At Cyntegrity we’re developing a system for risk-based monitoring (RBM) of clinical trials. Even though one could argue that risk-based processes are under-represented in crucial areas of a clinical trial, the idea in general of course is not new. Risk-based approaches are well established in many industries like telecommunications or the financial industries. My point is that it makes sense to look beyond the end of your own nose.

I want to share a TED talk of Anne Milgram (VP criminal justice) about changing the way of fighting crimes with smart analytics.

Personally, I take the following key points from her talk:

  1. Change comes slow – Merely having the possibilities (or the tools) to apply risk-based decision making is not enough. You need to establish the organizational processes as well.
  2. Risk analysis enables the decision maker to make better decisions – Rather than substituting work or people, risk-based methodologies enables people to make better (and maybe quicker) decisions based on a profound statistical basis.
  3. Simplicity is a key component – In order to keep your risk-enabled processes feasible you not only have to create simple and user-oriented software but you have to clearly define a concise and narrow domain of application.

Anne Milgram had the courage to bring smart analytics and risk-based decision making to a new environment. She had to fight the same issues we are facing today. She shows that change is not only possible, and that it pays off too.