SGC_Daily_News : Message: The News - ITIL Certified Products are Not a Magic Bullet-More Likely They are Just a Bullet; Leaders stress need for G20 unity; Trying to Limit Disclosure on Explosion; Geithner: The Regulatory War Ahead; Defending ITIL's Value

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=20

"It is easier to do a job right than to explain why you didn't." -
Martin Van Buren

=20

Top Picks

ITIL Certified Products are Not a Magic Bullet-More Likely They are Just
a Bullet
Michael Lohr of Tripwire has some great perspectives to share on the
lack of value around the recent announcement that there would be ITIL
certified tools. The tools haven't caused 99% of the train wreck ITIL
projects I have seen.

http://www.tripwire.com/blog/?p=3D281=20

=20

Leaders stress need for G20 unity
"Key politicians from around the world have underlined the need for
unity in addressing the world economic crisis when leaders meet at the
G20 summit."
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7970660.stm=20

=20

IT Audit / Internal Audit / Compliance / Ethics

Trying to Limit Disclosure on Explosion
Bayer is trying to limit discussion of an explosion and threats by
invoking a maritime safety law since they have a dock on a canal. The
invocation of the law to avoid public discussion around a sensitive, if
not deadly, issue doesn't seem right. Take a moment and read the
article.
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/us/29chemical.html?ref=3Dearth=20

=20

Geithner: The Regulatory War Ahead
"The Treasury Secretary promised specifics in coming weeks, including
separate proposals addressing consumer protection, gaps in U.S.
regulation, and ways to coordinate regulatory reform with other
countries."
http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/mar2009/db20090326_2
30079.htm?chan=3Dtop+news_top+news+index+-+temp_policy+%2Bamp%3B+governmen
t=20

=20

IT Process Improvement / Quality Management

Defending ITIL's Value

"We should be able to read about all sorts of success stories with
metrics yet most articles are about promise, theory, and application.
Why is this? Why aren't there more reports of success and why are both
IT and business leaders starting to become jaded when it comes to the IT
Infrastructure Library (ITIL)? Part of the problem is in how ITIL is
viewed and how it is implemented. ITIL isn't simply about a collection
of processes listed in books. It's about IT service management (ITSM)
and the belief that IT must deliver services to the business that meet
requirements. In a sense, IT is playing catch-up with manufacturing.
Following WWII, the Japanese were quick to embrace quality management
led by the likes of Deming and Ishikawa. In the 1980s, U.S.
manufacturing realized they needed to fundamentally change how they
conducted business in order to compete with the Japanese. Now, it is
IT's turn. This means that not only IT but the business also must change
how IT is wielded in order to successfully enable IT's mission of value
creation and protection."
http://www.itsmwatch.com/itil/article.php/3811476=20

=20

With economy in crisis, IBM SOA strategist Carter sees business
processes under scrutiny
"Business processes in organization are under new scrutiny in the midst
of the ongoing world economic recession, IBM's Sandy Carter, VP for SOA
and WebSphere Strategy, this week told an audience at a meeting of the
SOA Consortium in Washington, D.C. Some of that process scrutiny could
lead to greater energy savings in IT and other parts of companies, she
suggested. Companies are beginning to look more closely at what they
define as 'cost,' Carter indicated."
http://searchsoa.techtarget.com/news/article/0,289142,sid26_gci1351951,0
0.html=20

=20

Kurt's Corner

News and views from Kurt Milne, the managing director of the ITPI. He
can be reached at: kurt.milne@....=20

=20

Clouds SLAs - dialing in SLAs
One of the potential inhibitors of cloud computing is dialing in
appropriate Service Level Agreements with vendors. Here are some
interesting "digging" around outage SLAs at three current vendors.
http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/cloud-computing/?asrc=3DTAB_sear
chServerVirtualization=20

=20

Microsoft weighs in on internal vs. external cloud debate
If you are gazing at the sky watching the cloud change shape - there is
now a good chance that the cloud will be shaped like an "M". Microsoft
suggests their Azure platform will only be used to plug into Microsoft
hosted computing resources.
http://www.informationweek.com/news/windows/operatingsystems/showArticle
.jhtml?articleID=3D216300168&cid=3Dnl_IWK_daily_H=20

=20

Ready, Fire, Aim - sometimes you have to circle back to get ITSM right
I can't vouch for the author's credibility (just kidding George!) - but
this article about re-energizing a stuck ITMS project is worth a read.
Soft issues related to ITSM projects are worth keeping in mind if you
want to achieve goals.
http://searchdatacenter.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid80_gci1351147_mem
1,00.html?ShortReg=3D1&mboxConv=3DsearchDataCenter_RegActivate_Submit&=20
[Thanks Kurt ... I think J]

=20

Data Centers / Cloud Computing / Green IT

Iowa governor trolling for Microsoft facility
"Iowa Gov. Chet Culver will travel to Redmond, Wash., next week to try
to shake loose money for a Microsoft data center planned near Iowa's
capital city. Microsoft announced in August that the $500 million data
center was to be built in West Des Moines, Iowa. But a significant
economic downturn followed, and in January, Microsoft cut 5,000 jobs and
postponed the project."
http://www.seattlepi.com/business/404392_msft28.html=20

=20

How Google Routes Around Outages
"Google doesn't discuss operations of specific data centers. But Holzle,
the company's Senior Vice President of Operations and a Google Fellow,
provided an overview of how Google has engineered its system to manage
hardware failures and software bugs. Here's our Q-and-A."
http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2009/03/25/how-google-routes
-around-outages/=20

=20

Security and Risk Management

FBI: Hackers Extorted Money From Hundreds Of Teens
"Two of these hackers have been arrested for spying on children between
the ages of 14 and 17 using the child's personal Web cam"
http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2009/3/27/fbi_hackers_used_stolen_ima
ges_to_extort_money_from_teens.html?refresh=3D1=20

=20

Expert cites "major problem" with security policy compliance
"The independent security consultant said too many organizations have
security policies on paper only and don't really have the systems in
place to ensure compliance. He reached back to the demise of Arthur
Andersen and financial troubles at Cooper Tire as being caused in large
part to problematic data destruction policies."
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/032509-secureworld-security-policy
-problem.html=20

=20

Preventing or Dealing with Conficker

Visit this MS page: http://support.microsoft.com/kb/962007=20

=20

Experts: 'Smart-grid' system vulnerable to hackers
"Determined hackers with as little as $500 worth of equipment and some
computer know-how could cripple the smart-grid technology being piloted
in Boulder and rolled out nationwide, security experts say."
http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2009/mar/29/experts-smart-grid-system-vu
lnerable-to-hackers/=20

=20

Health and Healthcare

APIC Supports Coalition to Improve Healthcare Quality
"The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology
(APIC) announces its support of the Stand for Quality, a diverse
coalition of more than 165 healthcare organizations who recently
announced a plan to improve the quality and affordability of healthcare
for all patients through a public-private partnership."
http://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/hotnews/healthcare-quality-coalitio
n.html=20
The Stand for Quality site is: http://www.standforquality.org/=20

=20

Hospitals begin to embrace quality improvement methods
"Hospitals across the country are just starting to see the benefits of
lean and Six Sigma quality improvement methods, according to a new study
released by the American Society for Quality of Milwaukee. Hospitals
are beginning to embrace lean and Six Sigma business management
strategies to reduced costs and improve productivity, according to The
ASQ Hospital Study, which looked at implementation of lean and Six Sigma
at 77 hospitals."
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/03/23/daily13.html=20

=20

Healthcare reform czar has insider's view of the industry
"DeParle's business experience, coupled with her management of
government medical programs, gives her an insider's perspective on the
machinery of healthcare delivery. But it also raises questions about
Washington's revolving door between government and industry: Can DeParle
avoid conflicts of interest, given the size and market share of some of
the firms she has worked for?"
http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-na-deparle29-2009mar29,0,65088
58.story=20

=20

Human Error / Safety / Environment

Among Climate Scientists, a Dispute Over 'Tipping Points'
"Environmentalists and some climate experts are increasingly warning of
impending tipping points in their efforts to stir public concern. The
term confers a sense of immediacy and menace to potential threats from a
warming climate - dangers that otherwise might seem too distant for
people to worry about. But other scientists say there is little hard
evidence to back up specific predictions of catastrophe."
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/weekinreview/29revkin.html=20

=20

Global News / Business / Economics

Does the buck stop with the US dollar?
"Proposals for a new world currency (or currencies) order to succeed the
hegemony of the US dollar are not new. But current concerns over the
stability of the global financial situation have reignited such calls
with new urgency. Last week a United Nations Commission on
International Financial Reform recommended to the UN that the world
ditch the dollar as its reserve currency in favour of a shared basket of
currencies."
http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/2299542/Does-the-buck-stop-with-the-US-d
ollar=20
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/25/AR200903
2503476.html=20
http://www.globalcrisisnews.com/general/china-and-russia-call-for-new-cu
rrency-us-rejects/id=3D691/=20
http://business.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090325.wibcurr
ency25/BNStory/Business/home=20
http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2009/03/137_42153.html=20

=20

Is China the New America?
"Today, there are increasing demands that China contribute more to
internationally coordinated rescue packages through a reformed
International Monetary Fund (IMF). China is also one of the few
economies still growing in 2009, though most economists have reduced
their estimates of growth rates. Finally, China and the United States
are the only countries that are large enough, and have sufficiently
well-ordered government finances, to launch major efforts at fiscal
stimulation."
http://www.midasletter.com/news/09032701_Is-china-the-new-america.php=20
[Great article. It is a reprint from Foreign Policy magazine.
Definitely read it.]

=20

US News / Business / Economics

U.S. Economy: Spending Growth Slowed in February
"American consumers' spending slowed in February and their confidence
remained near a three-decade low this month, reflecting the toll of a
deteriorating job market. Purchases advanced 0.2 percent after climbing
1 percent in January, the Commerce Department said today in Washington.
The Reuters/University of Michigan final index of consumer sentiment was
57.3 in March after 56.3 in February."
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=3D20601068&sid=3DawlvE9_aHA6g&refer=
=3Dh
ome=20

=20

Nuclear-Power Industry Enjoys Revival 30 Years After Accident
"The U.S. has 104 reactors from the earlier wave of construction, which
generate about 20% of the nation's electricity. Utilities have applied
to build 26 new reactors, often at or adjacent to existing plants, and
the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, which has to approve the plans, says
the first approvals could come by 2011. Given how long it takes to build
a plant, the first wouldn't come on line until later in the decade."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123820275563962721.html?mod=3Dgooglenews_w
sj=20

=20

Airline Lobby Impatient With Delays on New Traffic Control System
"The United CEO said air travel delays cost U.S. businesses, passengers
and shippers $40 billion a year. The current system, which can barely
cope with the level of air traffic in the skies today, costs United
alone $600 million a year, the company estimates. With a new ATC system,
safety would be improved, airlines would become more punctual, burn less
fuel and reduce carbon emissions, Mr. Tilton said."
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123818857733360521.html#mod=3Dloomia?loomi
a_si=3Dt0:a16:g2:r5:c0.052417:b23414074=20

=20

Technology & Science

Tesla Motors Model S Backed by Google Founders Brin, Page
"Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin are two of the investors
pumping money into Tesla Motors, which has revealed the prototype for
its all-electric, zero-emission sedan, the Model S. Drivers will
theoretically be able to monitor the car's electric charge via an iPhone
or laptop. Tesla represents an attempt by Silicon Valley to build a car
company, and will rely on government money to put the Model S into
production."
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Green-IT/Tesla-Motors-Model-S-Backed-By-Google-
Founders-Brin-Page-336717/=20

=20

Discovery Makes Safe Return
"The space shuttle Discovery and its crew of seven returned to Earth on
Saturday, successfully wrapping up a construction mission at the
international space station."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/28/AR200903
2801752.html?hpid=3Dsec-nation=20

=20

End Notes

The News is brought to you by George Spafford, Principal Consultant at
Pepperweed Consulting, LLC. Pepperweed is nationally recognized as a
leader in IT Management Consulting. For more information, check out our
website at www.pepperweed.com <http://www.pepperweed.com> or call
888-229-0145. Please let us know if you see stories you think should be
included in the next issue of The News, and feel free to forward this
email on to others.

Titles and links to articles written by me are listed at:
http://spaffordconsulting.com/articles.html and if you have news or
feedback you'd like to share, please send an email to
george.spafford@....

To subscribe, please send an email to:
SGC_Daily_News-subscribe@yahoogroups.com=20
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Archives of The News newsletter are available at
http://www.spaffordconsulting.com/dailynews.html .

=20

_____________________________________________=20

George Spafford
Principal Consultant
ITIL Service Manager, TOCICO Jonah, IPRC, CISA
Pepperweed Consulting, LLC(r)
Office: 269-556-9597
Mobile: 269-208-1832
FAX: 208-978-6295
George.Spafford@...

=20

=20

=20

=20

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<div class=3DSection1>

<o:p> </o:p>

"It is easier to do a job right than to explain why you
didn't.” – Martin V=
an
Buren<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Top Picks<o:p></o:p>

ITIL Certified Products are N=
ot a
Magic Bullet–More Likely They are Just a Bullet 
Michael Lohr of Tripwire has some great perspectives to share =
on
the lack of value around the recent announcement that there would be ITIL
certified tools.  The tools haven’t caused 99% of the train wrec=
k
ITIL projects I have seen.<o:p></o:p>

<a
href=3D"http://www.tripwire.com/blog/?p=3D281">http://www.tripwire.com/blog=
/?p=3D281</a>
<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Leaders stress need for G20 u=
nity<br=
>
“Key politicians from around the world have underlined the need for u=
nity
in addressing the world economic crisis when leaders meet at the G20 summit=
.” 
<a href=3D"http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/business/7970660.stm">http://news.bbc=
.co.uk/2/hi/business/7970660.stm</a>
<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

IT Audit / Internal Audit / Compliance / Ethics<o:p></o:p></=
span>

Trying to Limit Disclosure on
Explosion 
Bayer is trying to limit discussion of an explosion and threats by invoking=
a
maritime safety law since they have a dock on a canal.  The invocation=
of
the law to avoid public discussion around a sensitive, if not deadly, issue
doesn’t seem right.  Take a moment and read the article. 
<a href=3D"http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/us/29chemical.html?ref=3Dearth=
">http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/us/29chemical.html?ref=3Dearth</a>
<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Geithner: The Regulatory War
Ahead 
“The Treasury Secretary promised specifics in coming weeks, including
separate proposals addressing consumer protection, gaps in U.S. regulation,=
and
ways to coordinate regulatory reform with other countries.” 
<a
href=3D"http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/mar2009/db20090=
326_230079.htm?chan=3Dtop+news_top+news+index+-+temp_policy+%2Bamp%3B+gover=
nment">http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/mar2009/db200903=
26_230079.htm?chan=3Dtop+news_top+news+index+-+temp_policy+%2Bamp%3B+govern=
ment</a>
<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

IT Process Improvement / Quality Management<o:p></o:p></span=
>

Defending ITIL’s Value<=
o:p></o:p>

“We should be able to r=
ead about
all sorts of success stories with metrics yet most articles are about promi=
se,
theory, and application. Why is this? Why aren’t there more reports o=
f
success and why are both IT and business leaders starting to become jaded w=
hen
it comes to the IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL)? Part of the problem is in=
how
ITIL is viewed and how it is implemented.  ITIL isn’t simply abo=
ut a
collection of processes listed in books. It’s about IT service manage=
ment
(ITSM) and the belief that IT must deliver services to the business that me=
et
requirements. In a sense, IT is playing catch-up with manufacturing. Follow=
ing
WWII, the Japanese were quick to embrace quality management led by the like=
s of
Deming and Ishikawa. In the 1980s, U.S. manufacturing realized they needed =
to
fundamentally change how they conducted business in order to compete with t=
he
Japanese. Now, it is IT's turn. This means that not only IT but the busines=
s
also must change how IT is wielded in order to successfully enable IT&#8217=
;s
mission of value creation and protection.” 
<a href=3D"http://www.itsmwatch.com/itil/article.php/3811476">http://www.it=
smwatch.com/itil/article.php/3811476</a>
<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

With economy in crisis, IBM S=
OA
strategist Carter sees business processes under scrutiny 
“Business processes in organization are under new scruti=
ny
in the midst of the ongoing world economic recession, IBM's Sandy Carter, V=
P
for SOA and WebSphere Strategy, this week told an audience at a meeting of =
the
SOA Consortium in Washington, D.C. Some of that process scrutiny could lead=
to
greater energy savings in IT and other parts of companies, she suggested.&n=
bsp;
Companies are beginning to look more closely at what they define as 'cost,'
Carter indicated.” 
<a
href=3D"http://searchsoa.techtarget.com/news/article/0,289142,sid26_gci1351=
951,00.html">http://searchsoa.techtarget.com/news/article/0,289142,sid26_gc=
i1351951,00.html</a>
<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Kurt’s Corner<o:p></o:p>

News and views from Kurt Miln=
e,
the managing director of the ITPI.  He can be reached at: <a
href=3D"mailto:kurt.milne@...">kurt.milne@...</a>. <o:p></o:p></s=
pan>

<o:p> </o:p>

Clouds SLAs – dialing i=
n
SLAs 
One of the potential inhibitors of cloud computing is dialing =
in
appropriate Service Level Agreements with vendors.  Here are some
interesting “digging” around outage SLAs at three current vendo=
rs. 
<a
href=3D"http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/cloud-computing/?asrc=3DT=
AB_searchServerVirtualization">http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/cl=
oud-computing/?asrc=3DTAB_searchServerVirtualization</a>
<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Microsoft weighs in on intern=
al
vs. external cloud debate 
If you are gazing at the sky watching the cloud change shape
– there is now a good chance that the cloud will be shaped like an
“M”.   Microsoft suggests their Azure platform will o=
nly
be used to plug into Microsoft hosted computing resources. 
<a
href=3D"http://www.informationweek.com/news/windows/operatingsystems/showAr=
ticle.jhtml?articleID=3D216300168&cid=3Dnl_IWK_daily_H">http://www.info=
rmationweek.com/news/windows/operatingsystems/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=
=3D216300168&cid=3Dnl_IWK_daily_H</a>
<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Ready, Fire, Aim –
sometimes you have to circle back to get ITSM right 
I can’t vouch for the author’s credibility (just
kidding George!) – but this article about re-energizing a stuck ITMS
project is worth a read.  Soft issues related to ITSM projects are wor=
th
keeping in mind if you want to achieve goals. 
<a
href=3D"http://searchdatacenter.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid80_gci135114=
7_mem1,00.html?ShortReg=3D1&mboxConv=3DsearchDataCenter_RegActivate_Sub=
mit&">http://searchdatacenter.techtarget.com/tip/0,289483,sid80_gci1351=
147_mem1,00.html?ShortReg=3D1&mboxConv=3DsearchDataCenter_RegActivate_S=
ubmit&</a>
 
[Thanks Kurt … I think J]<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Data Centers / Cloud Computing / Green IT<o:p></o:p><=
/i>

Iowa governor trolling for
Microsoft facility 
“Iowa Gov. Chet Culver will travel to Redmond, Wash., next week to tr=
y to
shake loose money for a Microsoft data center planned near Iowa's capital c=
ity. 
Microsoft announced in August that the $500 million data center was to be b=
uilt
in West Des Moines, Iowa. But a significant economic downturn followed, and=
in
January, Microsoft cut 5,000 jobs and postponed the project.” 
<a href=3D"http://www.seattlepi.com/business/404392_msft28.html">http://www=
.seattlepi.com/business/404392_msft28.html</a>
<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

How Google Routes Around Outa=
ges<br=
>
“Google doesn’t discuss operations of specific data centers. Bu=
t
Holzle, the company’s Senior Vice President of Operations and a Googl=
e
Fellow, provided an overview of how Google has engineered its system to man=
age
hardware failures and software bugs. Here’s our Q-and-A.” 
<a
href=3D"http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2009/03/25/how-google-r=
outes-around-outages/">http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2009/03/=
25/how-google-routes-around-outages/</a>
<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Security and Risk Management<o:p></o:p>

FBI: Hackers Extorted Money F=
rom
Hundreds Of Teens 
“Two of these hackers have been arrested for spying on children betwe=
en
the ages of 14 and 17 using the child's personal Web cam” 
<a
href=3D"http://www.cfnews13.com/News/Local/2009/3/27/fbi_hackers_used_stole=
n_images_to_extort_money_from_teens.html?refresh=3D1">http://www.cfnews13.c=
om/News/Local/2009/3/27/fbi_hackers_used_stolen_images_to_extort_money_from=
_teens.html?refresh=3D1</a>
<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Expert cites "major
problem" with security policy compliance 
“The independent security consultant said too many organizations have
security policies on paper only and don't really have the systems in place =
to
ensure compliance. He reached back to the demise of Arthur Andersen and
financial troubles at Cooper Tire as being caused in large part to problema=
tic
data destruction policies.” 
<a
href=3D"http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/032509-secureworld-security-p=
olicy-problem.html">http://www.networkworld.com/news/2009/032509-secureworl=
d-security-policy-problem.html</a>
<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Preventing or Dealing with
Conficker<o:p></o:p>

Visit this MS page:  <a
href=3D"http://support.microsoft.com/kb/962007">http://support.microsoft.co=
m/kb/962007</a>
<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Experts: 'Smart-grid' system
vulnerable to hackers 
“Determined hackers with as little as $500 worth of equipment and som=
e
computer know-how could cripple the smart-grid technology being piloted in
Boulder and rolled out nationwide, security experts say.” 
<a
href=3D"http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2009/mar/29/experts-smart-grid-syst=
em-vulnerable-to-hackers/">http://www.dailycamera.com/news/2009/mar/29/expe=
rts-smart-grid-system-vulnerable-to-hackers/</a>
<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Health and Healthcare<o:p></o:p>

APIC Supports Coalition to
Improve Healthcare Quality 
“The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiol=
ogy
(APIC) announces its support of the Stand for Quality, a diverse coalition =
of
more than 165 healthcare organizations who recently announced a plan to imp=
rove
the quality and affordability of healthcare for all patients through a
public-private partnership.” 
<a
href=3D"http://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/hotnews/healthcare-quality-coa=
lition.html">http://www.infectioncontroltoday.com/hotnews/healthcare-qualit=
y-coalition.html</a>
 
The Stand for Quality site is:  <a href=3D"http://www.standforquality.=
org/">http://www.standforquality.org/</a>
<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Hospitals begin to embrace
quality improvement methods 
“Hospitals across the country are just starting to see the benefits o=
f
lean and Six Sigma quality improvement methods, according to a new study
released by the American Society for Quality of Milwaukee.  Hospitals =
are
beginning to embrace lean and Six Sigma business management strategies to
reduced costs and improve productivity, according to The ASQ Hospital Study=
,
which looked at implementation of lean and Six Sigma at 77 hospitals.&#8221=
; 
<a href=3D"http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/03/23/daily13.=
html">http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/03/23/daily13.html<=
/a>
<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Healthcare reform czar has
insider's view of the industry 
“DeParle's business experience, coupled with her management of govern=
ment
medical programs, gives her an insider's perspective on the machinery of
healthcare delivery.  But it also raises questions about Washington's
revolving door between government and industry: Can DeParle avoid conflicts=
of
interest, given the size and market share of some of the firms she has work=
ed
for?” 
<a
href=3D"http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-na-deparle29-2009mar29,0,=
6508858.story">http://www.latimes.com/features/health/la-na-deparle29-2009m=
ar29,0,6508858.story</a>
<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Human Error / Safety / Environment<o:p></o:p>=


Among Climate Scientists, a
Dispute Over ‘Tipping Points’ 
“Environmentalists and some climate experts are increasingly warning =
of
impending tipping points in their efforts to stir public concern. The term
confers a sense of immediacy and menace to potential threats from a warming
climate — dangers that otherwise might seem too distant for people to
worry about.  But other scientists say there is little hard evidence t=
o
back up specific predictions of catastrophe.” 
<a href=3D"http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/weekinreview/29revkin.html">ht=
tp://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/weekinreview/29revkin.html</a>
<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Global News / Business / Economics<o:p></o:p>=


Does the buck stop with the U=
S
dollar? 
“Proposals for a new world currency (or currencies) order to succeed =
the
hegemony of the US dollar are not new. But current concerns over the stabil=
ity
of the global financial situation have reignited such calls with new urgenc=
y. 
Last week a United Nations Commission on International Financial Reform
recommended to the UN that the world ditch the dollar as its reserve curren=
cy
in favour of a shared basket of currencies.” 
<a
href=3D"http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/2299542/Does-the-buck-stop-with-the=
-US-dollar">http://www.stuff.co.nz/business/2299542/Does-the-buck-stop-with=
-the-US-dollar</a>
 
<a
href=3D"http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/25/AR2=
009032503476.html">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/200=
9/03/25/AR2009032503476.html</a>
 
<a
href=3D"http://www.globalcrisisnews.com/general/china-and-russia-call-for-n=
ew-currency-us-rejects/id=3D691/">http://www.globalcrisisnews.com/general/c=
hina-and-russia-call-for-new-currency-us-rejects/id=3D691/</a>
 
<a
href=3D"http://business.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090325.wi=
bcurrency25/BNStory/Business/home">http://business.theglobeandmail.com/serv=
let/story/RTGAM.20090325.wibcurrency25/BNStory/Business/home</a>
 
<a href=3D"http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2009/03/137_42153.ht=
ml">http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/opinon/2009/03/137_42153.html</a>
<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Is China the New America?</sp=
an><br=
>
“Today, there are increasing demands that China contribute more to
internationally coordinated rescue packages through a reformed Internationa=
l
Monetary Fund (IMF). China is also one of the few economies still growing i=
n
2009, though most economists have reduced their estimates of growth rates.
Finally, China and the United States are the only countries that are large
enough, and have sufficiently well-ordered government finances, to launch m=
ajor
efforts at fiscal stimulation.” 
<a href=3D"http://www.midasletter.com/news/09032701_Is-china-the-new-americ=
a.php">http://www.midasletter.com/news/09032701_Is-china-the-new-america.ph=
p</a>
 
[Great article.  It is a reprint from Foreign Policy magazine. 
Definitely read it.]<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

US News / Business / Economics<o:p></o:p>

U.S. Economy: Spending Growth Slowed in
February 
“American consumers’ spending slowed in February and their
confidence remained near a three-decade low this month, reflecting the toll=
of
a deteriorating job market.  Purchases advanced 0.2 percent after clim=
bing
1 percent in January, the Commerce Department said today in Washington. The
Reuters/University of Michigan final index of consumer sentiment was 57.3 i=
n
March after 56.3 in February.” 
<a
href=3D"http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=3D20601068&sid=3DawlvE9_=
aHA6g&refer=3Dhome">http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=3D20601068&a=
mp;sid=3DawlvE9_aHA6g&refer=3Dhome</a>
<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Nuclear-Power Industry Enjoys Revival 30
Years After Accident 
“The U.S. has 104 reactors from the earlier wave of construction, whi=
ch
generate about 20% of the nation's electricity. Utilities have applied to b=
uild
26 new reactors, often at or adjacent to existing plants, and the Nuclear
Regulatory Commission, which has to approve the plans, says the first appro=
vals
could come by 2011. Given how long it takes to build a plant, the first
wouldn't come on line until later in the decade.” 
<a
href=3D"http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123820275563962721.html?mod=3Dgoogl=
enews_wsj">http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123820275563962721.html?mod=3Dgo=
oglenews_wsj</a>
<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Airline Lobby Impatient With Delays on Ne=
w
Traffic Control System 
“The United CEO said air travel delays cost U.S. businesses, passenge=
rs
and shippers $40 billion a year. The current system, which can barely cope =
with
the level of air traffic in the skies today, costs United alone $600 millio=
n a
year, the company estimates. With a new ATC system, safety would be improve=
d,
airlines would become more punctual, burn less fuel and reduce carbon
emissions, Mr. Tilton said.” 
<a
href=3D"http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123818857733360521.html#mod=3Dloomi=
a?loomia_si=3Dt0:a16:g2:r5:c0.052417:b23414074">http://online.wsj.com/artic=
le/SB123818857733360521.html#mod=3Dloomia?loomia_si=3Dt0:a16:g2:r5:c0.05241=
7:b23414074</a>
<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Technology & Science<o:p></o:p>

Tesla Motors Model S Backed by Google
Founders Brin, Page 
“Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin are two of the investo=
rs
pumping money into Tesla Motors, which has revealed the prototype for its
all-electric, zero-emission sedan, the Model S. Drivers will theoretically =
be
able to monitor the car’s electric charge via an iPhone or laptop. Te=
sla
represents an attempt by Silicon Valley to build a car company, and will re=
ly
on government money to put the Model S into production.” 
<a
href=3D"http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Green-IT/Tesla-Motors-Model-S-Backed-By-Go=
ogle-Founders-Brin-Page-336717/">http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Green-IT/Tesla-Mo=
tors-Model-S-Backed-By-Google-Founders-Brin-Page-336717/</a>
<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

Discovery Makes Safe Return<sp=
an
style=3D'font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"'> 
“The space shuttle Discovery and its crew of seven returned to Earth =
on
Saturday, successfully wrapping up a construction mission at the internatio=
nal
space station.” 
<a
href=3D"http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/28/AR2=
009032801752.html?hpid=3Dsec-nation">http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/c=
ontent/article/2009/03/28/AR2009032801752.html?hpid=3Dsec-nation</a>
<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

End Notes<o:p></o:p>

The News is
brought to you by George Spafford, Principal Consultant at Pepperweed
Consulting, LLC.  Pepperweed is nationally recognized as a leader in I=
T
Management Consulting.  For more information, check out our website at=
<a
href=3D"http://www.pepperweed.com" title=3D"http://www.pepperweed.com/"><sp=
an
style=3D'color:black'>www.pepperweed.com</a> or call 888-229-0145. P=
lease
let us know if you see stories you think should be included in the next iss=
ue
of The News, and feel free to forward this email on to others. 
 
Titles and links to articles written by me are listed at:  <a
href=3D"http://spaffordconsulting.com/articles.html"
title=3D"http://spaffordconsulting.com/articles.html">http://spaffordconsul=
ting.com/articles.html</a>
and if you have news or feedback you’d like to share, please send an
email to <a href=3D"mailto:george.spafford@..."
title=3D"mailto:george.spafford@...">george.spafford@pepperweed.=
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oups.yahoo.com/group/SGC_Daily_News/rss</a>
 
 
<o:p></o:p>

Archives of The News newslett=
er
are available at <a href=3D"http://www.spaffordconsulting.com/dailynews.htm=
l"
title=3D"http://www.spaffordconsulting.com/dailynews.html">http://www.spaff=
ordconsulting.com/dailynews.html</a>
.<o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

_____________________________________________
<o:p></o:p>

George Spafford 
Principal
Consultant 
ITIL Service Manager, TOCICO Jonah, IPRC, CISA 
Pepperweed Consulting, LLC® 
Office:  269-556-9597 
Mobile:  269-208-1832 
FAX:  208-978-6295 
<a href=3D"mailto:George.Spafford@..."
title=3D"mailto:George.Spafford@...">George.Spafford@Pepperweed.=
com</a><o:p></o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

<o:p> </o:p>

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