Thanks to ASQ for asking me to write this article for their “Statistics Digest” newsletter in October of 2019 – click here to access the whole issue if you’re a member. I’m posting the article here with their permission. Readers…
Process Behavior Charts offer a way to move beyond emojis, colors, and single data points by showing whether a metric is actually changing or merely fluctuating. This post explores why many common visual scorecards unintentionally drive overreaction — and how…
TL;DR:Single webinar numbers and year-over-year averages often distort reality. By using run charts and Process Behavior Charts, you can separate signal from noise, avoid overreaction, and make better decisions about growth, capacity, and investment. I manage KaiNexus’s webinar program, which…
Thanks to the Measures of Success reader who reached out with a question about their hospital’s display of data in units and departments. They shared the current state method for displaying data and asked me to compare it to a…
tl;dr: Headlines about baseball trends–like Bryce Harper’s performance, game length, or declining attendance–can be misleading. Using Process Behavior Charts, we can distinguish between meaningful signals and routine noise. This post shows how to apply that thinking to baseball metrics, with…
tl;dr: Headlines say Tom Brady is declining because a few stats have dropped, but Process Behavior Charts show his performance is still within routine variation over his career. Without a true signal, reacting to short-term “trends” is misleading–in sports and…
TL;DR: Many organizations misinterpret metrics, overreact to noise, and miss real signals. Using an A3 approach helps leaders align on the problem first–before introducing Process Behavior Charts as a countermeasure for better decisions and more effective improvement. Why Process Behavior…
tl;dr If a Process Behavior Chart shows many points outside the limits, the issue is often the data–not the chart. Plotting moving averages instead of actual data distorts variation and creates false signals. Process Behavior Charts work best with raw,…
TL;DR: Before-and-after comparisons hide variation and invite overreaction. Control charts–especially Process Behavior Charts–show whether a system has truly changed, help leaders distinguish noise from signals, and provide clearer evidence of sustained improvement. I attended the IHI National Forum a few…
TL;DR: OKRs often fail because leaders react to month-to-month noise instead of real improvement. Process Behavior Charts (PBCs) show whether key results reflect true system change or routine variation–helping leaders coach better, avoid blame, and focus improvement efforts where they…
TL;DR: Process Behavior Charts show when apparent performance differences are driven by the system rather than individual skill. Comparing individuals without this context often leads to unfair judgments and poor leadership decisions. This post is Part Three of a series…
Process Behavior Charts can be used for more than tracking performance over time. In this post, I apply PBCs to compare knee surgeons’ complication rates–and show why many apparent differences are just noise, not meaningful signals. This post is a…
