#103 - Connection Circles is Another Powerful Tool for System Thinking
Lisema Matsietsi CDFA, PD(SA), M.Inst.D, MCom
2x Author || Charperson of Board || Independent Trustee || Founder & Managing Director: Being An Analyst || Senior Advisor and Chartered Development Finance Analyst ||
Words of Gratitude
Editor's Note By Lisema Matsietsi
Considering ways to implement systems thinking at work? If you believe it will enhance your analysis and offer valuable insights to decision-makers, then the answer is YES. Connection circles are a potent tool for visualising and analysing the complex interrelationships within systems. They enable analysts to look beyond isolated components and understand the dynamics that govern system behaviour.
Integrating connection circles into your toolkit enhances your capacity to manage the intricacies of modern systems, making you a more effective and innovative analyst. Whether overseeing projects, leading organisational change, or creating new products, connection circles will assist you in discerning the crucial connections and making wiser decisions. Enjoy this newsletter, and let's reconvene this coming Thursday for the next one.
Connection Circles is Another Powerful Tool for System Thinking
We have seen how most analysts are constantly seeking ways to understand and navigate complex systems while the majority are content with the status quo. One tool that has proven invaluable in this regard is the connection circle. Connection circles are a visual tool used to map out the relationships between different elements of a system. Imagine you’re analysing a project within your organisation. Elements like resources, deadlines, team skills, and stakeholder expectations all play a role in the project's success. A connection circle allows you to visually represent how these elements interact and influence one another.
By placing each element around the circle and drawing lines between them to show relationships, you can start to see the bigger picture. This visualisation helps you identify feedback loops—where one element's output influences another, which in turn affects the first element again. Understanding these loops is crucial for predicting how changes in one part of the system might ripple through the whole. Whether you're a novice analyst just starting or a seasoned professional looking to sharpen your skills, understanding how to use connection circles in system thinking can give you a significant edge... Read More
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Ready for CyberSecurity Indaba?
Join us at the Inaugural Annual Cybersecurity Indaba, a premier event bringing together industry leaders, policymakers, academics, and technology experts to tackle the pressing cybersecurity challenges facing South Africa.
What To Expect?
Hackathon - Leading up to the Indaba, CyberM8 in partnership with The Innovation Hub, will host a cybersecurity hackathon.
Awareness - During October month, CyberM8 will run a month-long cybersecurity awareness campaign on social media and traditional media platforms
Panel Discussions - Participate in dynamic panel discussions and policy roundtables where you can share your insights and collaborate with peers.
Networking - Network with fellow cybersecurity professionals, policymakers, and industry experts during our evening social events.
Celebrate Women's Month with a Heartfelt Gift
This femininity memoir is a poignant tribute to the incredible women who shape our lives. By gifting this book, you'll be acknowledging the vital role women play in empowering boys and men, nurturing healthy masculinity, and celebrating their contributions to our personal growth. Through personal anecdotes and insightful reflections, Kabelo Chabalala explores the profound impact of women on his life, from childhood to adulthood. This book is a heartfelt expression of gratitude and appreciation for the women who have made a difference.
By gifting "A Woman - I am because you are", you'll be sparking meaningful conversations and encouraging a deeper understanding of the importance of women's roles in our lives. This book is an ideal gift for employees, clients, or partners who value empathy, inclusivity, and empowerment.
Why this book?
Elevating Your Analytical Skills: 12 Habits to Adopt in 2024 for a Successful Year
2023 was undoubtedly one of the best years we’ve had, as we finally moved past the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown restrictions and were able to resume some of the activities that were put on hold in 2020. However, in order to sustain these activities in the fast-paced world of 2024, we need to make some significant changes and shift our habits accordingly. To become the best possible analyst, it’s not enough to just have technical expertise – cultivating habits that improve our overall well-being and cognitive abilities can also significantly boost our analytical skills. Whether you’re a beginner or looking to improve your proficiency, incorporating these habits into your daily routine can help you achieve success and end the year on a high note. Let’s get started!... Read More
A Novice Analyst’s Guide to Demystifying Database Types
Have you recently asked yourself about database types? If not, did you know that databases play a pivotal role in storing, organising, and retrieving information in the world of data management? Knowing about databases could be useful for us before we request analysis work to be conducted. In fact, novice analysts often encounter various database types, each tailored to specific use cases. Some have battled to understand why a database type was chosen instead of another. This article aims to shed light on some of the most common database types, their characteristics, advantages, disadvantages, and the ideal scenarios for their implementation. We will be discussing (1) Relational Databases, (2) Document Databases, (3) Graph Databases, (4) Analytical Databases, (5) Column-Family databases, and (6) Key-Value databases... Read More
Certified Business Analysis Professional (CBAP?)
This skill is based on the IIBA BABOK Guide 3rd Edition and covers all IIBA CBAP certification objectives. This skill will also help you qualify for the CBAP certification exam by fulfilling the required 35 hours of Professional Development.
What you will learn
Python for Data Science, AI & Development
Are you Working From Home or Remotely?
As analysts, we can customise our work environments to fit our preferences, which fosters a sense of autonomy and independence. Additionally, the expansion of access to a global talent pool allows organisations to recruit top talent without the limitations of geography. In essence, remote and hybrid work models enable analysts to structure their workdays more effectively, mitigate burnout, and promote a healthier balance between work and life, enhancing their overall well-being and job satisfaction.
Here are some resources you could use to search for your next analyst job.
Chief Data and Analytics Officer
领英推荐
RMB is a place where exceptional individuals carve out their own paths by defying the norm and fostering sustainable change. Bound by our proud legacy, robust ethics, and the philosophy of traditional values blended with innovative ideas, it's the unique magic of our people and culture that distinguishes us. Now is the time to envision your future with South Africa's premier Financial Services employer for 2023, where collective thinking empowers you to unlock unparalleled opportunities for our clients and the community. This role will be under the Chief Data and Analytics Officer at RMB. The Chief Data and Analytics Officer for Enablement will oversee the comprehensive data and analytics strategy and its implementation, encompassing Information Management practices like data quality, metadata management, data provisioning, BI, analytics, and AI to generate business value.
Head of Analytics
The Head of Analytics will lead the data analytics function within the bank, overseeing the development and execution of data analytics initiatives. Accountable for the implementation and management of the Bank’s insights and analytics function as it pertains to the Bank’s operations. Must also provide MIS and analytics support to the wider Bank including other departments such as Product, Risk, Distribution, Operations, etc.
Unveiling the Power of Data Quality in AI and Compelling Data Stories
In this episode of "How to Start Being an Analyst," we delve deep into the often-overlooked cornerstone of data storytelling: data quality. Analysts understand the significance of a compelling narrative backed by solid data. However, without ensuring our data's integrity, accuracy, and completeness, our stories risk faltering before they even begin.
Join me, seasoned analyst and founder of Being An Analyst, as we embark on a journey to unravel the profound link between data quality and effective data storytelling. Through real-world examples and expert insights, we'll explore how investing in data quality not only enhances the credibility of our analyses but also enriches the narratives we craft.
Discover the pivotal role data quality plays in fostering trust among stakeholders, empowering decision-makers, and ultimately driving meaningful business outcomes. From identifying common pitfalls to implementing best practices, this episode equips aspiring analysts and seasoned professionals alike with the tools and knowledge needed to elevate their storytelling prowess.
Tune in as we unlock the transformative potential of high-quality data and learn how to harness its power to captivate, persuade, and inspire action.
Key Takeaways:
Join me on this enlightening journey as we bridge the gap between data quality and compelling data storytelling, empowering analysts to unleash their full potential in the dynamic landscape of the knowledge economy.
If We Are All Citizens of a VUCA World, How Could We Embrace This When Making Decisions?
Business decision-making often involves selecting one option over another, but it doesn't have to be that way. Wendy Smith and Marianne Lewis suggest that leaders should look beyond "either/or" decisions to find solutions that incorporate ambiguity and paradox. This episode teaches you to rephrase your questions for more inventive answers and to shift your mindset from conflicting relationships to a focus on interdependencies. Smith, a management professor at the University of Delaware, and Lewis, dean at the University of Cincinnati Lindner College of Business, are the coauthors of "Both/And Thinking: Embracing Creative Tensions to Solve Your Toughest Problems." The key topics of this episode include leadership, decision-making, problem-solving, trade-offs, and reframing.
Are you struggling with Financial Reporting and Analysis?
In this episode, Suzaan de Beer CA(SA) discusses financial reporting and its importance. Besides that, she also discusses what the business owner could gain from a set of well-prepared financial statements. We will start to hear how being a CA(SA) analyst could give you a boost in assisting SMMEs in gaining valuable insights using financial statements.
Do you Have Difficult Partners or Clients? Here is How to Deal with Questions From Difficult Stakeholders
In this episode, we will revisit a Strategy Skills classic on how to respond to challenging questions posed by clients during an executive workshop or other types of executive group meetings. We begin by discussing the mindset a consultant needs to effectively manage difficult questions from clients. Then, we outline the specific steps to address challenging questions that arise during a workshop or presentation. Finally, we explore the skills necessary to handle tough questions, particularly those without immediate answers.
Recursion Tells How They Are Accelerating Biopharmaceutical with AI
Techbio is a field combining data, technology and biology to enhance scientific processes — and AI has the potential to supercharge the biopharmaceutical industry further. In this episode of NVIDIA’s AI Podcast, the host speaks with Chris Gibson , cofounder and CEO of Recursion, about how the company uses AI and machine learning to accelerate drug discovery and development at scale. Tune in to hear Gibson discuss how AI is transforming the biopharmaceutical industry by increasing efficiency and lowering discovery costs.
Why Should You Develop Further As An Analyst?
The guest, Lungile Mnguni has worked as a Business Analyst in 14 African countries and she volunteers for the IIBA chapter in South Africa. As an advocate for professional development, she speaks to how it has enabled her to thrive in her career and encourages BAs to take their development seriously.
How Can I Help Grow This Community?
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