Possibilities of using graphical and numerical tools in the exposition of process capability assessment techniques

Purpose: The paper focuses on how the problem of process capability assessment can be handled when taught, using convenient numerical and graphical means. The contents of the paper results from the authors' own academic and practical experience, which suggested that many important steps are overlooked in the process of selecting and using capability indices. Methodology/Approach: Selected problems in capability assessment are illustrated with suitable examples and graphs. Findings: The authors' experience is reflected in the paper, aiming to emphasize what matters and how, and what does not. Also, a new capability index is introduced. Research Limitation/implication: The style in which the problems are analysed may serve as a guide for further studies in the field and capability index applications. Originality/Value of paper: The paper also contains, aside from specific examples, some more advanced techniques, and is therefore accompanied by software readouts, since computer support is required in such cases. Category: Conceptual paperWeb of Science232331

Process capability and data contamination

DOI nefunkční (4.5.2018)Purpose: The paper centres on process capability and its relation to data contamination. Process capability may be distorted due to imprecise data. The paper analyses to what extent capability changes reflect problems in data so that the changes can be attributed to data sampling rather than the true performance of the process. This is important because it is usually much simpler to increase the precision of data sampling than the process itself. Methodology/Approach: The paper has two major parts. In part one, effect of data contamination on the observed process characteristic is analysed. The effect is analysed using data obtained from simulated random drawings and the chi-squared test. In the other part, reaction of capability to data contamination is observed. The capability is measured by a univariate capability index. Findings: Regarding the sensitivity of the index to contamination, it is different depending on the capability before the contamination. This leads to conclusions about when the company using the index should focus more on the way the data is measured, and when it should focus more on improving the process in question. The analysis shows that if the company is used to high levels of capability and records its drop, it is worth analysing its measurement system first, as the index is at higher levels more sensitive to data contamination. Research Limitation/implication: The study concerns a single univariate index, and the contamination is modelled with only several probability distributions. Originality/Value of paper: The findings are not difficult to detect, but are not known in practice where companies do not realize that problems with their process capability may sometimes lie in the data they use and not in the process itself.Web of Science213615

Capability in the digital: institutional media management and its dis/contents

This paper explores how social media spaces are occupied, utilized and negotiated by the British Military in relation to the Ministry of Defence’s concerns and conceptualizations of risk. It draws on data from the DUN Project to investigate the content and form of social media about defence through the lens of ‘capability’, a term that captures and describes the meaning behind multiple representations of the military institution. But ‘capability’ is also a term that we hijack and extend here, not only in relation to the dominant presence of ‘capability’ as a representational trope and the extent to which it is revealing of a particular management of social media spaces, but also in relation to what our research reveals for the wider digital media landscape and ‘capable’ digital methods. What emerges from our analysis is the existence of powerful, successful and critically long-standing media and reputation management strategies occurring within the techno-economic online structures where the exercising of ‘control’ over the individual – as opposed to the technology – is highly effective. These findings raise critical questions regarding the extent to which ‘control’ and management of social media – both within and beyond the defence sector – may be determined as much by cultural, social, institutional and political influence and infrastructure as the technological economies. At a key moment in social media analysis, then, when attention is turning to the affordances, criticisms and possibilities of data, our research is a pertinent reminder that we should not forget the active management of content that is being similarly, if not equally, effective

Perspective

Why do metropolitan areas need to ensure that their universities, corporations, and independent laboratories conduct abundant, top-flight research and development? Why would Southern Nevada do well to build up its research capability, particularly in the sciences and engineering? The answer has to do with what has increasingly emerged as an unavoidable syllogism of economic competitiveness. To put it simply: Prosperity depends on productivity; productivity depends heavily on innovation, and innovation depends heavily on research and development. The bottom line: A region thin on R&D is not likely to be innovative, and if it is not innovative, it will probably not flourish

Capability and Happiness: Conceptual difference and reality links

Abstract Happiness is not the same as capability, but the matters are related. Capability is obviously required for living a happy life and happiness feeds back on capability in several ways. Capabilities affect happiness not only at the individual level, but also indirectly at the societal level. For instance: school education does not seem to make pupils any happier, but a high level of education is required for modern society that does add to happiness. Insight in the interrelations between capability and happiness is required for making policy choices. If the prime aim is greater happiness for a greater number, one must know what capabilities are most functional for happiness in the given conditions. If the cultivation of capabilities is prioritized, one must at least acknowledge the possible loss of happiness. Inspection of the available data does not reveal much conflic

Financial Capability in the United States: Consumer Decision-Making and the Role of Social Security

This paper analyzes new data from the 2009 National Financial Capability Study. This survey provides information to assess how American households make financial decisions, how they are faring under current economic conditions, and in what ways financial knowledge contributes to financial capability. In addition, it includes data about the information that the Social Security Administration (SSA) provides to consumers. The paper finds that the majority of individuals do not plan for retirement or make provisions against shocks. Debt management often results in sizable interest payments and fees and it is notable how many individuals have used high-cost methods of borrowing in the past five years. Levels of financial knowledge are strikingly low and many respondents do not possess knowledge of basic concepts. Social Security has taken steps to provide information about what individuals will expect to receive when they retire. The self-reported evidence provided in the survey shows that the information has been used by about a quarter of the population who acknowledge receiving the statement. Moreover, there are large differences among use in demographic groups and some of the more vulnerable populations, such as African-Americans, those hit by shocks, and single and separated individuals are more likely to use the statement.

The Varieties of Resource Experience: How Natural Resource Export Structures Affect the Political Economy of Economic Growth

Many oil, mineral, and plantation crop-based economies experienced a substantial deceleration of growth since the commodity boom and bust of the 1970s and early 1980s. Rodrik (1999) has demonstrated that the magnitude of a country's growth deceleration since the 1970s is a function of both the magnitude of the shocks and a country's "social capability" for adapting to shocks. In this paper, we demonstrate that in this respect countries, with what we term "point source" natural resource exports are doubly disadvantaged. Not only are countries with these types of exports exposed to terms of trade shocks, but the institutional capability for responding to shocks is itself endogenous and negatively related to export composition. Using two different sources of export data and classifications of export composition, we show that point source and coffee/cocoa exporting countries do worse across an array of governance indicators (controlling for a wide array of other potential determinants of governance). This is not just a function of being a "natural resource" exporter, as countries with natural resource exports that are "diffuse" do not show the same strong differences-and have had more robust growth recoveries.economic growth, institutions, natural resource endowment

The Varieties of Resource Experience: How Natural Resource Export Structures Affect the Political Economy of Economic Growth

Many oil, mineral, and plantation crop-based economies experienced a substantial deceleration of growth since the commodity boom and bust of the 1970s and early 1980s. Rodrik (1999) has demonstrated that the magnitude of a country’s growth deceleration since the 1970s is a function of both the magnitude of the shocks and a country’s “social capability” for adapting to shocks. In this paper, we demonstrate that in this respect countries, with what we term “point source” natural resource exports are doubly disadvantaged. Not only are countries with these types of exports exposed to terms of trade shocks, but the institutional capability for responding to shocks is itself endogenous and negatively related to export composition. Using two different sources of export data and classifications of export composition, we show that point source and coffee/cocoa exporting countries do worse across an array of governance indicators (controlling for a wide array of other potential determinants of governance). This is not just a function of being a “natural resource” exporter, as countries with natural resource exports that are “diffuse” do not show the same strong differences—and have had more robust growth recoveries.economic growth, institutions, natural resource endowment

Deployment of Analytics into the Healthcare Safety Net: Lessons Learned & Unlearned

In October of 2013, I made a proposal to the RCHN Community Health Foundation to start a project that would deploy a contemporary analytic software capability into community health centers that volunteered for the project & to work with their IT & executive staffs so that the capability could be productively used as part of how the health center made strategic decisions . I wrote at the time: “Everyone agrees that “analytics” are/will be important for community health centers as they evolve to new organizational (participants HIEs, ACOs, HCCNs etc.) & sustainability (service providers, data providers) models. What this means & how to do it are hotly discussed topics, however, with no apparent tactic or strategy that seems feasible. There is no big bang in this effort. This capability will not spring forth complete & productive if health centers make the correct invocation or even spend a large amount of money. This memo specifies a program that would pilot an actual path for health centers (& other healthcare organizations with limited resources) to follow to begin to productively use analytics & to evolve a more & more effective capability in this area.” I also wrote that: “Complex analytics, multi-layered analytics and highly designed data warehouses are not necessary, and moreover, not appropriate if the questions that are asked aren’t relevant or don’t require them and the underlying data isn’t complete and reliable." That was just over two years ago. What happened with the project & what is going on with it now? What lessons have been learned? What lessons did we already know but needed to have reinforced by painful experience? Here is a project update