constraint

3️⃣ Post-Critical Phase – finishing, integration, wrap-up

The Critical Phase becomes your virtual constraint—not necessarily the slowest part, but the most important. This is where coordination, flow, and performance matter most.

All you need to start is a realistic duration estimate for each of these three blocks. This enables basic staggering and sequencing across projects, ensuring that your most valuable resources (usually needed in the critical phase) aren't overbooked.

Smart Scheduling Without the Complexity

The secret sauce? Instead of estimating every task in detail, you determine how many critical-phase projects your organization can support concurrently. That’s your capacity.

By deliberately staggering start times around that capacity, you gain:

As your organization improves, you can gradually increase critical-phase capacity—delivering faster without sacrificing quality.

Simple Execution, Optional Depth

Execution is just as lightweight:

It’s intuitive, low-maintenance, and doesn’t require complex tooling. But if you want to go deeper, it integrates smoothly with more advanced TOC elements like CCPM - so if you start with Essential Flow [B²], you can easily switch gradually to CCPM [D and E].

A Culture of Focused Collaboration

More than a method, [B²] promotes a mindset: 🧠 Focus team energy where it matters most 🤝 Foster collaboration during the critical phase 🌬️ Adjust to reality—not to rigid plans

This framework helps teams move from “where’s the bottleneck?” to “how can we deliver smarter with what we’ve got?”

Summary: Fast to Learn, Powerful in Practice

[B²] is the ideal starting point for teams or organizations that want to experience the benefits of TOC thinking—without diving into full Critical Chain or portfolio-level coordination from day one.

Use it to:

Start small. Focus smart. Grow fast. That’s the power of Essential Flow.

Epilogue

So these were just three possible combinations of TOC bricks ... and for sure, there are more!

If you have the feeling that your situation is special - don't hesitate to get in contact with us. Together we will find the optimal TOC brick combination.