#business analyst role

[adaptiveus]

From Developer to Business Analyst: A Guide to Career Transition in Malaysia

Introduction

Transitioning from a developer role to a business analyst position is an exciting career move that can open up new opportunities and challenges. This comprehensive guide explores the journey of shifting from IT development to business analysis, with a focus on the Malaysian job market. As the demand for skilled business analysts continues to grow, developers looking to make this transition can leverage their technical background while acquiring new skills to excel in this dynamic field.

Key Takeaways:

Business analysts bridge the gap between IT and business needs

Transitioning from developer to business analyst requires additional skills and qualifications

The Malaysian job market offers promising opportunities for business analysts

Certifications and continuous learning are crucial for success in this field

Leveraging existing technical skills can give developers an edge in business analysis

Table of Contents:

Introduction

Required Skills and Qualifications

Steps to Transition

Malaysian Job Market for Business Analysts

Resources and Training

Tips for a Successful Transition

Conclusion

FAQs

Introduction

The role of a business analyst is pivotal in today’s technology-driven business landscape. These professionals act as a bridge between IT departments and business stakeholders, translating technical concepts into business value and vice versa. For developers considering a career change, transitioning to a business analyst role can be an attractive option, offering a blend of technical expertise and business acumen.

Required Skills and Qualifications

To successfully transition from a developer to a business analyst, individuals need to build upon their existing technical skills while acquiring new competencies specific to business analysis. Here’s a breakdown of the essential skills and qualifications:

Technical Skills from Development Background:

Programming knowledge

Database management

System architecture understanding

Troubleshooting and debugging

Additional Skills Needed for Business Analysis:

Requirements gathering and management

Process modeling and analysis

Data analysis and visualization

Project management

Stakeholder management

Communication and presentation skills

Business process improvement

User story creation and use case analysis

Certifications and Courses:

CBAP (Certified Business Analysis Professional) from IIBA

CCBA (Certification of Capability in Business Analysis) from IIBA

PMI-PBA (PMI Professional in Business Analysis) from PMI

Agile Analysis Certification

Business analysis tools proficiency:

JIRA

Trello

Microsoft Visio

Steps to Transition

Making the transition from developer to business analyst requires a structured approach. Here are the key steps to follow:

Self-assessment and Gap Analysis:

Evaluate your current skill set against the requirements of a business analyst role

Identify areas for improvement and skill development

Acquiring Necessary Skills and Knowledge:

Enroll in business analysis courses and bootcamps

Pursue relevant certifications (e.g., CBAP, CCBA, PMI-PBA)

Develop business acumen through industry research and networking

Gaining Relevant Experience:

Seek internal opportunities within your current organization to work on business analysis tasks

Volunteer for cross-functional projects that involve requirements gathering and stakeholder management

Consider internships or part-time business analyst roles to gain hands-on experience

Malaysian Job Market for Business Analysts

The demand for skilled business analysts in Malaysia is on the rise, with various industries seeking professionals who can bridge the gap between technology and business needs.

Demand and Opportunities:

Growing IT sector in Malaysia creates a need for business analysts

Multinational corporations and local companies alike are hiring business analysts

Fintech, e-commerce, and digital transformation projects drive demand

Salary Expectations:

Entry-level business analysts in Malaysia can expect to earn between RM3,000 to RM5,000 per month

Experienced business analysts with relevant certifications can command salaries of RM8,000 to RM15,000 per month

Senior business analysts and those with specialized industry knowledge may earn upwards of RM20,000 per month

Industry Sectors Hiring Business Analysts:

Banking and Finance

Telecommunications

Healthcare

E-commerce and Retail

Manufacturing

Government and Public Sector

Resources and Training

To facilitate the transition from developer to business analyst, numerous resources and training options are available:

Online Courses and Bootcamps:

Adaptive US offers comprehensive business analysis training and certification preparation courses

IRM Training provides specialized business analysis courses

BA Mentor offers mentorship programs and training for aspiring business analysts

Cengage offers online business analysis courses and resources

Professional Associations and Networking:

IIBA (International Institute of Business Analysis) Malaysia Chapter

PMI (Project Management Institute) Malaysia Chapter

Local business analysis meetups and conferences

Mentorship Programs:

Seek mentorship from experienced business analysts in your network

Participate in formal mentorship programs offered by professional associations

Tips for a Successful Transition

To ensure a smooth transition from developer to business analyst, consider the following tips:

Leveraging Existing Skills:

Highlight your technical background as an asset in understanding complex systems

Use your coding experience to create more effective user stories and requirements

Building a Portfolio:

Document your involvement in business analysis tasks, even if they were part of your developer role

Create sample deliverables such as process models, requirement documents, and data visualizations

Tailoring Resume and Interview Preparation:

Emphasize transferable skills such as problem-solving and analytical thinking

Prepare examples of how your technical background can benefit business analysis tasks

Research common business analyst interview questions and practice your responses

Conclusion

Transitioning from a developer to a business analyst role in Malaysia offers exciting career prospects and opportunities for professional growth. By leveraging existing technical skills, acquiring new business analysis competencies, and staying updated with industry trends, developers can successfully make this career shift. The growing demand for business analysts in Malaysia, coupled with attractive salary ranges, makes this transition a viable and rewarding career move.

Call to Action: Ready to take the next step in your career transition? Enroll in Adaptive US’s comprehensive BA Bootcamp to gain the skills and knowledge needed to excel as a business analyst. Visit https://www.adaptiveus.com/ba-bootcamp/ to learn more and start your journey today!

FAQs

Q1: How long does it typically take to transition from a developer to a business analyst role? A1: The transition period can vary depending on individual circumstances, but it generally takes 6–12 months to acquire the necessary skills and experience. Some may transition faster if they have prior exposure to business analysis tasks in their developer role.

Q2: Are there any specific industries in Malaysia where business analysts are in high demand? A2: Business analysts are in high demand across various industries in Malaysia, with particular emphasis on banking and finance, telecommunications, healthcare, and e-commerce sectors.

Q3: How important are certifications for transitioning from developer to business analyst? A3: While not always mandatory, certifications such as CBAP, CCBA, or PMI-PBA can significantly boost your credibility and demonstrate your commitment to the field. They can be particularly helpful when competing for jobs against candidates with more traditional business analysis backgrounds.

Q4: Can I transition to a business analyst role within my current company? A4: Yes, many developers successfully transition to business analyst roles within their current organizations. This can be an excellent way to leverage your existing knowledge of the company and its systems while developing new skills.

Q5: How can I gain practical business analysis experience while still working as a developer? A5: Look for opportunities to participate in requirements gathering sessions, stakeholder meetings, or process improvement initiatives within your current role. You can also volunteer for cross-functional projects that involve business analysis tasks.

References:

International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA): https://www.iiba.org/

Project Management Institute (PMI): https://www.pmi.org/

Adaptive US: https://www.adaptiveus.com/

For more information on business analysis careers and training, visit:

https://businessanalysts.today/

https://businessanalysts.website/

https://businessanalyst.courses/

[saptutorials]

Different Roles of an SAP Consultant

An SAP consultant is responsible for analyzing, designing, and configuring new computer software and systems to their clients’ or employers’ specifications. They create programs, interfaces, and forms, check new interfaces to ensure system workflows are optimized and work well with end-users; make modifications as requested, and get feedback. They have complex tasks; thus, an SAP consultant must…

[charlessmithpost]

The Roles & Responsibilities of Junior Business Analyst

A Junior Business Analyst plays a crucial role in helping organizations understand their business processes, identify opportunities for improvement, and make data-driven decisions. Their responsibilities are essential for the success of a project or business. Here are the key roles and responsibilities of a Junior Business Analyst:

Requirements Gathering: Junior Business Analysts are responsible for collecting and documenting business requirements. They work closely with stakeholders, such as clients, end-users, and subject matter experts, to understand their needs and objectives.

Data Analysis: They analyze data to identify trends, patterns, and insights that can inform business decisions. This involves using tools like Excel or more advanced data analysis software.

Documentation: Junior Business Analysts document business processes, requirements, and findings in a clear and organized manner. They create documents such as business requirement documents (BRDs) and process flow diagrams.

Process Mapping: They map out current and future business processes to identify areas for improvement. This includes understanding how different departments or systems interact.

Problem Solving: Junior Business Analysts help identify business problems and propose solutions. They work with cross-functional teams to develop strategies for process improvement or system enhancements.

Quality Assurance: They may be involved in testing and quality assurance processes to ensure that software or systems meet the specified requirements and work as intended.

Communication: Effective communication is key. Junior Business Analysts must convey complex technical information in a clear and understandable way to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Documentation Management: Organizing and maintaining project documentation, ensuring it is up to date, and easily accessible for the team.

Risk Assessment: Identifying and assessing risks associated with proposed changes or projects and providing mitigation strategies.

Team Collaboration: Collaborating with cross-functional teams to ensure that the business requirements align with the project's objectives and are implemented effectively.

In summary, a Junior Business Analyst plays a vital role in facilitating communication, problem-solving, and decision-making within an organization. They bridge the gap between business stakeholders and technical teams, helping to ensure that projects and processes are aligned with the organization's goals and objectives.

[djmarinizelablog]

Hiii there! This is my first time interacting with your blog, and I'm currently learning about data analyst, hopefully one day I'll become one, and I just wanted to know, being a BS zoologist, is it possible to be a data analyst in that field

So sorry for the late response, but the short answer is YES! Anyone can be a data analyst if they put all their efforts in becoming one.

If you're applying to entry-level data analyst roles, it might be helpful to have a portfolio of projects where you dabbled on data and presented them in a meaningful way (whether through a dashboard, an infographic, a website, or just a simple spreadsheet). It tells hiring managers that you're up for the task of data-wrangling and visualization.

Good luck!

[sazanconsulting1]

Sazan Consulting offers System Admin & AWS training. Join our hands-on training in System Admin and AWS. To know more call us at 647-313-1970 or send your profile to info@sazanconsulting.com

[leviathan-supersystem]

BEIJING — China’s struggling real estate developers won’t be getting a major bailout, Chinese authorities have indicated, warning that those who “harm the interests of the masses” will be punished.

“For real estate companies that are seriously insolvent and have lost the ability to operate, those that must go bankrupt should go bankrupt, or be restructured, in accordance with the law and market principles,” Ni Hong, Minister of Housing and Urban-Rural Development, said at a press conference Saturday.

“Those who commit acts that harm the interests of the masses will be resolutely investigated and punished in accordance with the law,” he said. “They will be made to pay the due price.”

That’s according to a CNBC translation of his Mandarin-language remarks published in an official transcript of the press conference, held alongside China’s annual parliamentary meetings.

Ni’s comments come as major real estate developers from Evergrande to Country Garden have defaulted on their debt, while plunging new home sales have put future business into question.

In 2020, Beijing cracked down on developers’ high reliance on debt for growth in an attempt to clamp down on property market speculation. But many developers soon ran out of money to finish building apartments, which are typically sold to homebuyers in China ahead of completion. Some buyers stopped paying their mortgages in a boycott.

Authorities have since announced measures to provide some developers with financing. But the national stance on reducing the role of real estate in the economy hasn’t changed.

This year’s annual government gathering has emphasized the country’s focus on investing in and building up high-end manufacturing capabilities. In contrast, the leadership has not mentioned the massive real estate sector as much.

Real estate barely came up during a press conference focused on the economy last week, while Ni was speaking during a meeting that focused on “people’s livelihoods.”

Ni said authorities would promote housing sales and the development of affordable housing, while emphasizing the need to consider the longer term.

Near-term changes in the property sector have a significant impact on China’s overall economy.

Real estate was once about 25% of China’s GDP, when including related sectors such as construction. UBS analysts estimated late last year that property now accounts for about 22% of the economy.

Last week, Premier Li Qiang said in his government work report that in the year ahead, China would “move faster to foster a new development model for real estate.”

“We will scale up the building and supply of government-subsidized housing and improve the basic systems for commodity housing to meet people’s essential need for a home to live in and their different demands for better housing,” an English-language version of the report said.

next time you complain about how things are in America, consider that if you lived in some kind of scary communist country like China, you wouldn't even get to fund a bailout for the real estate company owners who ruined the economy like you can (whether you like it or not) in the good old US of A! 🇺🇲

[msschemmenti]

monday morning guest

emily prentiss x reader

summary: emily gets a surprise visitor in the bullpen on monday morning.

a/n: crack idea i got driving past my neighbors house.

monday morning— bright and early. the bau team was finally back from a two week stent of back to back cases and emily was finally starting to settle into her role as unit chief. she was no hotch, but she was relying pretty heavily on her interpol experience and the bond the team had built over the years. with such a close knit team, it was always very easy to spot new comers in the office.

so when a woman breezed through the glass doors of the bullpen, emily wasn’t surprised to catch garcia’s bright pink cardigan hurrying after her to intercept the mystery woman. what she was surprised to see was a face she knew all too well.

y/n y/ln. in dc. in her bullpen? what alternate universe could she possibly have walked into this morning. she turned hastily to the mirror she kept in her office and started fluffing her hair quickly. she hadn’t seen y/n since her college graduation and it’s safe to say she looks very different now. not bad per say but older. feeling satisfied with her hair she rifled through her purse for some lipstick and anything to make her not look like it was monday morning.

down in the bullpen, y/n smiled at the brightly colored woman she’d just been stopped by. she scanned the bullpen over her shoulder hoping to catch sight of emily. after hearing the older woman had returned [allegedly from the dead], she hoped on the opportunity to pay her a visit while she was in town.

“good morning beautiful stranger. welcome to the bau, my name is penelope. can i help you with something?” the woman bounced in anticipation.

“hello, penelope. i’m actually looking for someone. your new unit chief actually.” y/n spoke as she shuffled the folder in her hand to shake penelope’s hand.

“emily? emily prentiss? do you have a crime case you’d like assistance on?” garcia asked.

“yes and no. she and i have some business to take care of, now that she’s returned stateside.” y/n smiled waving the folder in front of garcia.

“oh? business to take care of…” garcia repeated sweeping her eyes from the woman in front of her and emily’s office.

“mmhm. do you think she’s available for a little chat?” y/n asked nodding in amusement at the quirky woman.

“well i would think so— who should i say is here?”

“oh where are my manners, i’m y/n. she should remember me.” y/n smiled as garcia nodded her understanding before heading up the stairs to emily’s office.

“ma’am,” garcia spoke knocking on the open door of emily’s office.

“please stop calling me ma’am.” emily sighed wearily.

“sorry, im just nervous. there’s a really pretty woman down there saying she’s here to see you. and that you’ve got official business to take care of. well i don’t think she said official but she definitely said business. and she waved a folder in front of me. are you being sued or something?” garcia rambled.

emily eyed the tech analyst as she rambled and as she took a breath she held her hand up to stop her before she could start again. “y/n y/ln, right?”

“y/n— yes. i don’t know her last name but she said you should remember her. do you want me to go get her?”

“no, no. i’ll come down myself.” emily rose from the desk, giving herself another once over in the mirror before moving toward garcia and the door.

“wait, what was that?” garcia asked curiously.

“what— what was what? what are you talking about?” emily asked obliviously.

“did you just check yourself out? are you primping yourself? did you reapply your lipstick? oh this just got so much more interesting. who is this woman?” garcia jumped.

“i-what no to all of that,” emily lied as her cheeks heated. “and she’s just a friend from my college days.”

“yeah but what kind of friend? i don’t primp in my office when my college friends come to see me.”

emily peeked around the door frame into the bullpen and caught sight of y/n looking right back at her. the woman sent a flirty wave up toward the office and laughed softly as she watched emily’s cheeks heat in embarrassment.

“not now garcia.” emily mumbled as she straightened her clothes out one more time before descending the stairs to meet y/n. “y/n, what a surprise. what’s it been 10 years?”

“far more than that, em. you look good.” y/n smirked.

“wow, obviously not as good as you. garcia said you came on business?” emily replied trying and failing to tame the blush she’d been sporting since she headed down to the bullpen.

“well yes. and may i just say, you are one hard woman to track down.” y/n shook her head with a laugh.

“oh don’t i know it!” garcia piped in from her placed leaned against jj’s desk. at the intrusion, emily sent a glare her way. penelope grimaced and turned to face jj in fear.

“you’ve been looking for me?” emily asked curiously.

“i have for quite a while actually,” y/n smiled softly before waving the folder in emily’s direction. “we’re still married. and have been for about 20 years now. and let me just say, you’ve got a hell of a lot of anniversary gifts to make up for babe.”

“married?!” garcia exclaimed before slapping her hand over her mouth.

emily’s eyes widened exponentially as she caught all of the team’s eyes on her. the shock was evident on everyone’s face and she honestly couldn’t wash it off her own face.

“how about we go to my office and talk about this?” emily recovered, grabbing the folder and nodding toward the office upstairs.

“of course.” y/n nodded and followed emily into the office.

emily pointedly closed the door on prying eyes and turned to face y/n, “now that you’ve successfully fueled the office gossip fire for at least the next month. married for 20 years? is this about the netherlands? didn’t we get that annulled after we got back?”

“i thought so too. until i was a few weeks out from my wedding and they let us know that i was still in fact married according to netherlandian law.” y/n shrugged collapsing onto the couch.

“well i don’t think they call it netherlandian law,” emily paused catching the first part of what y/n said. “oh! you’re engaged. and i’m keeping you from getting married. i can try to get garcia to pull some strings online to help get the divorce finalized faster. or i can call someone over at interpol, im sure they can do something.”

y/n chuckled affectionately, “well while i appreciate the fact that you’d abuse your access to government resources for my sake. that ship has long sailed. the fact i was still married was the least of our problems. but i found that out and tried to track you down and that’s when your mother, still as lovely as i remember, let me know you had died.” y/n deadpanned, leveling emily with a look she knew very well.

“yeah, that was a whole thing.” emily grimaced.

“uh huh, im sure it was. after that, i just went with the whole widowed thing for a bit. until i heard again from your mother, so lovely, that you were alive again.”

“i didn’t realize you and my mother spoke so frequently.” emily mumbled taking a seat on the couch as well.

“you just keep giving us reasons to gab. anyways, i was in the states and figured id try to catch you after all these years. i brought the papers and figured you could sign them.”

“of course. i wouldn’t want to keep you from another marriage.” emily nodded hastily grabbing a pen to sign off.

“ah i figured you’d have run into the issue before me.”

emily dotted her and slid the folder back to y/n, “no, no one worth marrying. well besides you apparently.”

y/n smiled and giggled, “had i been aware, i would’ve been a far better wife to you but at least i didn’t widow you.”

“oh come on! what do you want me to say? had i known we were still married, i wouldn’t have died?” emily laugh incredulously.

“you had a wife to come home to, it could’ve been motivation.”

emily’s smile was free and contagious, “god you haven’t changed a bit.”

“not much sweet, but i can tell you have. lot of responsibility you got here agent.” y/n smiled sadly. “i hope you’re taking care of yourself. and your team.” there was a beat of admiration that washed over y/n’s face before she sighed and gathered the papers. “listen i’ll get out of your hair. thanks for divorcing me. always a pleasure seeing you.” y/n stood from the couch, emily following.

“of course, are you headed back right away?” emily asked hopefully.

“no i’m in the states for a bit for work, why?” y/n asked.

“oh i was just curious. figured maybe i could make up for this 20 anniversary dinners i missed.”

y/n grinned, ��agent prentiss, are you asking me on a date?”

“i think i might be asking you on at least 20, if you want to of course.”

y/n walked over to emily’s desk and grabbed a pen and sticky note. scribbling something down and tucked the post it in emily’s blazer pocket with a smirk. “you better get planning then.” y/n threw a wink over her shoulder and left the office with a smile. all the agents scattered to make it seem like they weren’t intently trying to figure out what was going on behind the closed door. y/n stopped at garcia and smiled sweetly, “thank you penelope. have a good day everyone.”

everyone mumbled their replies and watched as emily’s alleged wife exit the bullpen. as soon as the elevators closed they all hurried up the stairs to emily’s open door.

“you’re married?!” garcia was the first to exclaim and emily sighed in exasperation. she eyed her chosen family and knew she wasn’t getting out of answering this. at all.

[arielflames]

Natal house placements and the energy you embody. If you have a stellium (three or more placements in a house), this energy is more prominent.

(Please keep in mind these are just simple and general associations with the house placements. The houses in energy have way more and depending on your personal chart such as degrees, signs placement, astroids, aspects, your rising etc. This energy can change or play out a little differently. Thank you for enjoying my work—it means so much to me. Tips are always appreciated and help me continue creating, but your support in any form is more than enough. Cashapp: $Venusianlovevoice / buymeacoffee.com/arielflames ❤️❤️❤️💕💕💕 Or message me for a more detailed natal chart reading).

———————————————————

1st house placements: athletic, passionate, brave, leadership, pioneering, bold, daring, self assured and motivated. This is the house of Aries, so you guys naturally exude the energy of know thy self. Don’t let anyone talk you out of trusting yourself. You have the energy to be seen for being yourself.

2nd house placements: the house of Taurus. You guys are self sufficient, know how to make money off of your gifts, self care is important to you guys, art is a must, probably have a very powerful singing or speaking voice. Stand firm in your voice and creativity

3rd house placements: your witty, quick thinking, intelligent, local community, and even design ideas for cars is where you stand out as this is the house of Gemini. You may find that your mind moves very fast and can brainstorm quite well. Learn shoe designs if you can.

4th house placements: your emotions are quite powerful. You have the energy to break family generations trauma as this is the house of Cancer. You may be into sewing, cooking, moon gazing, you’re connected to your emotion deeply. Cuddling is your love language.

5th house placements: You’re energy is very childlike, romantic, creative, performer, art, dance, the concert stage as this is the house of Leo. You are a Jack of all trades. Not meant to be hidden.

6th house placements: your the analyst, the perfected artist, the investigator doctor, healer, the doctor everyone want to flirt with as this is the house of Virgo. You know how to pay attention to details that help to solve the problem many miss.

7th house placements: contracts, business, partnerships, justice, court/law, marriage, open enemies, the house of others as this is the house of Libra. You tend to understand what your partners needs are whether platonic or romantic. You know what roles to play in a connection for it to be harmonious (just be mindful of people pleasing too much).

8th house placements: sex, death, rebirth, the occult, the taboo, intimacy, private investigator, shared resources, underworld as this is the house of Scorpio. As someone who has 8th house placements myself, this is a very dark house and with such you guys go through rebirths a lot and this can be powerful as you come out with more knowledge of self. Phoenix rising energy.

9th house placements: Adventures, traveling, learning different languages, religion, art museums, boldness as this is the house of Sagittarius. You guys are quite multicultural. You are likely to date someone outside of your race or try different foods from outside of your state/country. You’re the teacher or life and culture. You can’t be tied down so easily.

10th house placements: public figures, fame, power house, career, authoritative, boundaries as this is the house of Capricorn. You guys are just powerful and this may intimidate people who don’t know their own power. Don’t let that stop you from succeeding though because 10th house/Capricorn placements are destined for success and no one can take that from them.

11th house placements: As an 11th house placement myself, we are the rebels of society, the revolutionaries, the black sheeps, the oddballs, the weirdos, the outside the box thinkers, the ones who makes friends from all walks of life as this is the house of Aquarius. People will not understand right away as we see into the future and that’s okay. Stand out anyway!

12th house placements: As a 12th house stelluim myself, this is probably the most misunderstood house in astrology as it’s the house that don’t exist in the physical. This is the house of the subconscious, deep waters, past life memories, hidden enemies, secret admirers (especially if you have Venus here), bedroom pleasure, house of escapism, foreign lands, art, losses, spiritual transformations (yikes). Large animals. Lots of unlocked and hidden gifts. This is the house of Pisces. Our energy is elusive so no matter how much people try to figure us out they can’t! However, other fellow 12th houser people have a spiritual connection with each other. Keep certain parts of your life private and set boundaries.

[ayeforscotland]

What is Dataflow? Part 2: Diagrams

This is the second part of a couple of posts about Dataflow, particularly why it's important for the world going forward and relating to the Crowd Strike IT disaster.

Read the first part here.

Before I get into this one today, I wanted to address a couple of things.

Firstly, Dataflow is something that nearly every single person can understand. You do NOT:

Need to have a degree in Computing Science

Need to work in IT

Need to be a data analyst / Spreadsheet master

If any of you see the word 'Data' and feel your eyes glazing over, try and snap out of it because, if you're anything like me, Dataflow is much more approachable as a concept.

Secondly, what do I mean by IT?

Traditionally in most of our media the all-encompassing 'IT department' handles everything to do with technology. But every business works differently and there are many job titles with lots of crossover.

For example, you can be an infrastructure engineer where your focus is on building and maintaining the IT infrastructure that connects your organisation internally and externally. This is a completely different role from an Application Portfolio Manager who is tasked with looking after the Applications used in business processes.

Both are technical people and come under the banner of 'IT' - but their roles are focused in different areas. So just bear that in mind!

Now that's out of the way, let's begin! This one will be a little bit deeper, and questions welcome!

An Intro to Diagrams

You probably do not need a history of why pictures are important to the human race but to cover our bases, ever since we put traced our hands on a cave wall we have been using pictures to communicate.

Jump forward in time and you have engineers like Leonardo Da Vinci drafting engineering schematics.

You get the idea, humans have been creating diagrams (Pictures) for thousands of years. Centuries of refinement and we have much more modern variations.

And there's one main reason why diagrams are important: They are a Common Language.

In this context, a Common Language helps bridge a language gap between disciplines as well as a linguistic gap. A Spanish electrician and a German electrician should be able to refer to the same diagram and understand each other, even if they don't know each other's language.

The reason they can do this is because they're are international standards which govern how electrical diagrams are created.

A Common Language for Digital?

Here's an image I've shown to clients from governments and institutions to global organisations.

Everything around us, from the products we use to the bridges we drive over and the buildings we live, work, enjoy and shop in had diagrams backing them.

You would not build a skyscraper without a structural engineering diagram, you would not build an extension on your house if an architect couldn't produce a blueprint.

Why is there not an equivalent for the Digital World and for Dataflow?

Where is the Digital Common Language?

This is the bit where the lightbulb goes on in a lot of people's heads. Because, as I mentioned in Part 1, the flow of data is the flow of information and knowledge. And the common mistake is that people think of dataflow, and only ever think about the technology.

Dataflow is the flow of information between People, Business Processes *and* Technology Assets.

It is not reserved to Technology specialists. When you look at the flow of data, you need to understand the People (Stakeholders) at the top, the processes that they perform (and the processes which use the data) and the technology assets that support that data.

The reason why this is important is because it puts the entire organisation in context.

It is something that modern businesses fail to do. They might have flow charts and network diagrams, and these are 'alright' in specific contexts, but they fall to pieces when they lack the context of the full organisation.

For example, here is a Network Diagram. It is probably of *some* value to technical personnel who work in infrastructure. Worth bearing in mind, some organisations don't even have something like this.

To be absolutely clear, this diagram will hold some value for some people within the organisation. I'm not saying it's completely useless. But for almost everyone else, it is entirely out of context, especially for any non-technical people.

So it doesn't help non-technical people understand why all of these assets are important, and it doesn't help infrastructure teams articulate the importance of any of these assets.

What happens if one of those switches or routers fails? What's the impact on the organisation? Who is affected? The diagram above does not answer those questions.

On the other side of the business we have process diagrams (aka workflow diagrams) which look like this.

Again we run into the same problem - This is maybe useful for some people working up at the process layer, but even then it doesn't provide context for the stakeholders involved (Are there multiple people/departments involved throughout) and it doesn't provide any context for technical personnel who are responsible for maintaining the technology that supports this process.

In short, nobody has the big picture because there is not a common language between Business & IT.

Conclusion

So what do we do? Well we need to have a Common Language between Business & IT. While we need people with cross-functional knowledge, we also need a common language (or common framework) for both sides of the organisation to actually understand each other.

Otherwise you get massively siloed departments completely winging their disaster recovery strategies when things like Crowd Strike goes down.

Senior Management will be asked questions about what needs to be prioritised and they won't have answers because they aren't thinking in terms of Dataflow.

It's not just 'We need to turn on everything again' - It's a question of priorities.

Thing is, there's a relatively simple way to do it, in a way that looking at any engineering diagram feels simple but actually has had decades/centuries of thought behind it. It almost feels like complete common sense.

I'll save it for Part 3 if you're interested in me continuing and I'll make a diagram of my blog.

The important thing is mapping out all the connections and dependencies, and there's not some magic button you press that does it all.

But rigorous engineering work is exactly that, you can't fudge it with a half-arsed attempt. You need to be proactive, instead of reacting whenever disaster strikes.

[obsidian-pages777]

Pick a Card: Career Guidance

Top Left to Right--> Pile 1, Pile 2

Bottom Left to Right--> Pile 3. Pile 4

================================================================================================

Pile 1

Current Situation: The Chariot

You are determined and focused on your career goals, moving forward with purpose and direction. There's a sense of control and determination driving your actions.

Challenges: Five of Wands

You may be facing competition or conflict in your workplace. There could be differing opinions and struggles that make it hard to progress smoothly.

Advice: Strength

Rely on your inner strength and patience to navigate through challenges. Maintain self-control and approach conflicts with compassion and understanding. Your resilience will lead you to success.

Ideal Careers:

Leadership Roles: Positions such as a manager, director, or CEO, where determination and leadership are crucial.

Entrepreneur: Running your own business where you can harness your drive and overcome competition.

Project Management: Roles that require strong organizational skills and the ability to navigate conflicts and challenges.

Military or Law Enforcement: Careers that require discipline, determination, and the ability to handle conflict and stress.

Athletics or Coaching: Where physical and mental strength, as well as resilience, are important.

================================================================================================

Pile 2

Current Situation: The Hierophant

Your career path is currently influenced by traditional structures and conventional methods. You may be working within an established system or organization.

Challenges: Seven of Cups

There may be confusion or too many options available, making it difficult to choose the right path. Avoid getting lost in illusions or wishful thinking.

Advice: The Hermit

Take time for introspection and seek inner guidance. Reflect on your true goals and values before making decisions. Solitude and self-reflection will provide clarity.

Ideal Careers:

Education: Teacher, professor, or academic advisor, where traditional knowledge and guidance are valued.

Religious or Spiritual Leader: Priest, minister, or spiritual counselor, providing guidance within established belief systems.

Legal Profession: Lawyer, judge, or paralegal, working within the structures of the legal system.

Research and Academia: Careers that involve deep study and reflection, such as a researcher or academic.

Counseling or Therapy: Roles that require introspection and helping others find clarity, such as a therapist or counselor.

================================================================================================

Pile 3

Current Situation: Ace of Pentacles

A new opportunity or beginning in your career is emerging. This could be a job offer, a new project, or a chance to start something new with strong potential for growth.

Challenges: The Devil

Be wary of falling into negative patterns or becoming too attached to material success. Avoid temptations that could lead to unethical behavior or burnout.

Advice: Page of Swords

Approach new opportunities with curiosity and a willingness to learn. Stay vigilant and gather information before making decisions. Be clear and honest in your communication.

Ideal Careers:

Finance: Banker, financial advisor, or investment analyst, where new opportunities for growth are abundant.

Real Estate: Real estate agent or property manager, involving new ventures and potential for substantial growth.

Technology: IT specialist, software developer, or tech entrepreneur, where continuous learning and vigilance are key.

Journalism: Reporter, editor, or content creator, focusing on gathering and disseminating information.

Consulting: Business consultant or analyst, providing strategic advice and insights to businesses.

================================================================================================

Pile 4

Current Situation: Three of Cups

Collaboration and teamwork are currently significant in your career. You may be part of a supportive group or network, enjoying camaraderie and shared goals.

Challenges: Four of Pentacles

There could be a tendency to hold on too tightly to security or resources, leading to stagnation. Fear of change or loss may be preventing growth.

Advice: The Star

Stay hopeful and keep a positive outlook. Trust in the universe and your vision for the future. This is a time for healing, inspiration, and aligning with your true purpose.

Ideal Careers:

Event Planning: Event coordinator or wedding planner, where collaboration and teamwork are essential.

Human Resources: HR manager or recruiter, fostering a positive and collaborative workplace environment.

Creative Arts: Artist, musician, or performer, involving collaboration and shared creative goals.

Non-Profit or Community Work: Community organizer, social worker, or NGO worker, focusing on collective well-being and humanitarian goals.

Healthcare: Nurse, doctor, or therapist, providing care and support with a focus on healing and hope.

[hunterrrs]

Monday morning, the nerves were long gone, her prep work was largely done and the magnitude of the looming moment finally hit Michelle Crechiolo hard.

That night, when the Penguins battled the Philadelphia Flyers, she would become the first female broadcaster to ever call a regular season Penguins game.

When Crechiolo realized that morning that she would be a trailblazer and perhaps an inspiration to other women in hockey, her thoughts drifted to one of her favorite photos — a picture of her when back she was playing in Mini Mites.

“It’s making me emotional thinking about it now,” she later told the Post-Gazette, her voice quivering. “I’ve got the Jofa gloves, wooden stick. I’ve got on a little pink turtleneck under all my equipment. And I’m just posing and cheesing, and I’m missing a tooth. And I’m just so happy to be a hockey player.

“I’m just thinking about what that little girl would say if I told her that I was doing this, doing color commentary on a Pittsburgh Penguins radio broadcast. It’s just so surreal. It really is. I stuck with hockey because I loved it, and it’s led me here. And I just couldn’t be more grateful to be in this position. It’s wild.”

Around 10 a.m. Sunday, Crechiolo received a text message from Leo McCafferty, the Penguins’ vice president of content and production. He told her they believed she would be a great option to step in for Phil Bourque, who was sick. He asked if she would be up for taking his place on the radio broadcast.

“I was like, ‘Oh, hell yeah,’” she said with a laugh. “That was my response.”

When she hung up the phone, she had a brief moment of nervousness, wondering what she had just gotten herself into. But then she just felt “pure excitement.” She rushed downstairs to share the news with her boyfriend, Chuck.

“That’s when it hit me. ‘Oh my god, I’m going to be the color analyst on a National Hockey League broadcast between the Penguins and Flyers,’” she said.

Not only that, Crechiolo is the first woman to do play-by-play or color commentary on a local TV or radio broadcast for any of Pittsburgh’s three big-league teams.

Once Crechiolo calmed down, she went about her business as usual. She headed to UPMC Lemieux Sports Complex to watch practice, then in the locker room she gathered as many “nuggets” as she could for Monday’s broadcast.

Sidney Crosby, Jake Guentzel, Tristan Jarry and Rickard Rakell were among the players who gave her support and advice — or a good-natured ribbing.

When they began broadcasting her quick hits up on the Jumbotron, Crechiolo was anxious about stepping into an on-camera role. But something coach Mike Sullivan said about a player making his NHL debut resonated with her.

“He said, ‘It’s not about putting pressure on yourself. You’re there for a reason. It’s about getting excited for the opportunity, because you’re just doing something you love to do,’” Crechiolo said. “And that was how I felt about this.”

michelle 🥰🥰🥰

[adaptiveus]

How to Become a Business Analyst from a Developer Role in Madrid, Spain

Introduction:

In the bustling tech hub of Madrid, Spain, the demand for skilled Business Analysts (BAs) is on the rise. As companies increasingly recognize the value of bridging the gap between IT and business operations, many developers are considering a career transition to business analysis. This article explores the path from software development to business analysis in Madrid’s dynamic job market, offering insights into the skills, certifications, and strategies needed to make this exciting career change.

Key Takeaways:

Assess your transferable skills and identify areas for improvement

Pursue relevant education and certifications, such as CBAP or CCBA

Gain practical experience through transitional roles or freelance opportunities

Network within Madrid’s business analysis community

Focus on industry-specific knowledge and Spanish language proficiency

Overcome challenges with persistence and learn from success stories

Table of Contents:

Skills Assessment and Gap Analysis

Education and Certification Options

Gaining Relevant Experience

Networking and Job Search Strategies

Industry Focus in Madrid

Challenges and Solutions in the Transition

Conclusion

FAQs

1. Skills Assessment and Gap Analysis

Transitioning from a developer role to a Business Analyst position requires a careful evaluation of your existing skills and identification of areas that need improvement. Many software development skills are transferable to business analysis, providing a solid foundation for your career change.

Transferable skills from developer role:

Analytical thinking and problem-solving

Attention to detail

Technical knowledge of software development processes

Communication with technical teams

Understanding of SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle)

Key business analyst skills to acquire:

Requirements gathering and management

Stakeholder analysis and communication

Business process modeling and analysis

Data analytics and visualization

Project management fundamentals

Agile methodologies, such as Scrum

To bridge the gap between your current skillset and the requirements of a Business Analyst role, consider using resources like Business Analyst Wiki for comprehensive skill assessments and development plans.

2. Education and Certification Options

Enhancing your business analysis skills through education and certification is crucial for a successful transition. Madrid offers various options for aspiring Business Analysts to acquire the necessary knowledge and credentials.

Business Analysis courses in Madrid:

Madrid Business School: Offers specialized BA programs

IIBA Madrid Chapter: Provides workshops and training sessions

Online certification programs:

CBAP (Certified Business Analysis Professional)

CCBA (Certification of Capability in Business Analysis)

Adaptive US, a leading global provider of business analytics training, offers success-guaranteed IIBA certification preparation courses for professionals in over 90 countries. Their comprehensive programs can help you prepare for these certifications from the comfort of your home in Madrid.

Call to Action: Explore Adaptive US’s Data Analytics Bootcamp to kickstart your Business Analyst career!

3. Gaining Relevant Experience

Practical experience is invaluable when transitioning to a Business Analyst role. Here are some strategies to gain relevant experience in Madrid’s job market:

Transitional roles within current company:

Volunteer for projects that involve requirements gathering or stakeholder management

Collaborate with existing Business Analysts on ongoing initiatives

Propose and lead process improvement projects

Freelance or volunteer opportunities:

Offer business analysis services to local startups or non-profits

Participate in open-source projects that require BA skills

Contribute to business process modeling initiatives in community organizations

For more insights on gaining BA experience, visit Business Analysts Guru for expert advice and resources.

4. Networking and Job Search Strategies

Building a strong professional network and tailoring your job search are essential steps in transitioning to a Business Analyst role in Madrid.

Madrid-specific business analysis meetups and events:

IIBA Madrid Chapter events

Madrid Tech Meetups focused on business analysis and data analytics

Industry-specific conferences and workshops

Tailoring your resume for BA positions:

Highlight transferable skills from your developer role

Emphasize any business analysis projects or experiences

Showcase relevant certifications and training

Include examples of successful stakeholder management and requirements gathering

Utilize platforms like LinkedIn to connect with Madrid-based Business Analysts and IT Professionals. Engage in discussions and share insights to increase your visibility in the BA community.

5. Industry Focus in Madrid

Understanding the key industries hiring Business Analysts in Madrid can help you focus your transition efforts and tailor your skills accordingly.

Top sectors hiring Business Analysts in Madrid:

Financial Services

Telecommunications

IT and Software Development

E-commerce and Digital Services

Healthcare and Pharmaceuticals

Spanish language requirements:

Fluency in Spanish is often essential for BA roles in Madrid

Some multinational companies may offer positions where English is the primary language

Consider enrolling in intensive Spanish courses to improve your language skills

For industry-specific insights and job market trends, check out Business Analysts Online for up-to-date information.

6. Challenges and Solutions in the Transition

Transitioning from a developer to a Business Analyst role in Madrid may present some challenges. Here are common obstacles and strategies to overcome them:

Overcoming potential obstacles:

Lack of business domain knowledge: Immerse yourself in industry publications and attend sector-specific events

Limited stakeholder management experience: Seek opportunities to lead cross-functional projects in your current role

Perception as “just a techie”: Highlight your ability to bridge technical and business perspectives in your applications and interviews

Success stories from developers-turned-BAs in Madrid:

Case study: Juan Garcia, former Java developer, now Senior BA at a major Spanish bank

Testimonial: Maria Sanchez, transitioned from mobile app development to BA role in telecommunications

Conclusion

Transitioning from a developer role to a Business Analyst position in Madrid offers exciting opportunities for career growth and diversification. By assessing your skills, pursuing relevant education and certifications, gaining practical experience, and networking effectively, you can successfully make this career change. Remember to focus on industry-specific knowledge and Spanish language proficiency to enhance your prospects in Madrid’s competitive job market.

Action steps for starting the career transition:

Conduct a thorough skills assessment

Enroll in a Business Analysis certification program

Seek transitional roles or projects within your current company

Attend local BA meetups and events in Madrid

Tailor your resume and online profiles for BA positions

Improve your Spanish language skills if necessary

Stay persistent and learn from both challenges and successes

With dedication and the right approach, you can leverage your developer background to become a successful Business Analyst in Madrid’s thriving tech scene.

FAQs

Q: How long does it typically take to transition from a developer to a Business Analyst role? A: The transition can take anywhere from 6 months to 2 years, depending on your existing skills, experience, and the effort you put into acquiring new competencies.

Q: Are there any specific industries in Madrid that are more welcoming to developers transitioning to BA roles? A: The IT and software development sectors often have a smoother transition path, as they value the technical background of former developers.

Q: How important is Spanish language proficiency for BA roles in Madrid? A: Spanish proficiency is crucial for most BA positions in Madrid, as effective communication with stakeholders is a key part of the role. However, some multinational companies may offer opportunities where English is the primary language.

Q: What are the salary prospects for Business Analysts in Madrid compared to developers? A: Salaries can vary, but experienced Business Analysts often earn comparable or higher salaries than developers, especially in senior roles or specialized industries.

Q: Can I transition to a BA role while still working as a developer? A: Yes, many professionals make the transition gradually by taking on BA responsibilities in their current role or through part-time study and certification programs.

[astroismypassion]

✨PART OF FORTUNE IN SIGNS AND HOUSES SERIES: 7TH HOUSE✨

Credit: Tumblr blog @astroismypassion

ARIES PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 7TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Aries and Libra Sun people in your life. You make money via project management, team leadership, startup environment, via creating and managing marketing campaigns in collaboration with other businesses or influencers. You feel abundant when you take on responsibilities where you can direct and inspire others, focusing on building strong, dynamic partnerships.

TAURUS PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 7TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Taurus and Libra Sun people in your life. You make money via selling luxury items, such as high-end jewellery, fashion or home décor, via message therapy, work in fields related to nutrition and fitness, where you can help others achieve and maintain a healthy and stable lifestyle. You feel abundant when you incorporate aesthetics and a sense of beauty into your work.

GEMINI PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 7TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Gemini and Libra Sun people in your life. You make money via using your persuasive communication skills to excel in sales, marketing or advertising roles. You find abundance in work in public relations, via entering a business partnership where you can complement your partner’s skills. You have an excellent ability to communicate and negotiate with others. You find wealth when you work closely with clients on a one-on-one basis.

CANCER PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 7TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Cancer and Libra Sun people in your life. You make money via offering babysitting, nannying or after-school care. You may also find abundance in selling handmade items (candles, home decor or personalized gifts). You feel abundant when you work in nursing, patient care, daycare, work in hospitality industry. You feel abundant when you pay attention to your gut feelings when making decisions.

LEO PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 7TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Leo and Libra Sun people in your life. You make money via becoming a motivational speaker or event host. You may also earn money via being a stylist for others, personal stylist, personal shopper or providing makeup artist services for people that go to events. You may also do really pretty nails.

VIRGO PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 7TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Virgo and Libra Sun people in your life. You make money via working as a freelance writer, editor or proofreader. You may also offer consulting services in area of business strategy, health, wellness, nutrition and financial planning. Offer tutoring services in subjects you are knowledgeable about.

LIBRA PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 7TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Libra Sun people in your life. You make money via teaching an instrument or vocal lessons if you have musical skills. Share your knowledge in painting, drawing and crafts. You can start a TikTok account focused on topics of fashion, DIY, lifestyle, make up, clothing, sharing your recipes.

SCORPIO PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 7TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Scorpio and Libra Sun people in your life. You make money via joint ventures, such as turnaround projects or startups in emerging industries or engaging in joint venture that involves a profound change or transformation, via family law, criminal law, forensic science, via work in crisis management or trauma recovery, investment banking or wealth management, work as a financial analyst or alternative healing methods (reiki, acupuncture, hypnotherapy).

SAGITTARIUS PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 7TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Sagittarius and Libra Sun people in your life. You make money via writing books, articles, blogs on philosophical topics, travel experiences or cultural insights. You feel the most abundant when you are optimistic, enthusiastic and when you have direct and honest communication. You could find wealth through work in journalism, especially in roles that involve travel or reporting on cultural events and global news, work in diplomacy or international relations.

CAPRICORN PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 7TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Capricorn and Libra Sun people in your life. You make money via investment banking, financial planning, property management, real estate development, specializing in corporate law, contract law or real estate law. You could also make money as a mediator or arbitrator, helping to resolve disputes and negotiate contracts. You feel most abundant when you define clear, achievable goals, when you are being focused with persistent effort.

AQUARIUS PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 7TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Aquarius and Libra Sun people in your life. You make money via holistic therapy, energy healing, managing public relations for progressive companies or causes, via co-authoring books, developing new products. You feel abundant when you continuously seek out and embrace new ideas, technologies, ways of thinking, when you are being innovative and when you utilize technology to enhance your work and when you stay up-to-date with the latest technology.

PISCES PART OF FORTUNE IN THE 7TH HOUSE

You feel the most abundant when you have Pisces and Libra Sun people in your life. You make money via creative problem-solving abilities, running a boutique hotel, bed and breakfast or wellness retreat, nutritional coaching, meditation coaching, organizing cultural events, such as art exhibitions, music festivals or theatre productions or visual arts.

Credit: Tumblr blog @astroismypassion

[southeastasianists]

The Philippines is known as a country that supports political dynasties, and powerful clans have played a major role in the country’s politics for decades. But in the last week of June, Vice President Sara Duterte made an announcement that rocked the nation as her family appears to be gearing up to take political dynasties to the next level. On June 28, the vice president confirmed that her father, Former President Rodrigo Duterte, and her brothers, Davao First District Rep. Paolo Duterte and Davao City Mayor Sebastian Duterte, will all run for senator in the 2025 elections. 

Social media is all abuzz with news of this development, with those supporting the Duterte camp ecstatic at the possibility of having all three Dutertes in the Senate. However, those who are staunchly against this have been equally loud on Twitter and Facebook, calling the country’s political system a joke. As one of the most influential political families in the country have benefited from the results of a well-executed social media strategy in the last presidential elections, Filipinos can expect that the Internet will once again turn into an all-out war zone in the coming months. But can social media bring about the downfall of political dynasties, or will it take them to new heights? Here’s what you need to know about the influence of social media on political dynasties in the Philippines. 

Social Media Brought the Marcoses Back to Power

For two decades, Filipinos had to submit to the rules of Ferdinand Marcos’ regime as the former president enforced Martial Law. Historians attest that his dictatorship resulted in over 3,000 extrajudicial killings and more than 30,000 tortures, apart from other human rights violations. The Marcoses also infamously stole $5 to $10 billion from the Central Bank of the Philippines as stated in the documents provided by the Presidential Commission on Good Government. 

After the assassination of opposition leader Benigno Aquino Jr., Marcos was blamed for his death. The family immediately fell from grace as Aquino’s supporters joined hands to support his widow, Corazon Aquino, during the People Power Revolution of 1986. Mrs. Aquino became the new President of the Philippines, while the Marcoses were exiled in Hawaii. In 1989, the matriarch, Imelda, as well as Marcos’ children were allowed to return to the country, and from there, they started planning their political comeback. Their return to politics started with Imelda winning a congressional seat in 1995, while her children, Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. and Imee Marcos, won positions in local government. 

After Bongbong was elected as a senator in the 2010 elections, it was only a matter of time before he decided to run in the presidential elections. In 2022, Bongbong was up against nine other presidential candidates, the most notable being Leni Robredo, who was the Vice President at that time. It was reported that social media campaigns to discredit Robredo, a strong disinformation campaign, and online efforts to revise history contributed to Bongbong’s win, putting the Marcoses firmly back in power. That election year was one of the most divisive times in Philippine history, as it resulted in the falling out of families, the shut down of a major TV network, and increased hostility in social media platforms. 

Political Dynasties and Their Hold on Social Media

Political analysts are saying that the Philippines is where it is right now because certain politicians have turned public office into family businesses. With everyone complaining about the ever-increasing prices of commodities, lack of jobs, and non-stop graft and corruption for so many years now, many would think that Filipinos should have had enough of political families by this time. However, with politicians becoming social media savvy in recent years, it’s likely that more political dynasties will rise in the future. With the majority of Filipinos perpetually online, it’s likely that political clans will take to the Internet to gather support for their family members who are vying for a place in politics.

Other than the Dutertes, political analyst Edmund Tayao predicts that there will be more families running together in the upcoming senate elections. Siblings Pia and Alan Cayetano currently have seats in the senate, and so do Cynthia Villar and her son Mark. They are all projected to run for reelection in 2025. Meanwhile, 3 members of the Tulfo family, which has four members in congress, are also said to run in the senate elections. Their bid for a senate seat will be confirmed upon the filing of Certificates of Candidacy in October.

Countering Political Misinformation on Social Media

Certain influencers have found ways to spread disinformation on social media as a way to promote some political families, but anti-disinformation advocates have also taken to TikTok and Facebook to fight political misinformation. Genealogist Mona Magno-Veluz is one such TikTok personality who is actively battling historical and political misinformation. There’s also the local civic society organization Break the Fake movement, which regularly holds seminars to train influencers to fact-check their sources. 

AI tools have also been used by fact-checking initiatives such as FactsFirstPH to fight disinformation. Meanwhile, to inform the youth about election-related information, nonprofit corporation Pinas Forward created the E-Boto website, which contains background information for all national candidates, presented in a Gen Z-friendly, TikTok style.

Can Social Media Eradicate Political Dynasties in the Philippines?

Social media has made it easier to access information, but it has also created opportunities to spread disinformation and propaganda techniques to sway the results of elections. Knowing how to distinguish facts from lies, and putting a stop to historical revisionism can protect Filipinos from repeating past mistakes. Fact-checking information, hearing the opinions of a diverse group of people, and educating the public about the dangers of disinformation, fear mongering, hate speech, and cyberbullying may all help to boost the nation’s media literacy and prevent political families from dominating in the upcoming elections. 

But as long as Filipinos keep voting for candidates who share the same beliefs and principles as their family members who are in power, no amount of protests on Facebook or Twitter can change the country’s political landscape. As proven by the current administration, social media will continue to be a valuable tool for political dynasties jockeying for power. After all, it helped a once shunned family to regain their place in politics, so no one should be surprised if it enables multiple family members – even those who are blatantly unqualified – to be elected into public office. 

Nina Sumsy Nina Sumsy is a freelance writer with a background in journalism

[jusst-you-race]

in the condo fic what does everyone do for work?

this is an excellent question and one I have avoided because my greatest shame is that the answer for some of them is…. I don’t know??? I’m going to lay out what I do have, and then open it up to suggestions for the ones that are less set in stone!

George and Lewis work for a magazine, Lewis is the fashion editor, and George works in some kind of admin/business analyst/Toto’s PA kind of role… undefined (because I don’t know enough about how magazines work)

Alex is a vet nurse

Lando is a part time streamer and part time yoga instructor, Daniel is a personal trainer at the same gym Lando does yoga at

Oscar and Logan are students, studying engineering and photography respectively

Charles is an architect (I imagine he’s only just finished studying and got a job though)

Carlos works at his dad’s business… that’s all I got for that one… lots of meetings… maybe it’s something in finance?

Max is an IT guy, again, nothing established beyond that. also a part time streamer

Pierre and Yuki work at a restaurant! It’s how they met actually. Yuki is a chef, Pierre is the bartender/mixologist/sommelier depending on how fancy you imagine the restaurant

Zhou is a part time model part time barista at a cat cafe

Esteban owns a comic book shop, and Lance works as his employee for very little money because Lance is a good friend (and doesn’t need the money)

Kevin and Nico are both PE teachers for rival all girls primary schools

Valtteri is a physiotherapist

Checo…. does something… open to suggestions

And Fernando also has a job :) whatever that may be :)

[d-lanx]

New WWE AU Idea: Newscaster AU

Ok, I need to put this down somewhere before it drives me insane. It's a stupidly niche AU idea but it's taking up so much brain power for me right now for some reason. It's a journalist AU where the WWE is a TV news channel. Details below the cut.

But basically I've been thinking about all the people who've been running the PLE pre & post shows & hosting PLEs this year a lot. And with the whole news-style interviews and sitting around on sets that often look like news studios, what if they were all actual reporters in a news channel? It's a bit of a weird one I know, but it's been rolling around in my head all weekend.

Btw I have no idea if USA news channels call their emplyees the same sort of titles as we have in the UK so excuse me if the job titles are a bit scuffed. But basically here's all the roles they have, why I chose those roles for them (in brackets), and what they get up to as part of this AU news channel:

Michael Cole: Senior Newsreader- (Because of his commentary work and journalism background). Out of all the people currently regularly on TV, he's been there the longest and is highly respected. Always trusted to keep a level head in times where the world feels like it's gone to hell.

Corey Graves: Business Correspondent- (Because he has a degree in marketing). Feel like he'd do a segment kinda like "The Martin Lewis Money Show" we have in the UK, where he goes through government changes to finance-related stuff, explains it and how it'll affect the average person, and then answers questions from a live studio audience and gives them advice.

Wade Barrett: Environmental Correspondent- (Because he has a degree in marine biology). I get the vibe his favourite animals are tiny and obscure things like a specific type of sea pickle on the verge of extinction or something and he defends them aggressively to get people to help save the species. Has memorised his evidence for global warming and can reel it off with ease, but is sick of having to do it so much cos people STILL DON'T BELIEVE IN IT????????

Pat McAfee: Sports Correspondent- (Do I even need to explain why? He's a mad man and I can't imagine him doing anything else, even out of a whole cast of people on a sports show like WWE). Feel like most people try to keep somewhat calm and professional on a news show, but he's just himself the whole way through, making him one of the most popular reporters on the whole channel because people want to see his OTT reactions to certain events. Feel like he'd also probably be in charge of the news station's radio show, too, what with how he has the Pat McAfee Show in real life.

Big E Langston: Political Correspondent- (He just gives me that vibe being all analytical about wrestling feuds). He's just as tired with politicians' nonsense as we all are, to the point it's hard to hide his dissappointment when they say something stupid and he has to remain unbiased. Never lets politicians get away with evasive answers when he interviews them, but smiles the whole time as he makes them wish they were never born.

CM Punk: War Correspondent- (The man is always scrapping for the love of the game, so of course he'd be in the centre of a war). He's had bombs dropped on his head more times than he can count and regularly goes for runs as a workout to make sure he's still fit enough to run for his life when he's in active warzones. Can tell you all about the complex international relations and battle strategies but secretly has a morbid interest in death & gore which is what actually got him into the job. Once got shot on live television, showed off the wound on camera and finished his broadcast before getting medical treatment. Was only mildly miffed about nearly dying, mostly excited by the whole experience.

Jackie Redmond: Justice Correspondent- (Basically her analyst role in WWE gives me the vibe of someone discussing a crime case). Can tell you all about how 17 people have been skinned alive and cannibalised in graphic detail so casually as if she's talking about the weather. At this point in her career, pretty much nothing can phase her. So if something actually manages to leave her speechless, you know it's bad.

Cathy Kelley: General Reporter- (Basically cos it's just what she's doing in WWE). Going wherever she needs to be to interview people and get to the bottom of a story. Has interviewed some really dangerous people that are twice her size all in the name of finding a good story and everyone's just like "for the love of god please think about ur own safety for once."

The Miz: Media Correspondent- (Cos of his reality TV background and generally over the top vibes). He'd be all over red carpet events and he's definitely still hoping to use his media journalism as some leverage to get into show-business himself. Celebs see him at events and pray they haven't been spotted so they don't have to talk to him, cos he can be a lot. But this little bastard has the eyes of a hawk and will hunt them down. Especially if he's persoanlly a big fan of them and their work.

R-Truth: Weatherman- (Cos he's a ray of sunshine :) ) Just imagine the batshit insanity of him telling people about a storm or how nice the weather's gonna be or something (I'm thinking like a Bob Hale skit on the original Horrible Histories, that kind of madness).

Sheamus: Tech Correspondent- (Cos he's a former IT technician so he can be all brainy). Constantly treated like IT support rather than a journalist and is sick of having to switch on servers people promised were already on, and listening to people with no idea what they're talking about prattle on about the benefits of AI. But at least he gets to talk about flying cars and robot dogs all day and muck about with new tech for a living.

Triple H: Editor In Chief- (Basically the top role in journalism to match with his current role in real life). Running things is like trying to herd cats, but hey, he can put on a pretty damn good show. Trying desperately to move on from the scandals of the days when the previous editor-in-chief was in charge of things.

Obviously some of them wouldn't be able to use their ring names in those environments. Plus I'm probably forgetting some people who should be in this AU that have been involved in pre/post shows, hosting, and commentary, but my brain's a bit too frazzled to go thru all the PLEs right now.

But like... come on... look at them and just imagine for a second... do you see the vision???? Or have I finally gone a bit mad??

LIKE JUST LOOK AT THEM!!

Also it gives me even more reasons to think about punk in suits <3

Also also if he were a war correspondent and had to go out into dangerous places, they'd make him wear gear which means more of this. vvv

Also CM Punk & Big E Langston are the two people I'm blaming for putting this AU in my head just so you know. Cos look at them!!

But also since punkintyre died, I've been reliving my sheamus/punk shipping days and just imagine sheamus waiting for his husband to come back from reporting in an active warzone and being worried for his safety (especially if he's been hurt before [whump time?]). And then all the excitement and relief when he gets back and giving each other special attention cos they were both so stressed and now they're just so happy to see each other again.

Also imagine Punk being inept with technology and needing help from tech savvy husband who's so proud that punk's finally learnt how to attach a file in an email. Punk probably sends Sheamus facebook minions memes and Sheamus despairs.

And then Punk excitedley explains all about battle strategies and war history and Sheamus excitedley explains back about the complexities of designing a self driving car or some shit. They're both just being massive nerds together. Even better when their interests overlap, like the design of tanks or something. Feel like they'd be talking for hours and everyone is like "guys come on, we have a show to run" but they're too busy with their hyperfixations (autistic sheapunk anyone? [is that what the ship name is??]).

Just think of the shipping potential!!

And this whole countdown show also was major inspo cos to me it just looks so much like a news show.

And these three just give me the vibe that E (being a political correspondent) would obviously be doing a show for the elections. And since law and war are both very close to politics, he'd get punk and jackie in to keep him company and the three would do an overnight show reporting on election results as they come in, chatting shit the entire time.

Btw I still don't know what this all means for the other WWE wrestlers. Defeats the point of using commentators and hosts if I also have all the wrestlers also being journalists. So maybe they can be the people featured in the news. All having "normal" jobs like politicians and military and scientists and shit. And these guys can be reporting on their nonsense and bullying them in interviews.

I feel like I could add more people to it, like having ring announcers as general news readers, and Shawn Michaels, Adam Pearce and Nick Aldis as editors or something. And I'm probably forgetting other people who hosted PLEs or were presenters on pre/post shows, and other commentators. So there'll be plenty more that could be added.

Sorry about the info dump but I needed to put this somewhere. I'm not the only one seeing the vision on this am I????