Abstract: A mathematical structure is developed with the aim of analyzing the
quality of a composite system such as a medical service inside a
hospital.
The approach belongs to the so-called generalized kinetic theory, and
consists
of a set of balanced equations about the probability distribution
functions of
the system population over a state variable that represents the
perceived quality.
Internal and external actions are taken into account, by means of direct
interactions and ensemble terms.
The analysis aims at characterizing the physical variables that control
the long time (or average) dynamics and to predict the effects that possible
readjustments of the structure may produce on it.
Both the case of a continuous state variable (leading to a system of
nonlinear, nonlocal PDE's for the probability densities) and the case of a discrete state
variable (leading to a system of ODE's) will be discussed.
|
