Daily News Archive

Please note that The Daily News is publishing (hopefully) twice a week for the foreseeable future due to time constraints.

Monday, January 1st

"All successful people have a goal. No one can get anywhere unless he knows where he wants to go." -- Norman Vincent Peale  

 

The Picks of the Day

Review of the year: Global warming

“You may think it's time to turn the page and read something else. But you'd be wrong. 2006 will be remembered by climatologists as the year in which the potential scale of global warming came into focus. And the problem can be summarised in one word: feedback.”

http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article2110651.ece

[This is a very interesting article – definitely a must read!!]

 

What Money Can't Buy

“Research & development (R&D) has long been a thorny issue for CFOs, who are frequently tasked with controlling costs and delivering growth at the same time. Booz Allen Hamilton's second annual global innovation study may comfort CFOs who face resistance to cost cutting on the grounds that such trimming will jeopardize future growth.”

http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/8469755/c_8476974?f=alerts

 

More Details Around Pantex Safety Allegations

The following are additional articles covering alleged safety violations/concerns at the Pantex nuclear weapons facility.

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-pantex13dec13,0,7417424.story?coll=la-home-nation

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/nation/12/21/21pantex.html

Pantex rebuts allegations

http://www.ajc.com/news/content/shared/news/stories/2006/12/PANTEX22_COX_W7470.html

 

IT Process Improvement / Quality Management

The Sentinel Newsletter

“The Sentinel newsletter is now edited for IT Governance Ltd by Dan Swanson, President and CEO, Dan Swanson & Associates (www.securitybenchmark.com) and Dan will be providing leading edge resources each month to support your IT governance efforts.”

http://www.itgovernance.co.uk/news_detail.aspx?news_id=59

 

Goldratt's "Theory of Constraints" Thinking Processes:  A Systems Methodology linking Soft with Hard

“This paper briefly outlines the TOC methodology, and discusses the similarities and differences between TOC and other systems methods, particularly the Rational Model of decision-making.

http://www.systemdynamics.org/conferences/1999/PAPERS/PARA104.PDF

 

Toward Integrating Theory of Constraints and Deming into the HCA Curriculum

This is a PDF copy of slides about why Deming and Goldratt matter to healthcare educators

http://www.aupha.org/files/public/TowardIntegratingTheory.pdf

 

Compliance Online Webinar:  Mitigating Risks around basic Data Backup and Restoration

“Many organizations, both large and small, rely on their information technology systems to the extent that their loss can be devastating. To alleviate risks, many have invested in data backup systems in the hope that by simply performing backups their data is safe. Unfortunately, as many groups have painfully learned, the truth can be that they have little to no protection at all due to an inability to recover as planned. The purpose of this executive briefing is to set forth strategies for mitigating the risks surround the backup and restoration of data.”

http://www.complianceonline.com/ecommerce/control/trainingFocus?product_id=700181&category_id=30010

[There is a $249 fee for attending this session, which will be offered live on January 15^th at 2pm Eastern and then on-demand afterwards.]

 

Legal and Regulatory Compliance

Lifting the Lid: Sarbanes-Oxley easing may not cut costs for all

“Plans by U.S. regulators to scale back some of the contentious Sarbanes-Oxley accounting rules could mean cost savings for small companies but chances are the largest companies will still have to pay big audit fees, accountants say.”

http://today.reuters.com/news/articleinvesting.aspx?view=CN&storyID=2006-12-29T185548Z_01_N29184949_RTRIDST_0_COLUMN-LIFTING-SCHEDULED-WEEKLY-COLUMN.XML&rpc=66&type=qcna

 

New rules to compel accurate accounting by firms

“… with ‘J-SOX’ -- the Japanese take on the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act -- scheduled to take effect in fiscal 2008, authorities hope firms will have more incentive to clean up their financial reporting.  While investors will welcome more credible financial statements, companies are worried about the time and cost of complying with the new regime.  The new rules will oblige some 3,800 listed companies to strengthen internal financial controls and certify the accuracy of their financial statements.”

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/nb20061229a1.html

[Japanese firms looking for IT control guidance can contact george.spafford@pepperweed.com.]

 

Security and Risk Management

Best of 2006: Risks and Benefits

This page links to a number of CFO magazine’s risk related articles from 2006

http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/8446924?f=alerts

 

NIST SP800-53: Recommended Security Controls for Federal Information Systems

This document is intended to identify a starting point for IT security.

http://csrc.nist.gov/publications/nistpubs/800-53-Rev1/800-53-rev1-final-clean-sz.pdf

 

Whitepaper:  Managing Enterprise Risk in Today’s World of Sophisticated Threats

“In order to effectively compete in a fast-paced, highly complex, global economy, organizations are employing new, more powerful information technologies at an unprecedented rate, and in most instances, either ignoring or not fully understanding the increased exposure of their enterprise operations and assets due to the aggressive use of that technology.”

http://csrc.nist.gov/sec-cert/rmf-sz.pdf

 

Computer on a Stick

“What do Fidelity Investments, Boeing, Ameriprise Financial, the YMCA, and US Department of Transportation all have in common?  Those are just a few of the organizations that suffered serious breaches of customer data or other confidential information when a company laptop was stolen or lost in the past year. And in several cases, the repercussions were serious, with regulators and the news media descending coming down heavily on those companies.”

http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/8478265?f=alerts

 

Staying in business after a disaster hits

“ReadyOC, an organization that helps prepare businesses in Orange County, Calif., for emergencies, suggests a plan to survive a natural or manmade disaster -- and their tips are applicable to business owners everywhere.”

http://www.boston.com/business/personalfinance/articles/2006/12/31/staying_in_business_after_a_disaster_hits/

 

Healthcare / Bio-Informatics / Care Delivery Organizations (CDOs)

This will be a new section going forward.  It reflects my personal research and Pepperweed’s specialized services for supporting care delivery organizations in the attainment of their goals.

 

Better Medicine Through Technology

“University of Pittsburgh Medical Center CIO Dan Drawbaugh is writing the prescription for health care transformation.”

http://www.informationweek.com/news/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=R1U5OQQOVYHQIQSNDLPSKHSCJUNN2JVN?articleID=196600953&pgno=1&queryText=

 

Problems abound for Kaiser e-health records management system

“An electronic health records management system being rolled out by Kaiser Foundation Health Plan/Hospitals has been nothing short of an IT project gone awry, according to sources at the company and an internal report detailing problems with the HealthConnect system.”

http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=9005004&intsrc=hm_list

 

Health Hazard: Computers Spilling Your History

“Bills to speed the adoption of information technology by hospitals and doctors have passed both chambers of Congress.  But the legislation has bogged down, largely because of differences over how to balance the health care industry’s interest in efficiently collecting, studying and using data with privacy concerns for tens of millions of ordinary Americans — not just celebrities and victims of crime.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/03/business/yourmoney/03health.html?ei=5070&en=7227e166557cc773&ex=1167368400&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1167227682-HhyR9QOV32XQOTOgzJzOCw

 

Doctors Forced to Admit Mistakes

“Indiana's error reporting system is one of the first in the nation. The Department of Health approved permanent regulations this year that require hospitals to report 27 types of mistakes. And the first of these mandatory reports is due out in February.”

http://www.abc25.com/Global/story.asp?S=5860050&nav=Fadr

 

Human Error / Safety / Environment

The vaccine to prevent every strain of flu

“British scientists are on the verge of producing a revolutionary flu vaccine that works against all major types of the disease.  Described as the 'holy grail' of flu vaccines, it would protect against all strains of influenza A - the virus behind both bird flu and the nastiest outbreaks of winter flu.”

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/health/healthmain.html?in_article_id=425227&in_page_id=1774

 

Safety Experts Ill-equipped To Handle Nanotechnology In Workplace

“A strategic plan and more resources for risk research are needed now in order to ensure safe nano-workplaces today and in the future. That is the conclusion of Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies Chief Science Advisor Andrew Maynard in a new article, "Nanotechnology and Safety" just released by Cleanroom Technology magazine.”

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/12/061228131311.htm

 

This issue of the Daily News has a number of pieces on global warming.  I will not mince words and state that I believe that global warming is real and that action is needed.  I would far rather be proven wrong than to not raise the concern out of fear of being proven wrong.  All too often people speak in hushed tones and don’t act.  This is one of those times in history where action is mandatory.

 

Feeling the Heat

“Global warming is so hot that Corporate America is seeing green.  About 75 percent of respondents to an October 2006 survey by The Conference Board are measuring their carbon footprint, or the amount of direct and indirect carbon their operations emit. Half of the companies — 90 percent of which had revenues of $1 billion or more — have implemented programs to reduce or offset greenhouse gases, according to the final report, ‘Carbon Footprint: A Growing Management Concern.’”

http://www.cfo.com/article.cfm/8372025/c_8476974?f=alerts

 

Finding a middle ground in the debate on climate change

“They agree that accumulating carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping smokestack and tailpipe gases probably pose a momentous environmental challenge, but say the appropriate response is more akin to buying fire insurance and installing sprinklers and new wiring in an old, irreplaceable house (the home planet) than to fighting a fire already raging.”

http://www.iht.com/articles/2007/01/01/news/climate.php

 

Scientists dig below sea floor for clues into global warming

“Scientists in Antarctica spent Christmas Day finishing work that may show the effects of global warming - drilling for clues about how massive ice sheets responded to past temperature changes. The project will be vital to creating a map of how the Earth may react to higher temperatures, scientists say.”

http://www.katu.com/news/tech/5035231.html

 

U.K. Study Raises Global Warming Fears

“The U.K.'s Stern Review was the latest in a line of alarming studies that have attracted public attention to global warming. While it was successful in raising the public's awareness of the problem, the policy effect is less certain.”

http://www.forbes.com/business/2006/12/28/climate-global-economy-business-cx-1229oxford.html?partner=rss

 

China Fears Disasters, Grain Cut from Global Warming

“Global warming threatens to intensify natural disasters and water shortages across China, driving down the country's food output, the Chinese government has warned, even as its seeks to tame energy consumption.”

http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=11931&ref=rss

 

Global warming may change Amazon: researchers

“Global warming could spell the end of the world's largest remaining tropical rain forest, transforming the Amazon into a grassy savanna before end of the century, researchers said Friday.  Jose Antonio Marengo, a meteorologist with Brazil's National Space Research Institute, said that global warming, if left unchecked, will reduce rainfall and raise temperatures substantially in the ecologically rich region.”

http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20061230/amazon_warming_061230/20061230

 

Bush embraces the endangered polar bear - and accepts the dangers of global warming

“In a landmark decision, the Bush administration has concluded that global warming is endangering the existence of the polar bear - an admission that could force the US government to act to curb the emission of greenhouse gases.”

http://news.independent.co.uk/environment/article2108212.ece

http://www.whittierdailynews.com/opinions/ci_4930111

 

Outsourcing / Globalization / International

The Chinese Discover Central Europe

“Competition from the mainland has devastated the region's low tech, low-margin industries such as textiles and shoemaking. But like Changhong, growing numbers of companies are starting to manufacture in Central Europe as an alternative to production in China. While Japanese electronics manufacturers have been making their goods in the region for a decade or more, their counterparts based in China and Taiwan now are both opening new plants and expanding older ones there to get closer to Europe's wealthy consumers.”

http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/29122006/244/chinese-discover-central-europe.html

 

Ericsson Studies China Impact

“Ericsson (NASDAQ:ERIC) and the Stockholm School of Economics have agreed to create a program aiming to generate in-depth knowledge of Chinese business and economics and China's impact on global trade patterns. The program will create a base for a unique competence center in Stockholm, Sweden.”

http://www.unstrung.com/document.asp?doc_id=113492&WT.svl=wire1_3

 

China's Chery to build small cars for Chrysler to sell worldwide

“DaimlerChrysler's (DCX) Chrysler Group and China's Chery Automobile have agreed on a plan for the Chinese manufacturer to build small cars to be sold worldwide.  The letter of intent is subject to approval of Chrysler's supervisory board, which meets next month, said Chrysler spokesman Jason Vines.”

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2006-12-29-chrysler-chery_x.htm?csp=34

[Using the strategies of Volkswagen and then the Japanese as models, we can fully expect the Chinese to enter the market with low cost models and successively work their way upwards in terms of model complexity, price and consumer perceptions.  The one caveat for the Chinese is that they must address their quality management problems, which is a task I have no doubt they can do.]

 

India Inc sees party well into New Year

“Corporate India expecting better growth in 2007.  Notwithstanding the recent hardening of interest rates and the impending slowdown in the US, India Inc expects to better its performance in 2007, a poll of 50 top chief executives carried out by Business Standard has revealed.”

http://www.business-standard.com/common/storypage_c.php?leftnm=10&bKeyFlag=BO&autono=269801&chkFlg=

 

India poised for pharmaceutical boom

“Now as never before, Indian pharmaceutical companies are looking to expand business in rich countries, which, critics say, will come at the expense of the world's poor. The intent is to follow the footsteps of India's information-technology (IT) sector, which parlayed lower costs and improved innovation into India's greatest modern success story.”

http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0102/p06s01-wosc.html

 

Economics / Business / Misc.

Compressing Time & Distance

“A lot has been said lately of the ‘flat earth’ and how technology has brought groups together in unparalleled ways. Part of this has been achieved by leveraging information about location through the use of the Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system. Through the use GPS technologies organizations, and even individuals, can track the positions of items of interest. One questions that inevitably arises is “what is GPS anyways” and that is what we will explore in this article.”

http://www.spaffordconsulting.com/Compressing%20Time%20and%20Distance.html

 

Attention Tokyo shoppers: This add was brought to you via RFID

“Stores in central Tokyo are set to beam news of special offers, menus and coupons to passers-by in a trial run of a radio-tagging system.  The Tokyo Ubiquitous Network Project, which launches in the glitzy Ginza district next month, sends shoppers information from nearby shops via a network of radio-frequency identification tags, infrared and wireless transmitters, according to the project's Web site.”

http://www.cnn.com/2006/TECH/ptech/12/28/tokyo.rfid.ap/index.html

 

The Return Of The Tech IPO

“A steadying of interest rates and inflation, a recent rally in the tech-heavy NASDAQ, and exceptional performance of tech offerings since the summer of 2006 have given observers hope of a significant rise in technology IPOs this year. They point to a rise in IPO filings, usually a reliable indicator of growing interest: In 2006, 67 technology companies filed notice that they plan to go public, a 31% increase over 2005, according to Boston boutique investment bank America's Growth Capital.”

http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/07_02/b4016044.htm?chan=tc&campaign_id=rss_tech