This post is an edited version of a message I sent to the Deming Electronic Network.

I find the “control charts in health care” thread quite interesting.

From Mike Woolbert’s post
> I have read many comments about the 8 minute ambulance trip.
> This doesn’t seem to be a system measure, but a result measure.

It seems to me the 8 minute (90% of the time) measure is an attempt at a process measure (in a sense, you can see it as a result measure, but it is also a measure that will have an impact on overall results and as such can be used a process indicator). For it to be a process measure rather than than a process target however, it should actual be a measure of what has happened not a statement that we want to have 90% arrive within 8 minutes.

Jonathan Siegel’s comments on this topic were excellent.

The control chart was developed to aid in process improvement. A control chart helps monitor the process (to aid in putting in place counter-measures, when needed, and for identification of special causes). The control chart can be used to see if the process is in control and what the expected results from the system are.
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Cool site: Baby name wizard - name popularity java application

Great example of a traffic generating tool/content use to help market a product. The aplication allows visitors to view the popularity of names over time. The site provides a useful and interesting service for free and in turn get the oportunity to sell their product (a book on baby names - The Baby Name Wizard).

This is a great example of what the internet can do well - providing something of value to visitors and serving as a marketing vehicle for the organization. And by providing something interesting the site gets free publicity (such as this post).

Topics: Economics, Privacy, Government

According to an article on CNN.com, “tens of thousands of U.S. consumers face a greater risk of identity theft after criminals gained access to a database of personal records compiled by ChoicePoint Inc.”

“In California, the only state that requires companies to disclose security breaches, ChoicePoint sent warning letters to 30,000 to 35,000 consumers advising them to check their credit reports.”

“Chris Hoofnagle, associate director with the Electronic Privacy Information Center… This is a prime example of how they don’t and why ChoicePoint should be subject to federal privacy regulations,” He is completely right.

More information is detailed in the letter sent by EPIC to the Federal Trade Commission on 1 Feb 2005: Request for investigation into data broker products for compliance with the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

It is a shame the government is failing to serve their role, as regulator, as necessary in a properly functioning capitalist economy. At least California has taken the minimal step of requiring the companies to notify consumers when the companies discover they have made their private information available improperly. The failure to regulate in areas with negative economic externalities causes great damage to the economy and the individuals of the society. Unfortunately the government seems uninterested in these responsibilities. For that reason citizens are subject to negative externalities that they should not have to suffer. If government leaders properly played their role as regulator.

I don’t like the idea that my private information is held by companies that continue to fail to properly protect that private information. Their right to maintain records of private information needs to be much more effectively regulated. And citizen’s should be given much more control over the flow of their private information. I wonder how much money the politicians get from those who trade in private information? I imagine, the money recieved might provide a compelling explanation for the failure to regulate properly to those who are sceptical of the pure intentions of our “representatives.”

Updated 17 Feb
Dan Gilmor has added a post on this topic - A Dossier on Your Life: Now Criminals May Have It. My comments on that post:

Unfortunately many in the United States of American have come to equate no regulations with capitalism. Government has a critical role to play in regulating the market in capitalist theory. However, many political leaders don’t understand the basic tenets of capitalism and fail to fulfil their vital role properly.

Europe is way ahead on protecting privacy rights for citizens

Topic: Management - Library Additions