Gregory's Server@Tupp_ed Yes. The mathematics of this is called Queueing Theory. You need "spare" resources to stop the queue growing. I don't have a link to the source, so take this with a grain of salt, but a few years ago a colleague demonstrated this with public health in the UK; there were 43 vets checking out Brit cow herds at 100% "efficiency". They needed 3 more to avoid a backlog growing. The result was billions of pounds wasted because they didn't stop mad cow disease in time.
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 @DaraghOBrien @amckinstry @Tupp_ed Another factor infecting taxpayer-funded public services is the Toyota Production Method (called Lean in North America). It's predicated on minimalism in everything. Flat management. Limits on staffing. "Just in Time" Processes. Employee training replaced by manuals. Making the staff do the janitorial work. Unpaid overtime to make up for inadequate staffing during vacations season, flu or hurricane season, or other "unexpected" events like pandemics. 1/2 |
@amckinstry @Tupp_ed One of the best books I have read in business is this one https://www.amazon.com/Slack-Getting-Burnout-Busywork-Efficiency/dp/0767907698
Key principle: we need to allow for slack in processes so they can absorb delay, prevent burnout, but also have some reserves in the tank to deal with crises.
If @Tupp_ed wants to borrow my copy this can be arranged.