Doctor Carlson was frustrated. ‘I just don’t understand why my colleagues are proving so resistant…

Doctor Carlson was frustrated. ‘I just don’t understand why my colleagues are proving so resistant to this innovation. Computer-based diagnostic systems have been proved to be more effective than a single doctor working alone. The system simply requires them to be more disciplined in entering the patient’s symptoms onto the computer. These symptoms, together with the patient’s history, are put through a series of diagnostic questions that reflect a huge amount of medical knowledge, far more than one doctor could ever hold in his or her own head. It then generates a series of more questions and possible diagnoses that the doctor can explore further with the patient. It doesn’t replace the doctor at all. On the contrary, it gives them a valuable new tool. But I now realize that we have put together a very strong case to persuade all the doubters and the people who are simply scared of new technology.’ How would you help Dr Carlson to evaluate this new diagnostic system in terms of its market, operations and financial worth?