#Lean Development Methodology

[poolvision]

https://thepoolvision.com/mvp/

Mastering Project Management with MVP: Building Successful Software

In the fast-paced world of software development, where innovation drives success, the concept of the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) has emerged as a game-changer. MVP project management has revolutionized how startups and entrepreneurs approach software development, allowing them to validate ideas, minimize risks, and maximize outcomes.

We'll delve into the depths of MVP software development, exploring its lifecycle, methodologies, benefits, and real-world success stories.

[jacelynsia]

Start Small, Scale Fast: The Key to Quick and Effective Product Launches

Discover how the "Start Small, Scale Fast" approach helps businesses validate ideas, minimize risks, and accelerate product launches. Learn about the Innovation Acceleration Workshop and how it fosters collaboration, lean experimentation, and customer-focused development.

[metaficco]

Maximize Impact: The Importance of MVPs in Startup Innovation

Uncover the significance of Minimum Viable Products (MVPs) in driving startup innovation with this insightful infographic. Learn about the key MVP benefits that support product validation and agile development practices

[pebblegalaxy]

Beyond Agile: Discover 10 Alternative and Effective Approaches for Product Development

While Agile is a widely successful and adaptable methodology, some alternative approaches or complementary strategies may be more effective depending on the context of the product, team dynamics, and business goals. Here are a few methods that can be considered more effective or tailored for specific scenarios than Agile: 1. Lean Development Overview: Lean focuses on reducing waste, improving…

[cyber-soul-smartz]

Mastering Project Management: Essential Skills for Success in the 21st Century

Discover the essential skills every project manager needs to master in the 21st century! From leadership to risk management, stay ahead with our expert insights. Don't miss out—subscribe now for more tips and updates on professional development!

Effective project management is more crucial than ever in today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving business landscape. Whether you’re steering a small team or overseeing a large-scale initiative, the ability to lead, communicate, manage time, solve problems, and mitigate risks can make or break your project’s success. But what exactly does it take to excel in this multifaceted discipline? And how can…

[scrumcourse]

What benefit does Lean Portfolio Management Certification offer to individuals and organizations? 

The Lean Portfolio Management Certification course is considered to be the most respected course in the industry. For individuals, it opens doors to higher-level job opportunities. This course shapes them to be eligible candidates to lead agile teams in a large organization with the necessary understanding of LPM principles and practices. And these courses are designed to support organizations with skilled workforce who understand the needs and goals of a company by taking strategic initiatives. 

[ghstyles]

Together | His Angel

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Pairing: College!Yn x CrimeBossl!Harry

WC: 4.7k

Summary: Harry gets jealous of your project partner

His Angel Masterlist

· · ─────────── ·· ────────── · ·

The first time Harry hears about Ethan, he manages to keep his expression neutral, but Y/N doesn't miss the slight tightening at the corners of his eyes.

"It's just a project for Developmental Psychology," she explains, curled against him on his obscenely expensive leather couch. "Six weeks, then it's done. Professor Romano paired everyone up randomly."

Harry's arm around her shoulders remains relaxed, but his voice carries an edge when he responds.

"Six weeks is a long time to spend with someone."

Y/N tilts her head up to look at him, amusement dancing in her eyes.

"Are you jealous?" she asks, not bothering to hide her smile. "Of a psychology major who wears the same Star Wars t-shirt three days a week?"

Harry scoffs, his fingers trailing absently along her arm.

"I don't get jealous, angel," he lies smoothly. "I just don't like sharing what's mine."

Y/N rolls her eyes, settling back against his chest.

"That's literally the definition of jealousy, Harry."

He makes a noncommittal sound, already calculating how to handle this unexpected development.

---

The first study session is scheduled for Wednesday afternoon at the campus library. Y/N arrives five minutes early, setting up her laptop and notes at a quiet corner table. When Ethan arrives, tall, lanky, with glasses and indeed wearing a Star Wars t-shirt, they quickly establish a good working rapport.

Forty minutes into their session, as they're outlining their research methodology, a hush falls over their section of the library. Y/N doesn't need to look up to know what's caused it.

"Sorry I'm late, angel," Harry's unmistakable British accent breaks the silence as he approaches their table, turning heads throughout the library.

He's dressed impeccably in a tailored charcoal suit that probably costs more than most students' semester tuition. His presence is commanding, deliberately intimidating, and entirely out of place among the casually dressed students.

Ethan looks up, confusion evident on his face as Harry pulls out a chair and sits directly beside Y/N, his arm casually draping across the back of her seat.

"Um, Y/N?" Ethan questions uncertainly.

Y/N shoots Harry a look that clearly says 'what are you doing?' before making reluctant introductions.

"Ethan, this is my boyfriend, Harry. Harry, this is Ethan, my project partner."

Harry extends his hand, his grip visibly tightening as they shake.

"Ethan," he says, the name sounding like an accusation. "Pleasure."

For the next hour, Harry remains silent but watchful, his eyes tracking every interaction between Y/N and Ethan. When Ethan explains a research concept, leaning slightly toward Y/N to point at her notes, Harry shifts closer to her, his fingers possessively stroking the back of her neck.

By the time they wrap up, Ethan is noticeably uncomfortable, stumbling over his words and avoiding eye contact with Harry.

"Same time Friday?" he asks Y/N hesitantly.

Before she can answer, Harry speaks:

"Actually, Y/N has plans Friday. You'll have to reschedule."

Y/N stiffens beside him.

"I don't have plans Friday," she corrects firmly, giving Harry a warning look. "Friday works fine, Ethan. Same time, same place."

The tension between them is palpable as they leave the library, waiting until they're in the privacy of Harry's car before Y/N confronts him.

"What the hell was that?" she demands.

Harry starts the engine, his expression unrepentant.

"Just wanted to meet this bloke you'll be spending so much time with," he says casually. "Make sure he understands the situation."

"The 'situation'?" Y/N repeats incredulously. "You mean that I have a possessive boyfriend who doesn't trust me?"

Harry's jaw tightens as he pulls out of the parking lot.

"I trust you," he says flatly. "It's him I don't trust."

Y/N sighs, some of her anger dissipating.

"Harry, he's just my project partner. He's not interested in me that way."

Harry glances at her, his expression making it clear he thinks she's being naive.

"Every man is interested that way when it comes to you," he states with absolute certainty.

Y/N can't help the small laugh that escapes her.

"That's ridiculous," she says, shaking her head. "And even if it were true, I'm not interested in anyone but you. You know that."

Harry's expression softens slightly as he reaches for her hand.

"I know," he acknowledges, bringing her fingers to his lips. "But I still don't like it."

Y/N squeezes his hand, thinking the matter resolved.

"It's just six weeks," she reminds him. "It'll be over before you know it."

---

Friday's study session goes ahead as planned, but Harry doesn't make an appearance. Y/N texts him afterward:

Thank you for giving me space today. Heading home now, want to come over later?

His response is immediate:

Already outside the library. Get in the car.

She spots his sleek black Audi idling by the curb, Harry leaning against it with his arms crossed. The sight of him, dangerous, beautiful, and unmistakably hers, still makes her breath catch, even after six months together.

"Were you waiting the whole time?" she asks as she approaches.

Harry straightens, pulling her against him for a kiss that's far too possessive for a public space.

"Maybe," he admits when they break apart, not looking remotely embarrassed about it.

Y/N laughs, shaking her head as she gets into the car.

"You're impossible."

Harry slides into the driver's seat, his hand immediately finding her thigh.

"Yet you love me anyway."

His fingers trace higher, slipping beneath the hem of her skirt.

"Harry," she protests weakly, even as heat pools in her belly. "We're in the university parking lot."

His smile is wicked as he starts the car.

"Then I suggest we get home quickly."

They barely make it through her apartment door before he has her pressed against the wall, his mouth hot on her neck, hands already working her clothes off.

Hours later,, as they lie tangled in her sheets, Y/N glances at the clock and groans.

"I was supposed to meet Ethan again an hour ago to go over our research," she realizes, reaching for her phone. "I completely forgot."

Harry pulls her back against him, looking entirely too pleased with himself.

"Send him a text," he suggests, his lips brushing her shoulder. "Tell him something came up."

Y/N narrows her eyes, suspicion dawning.

"Did you do that on purpose?" she asks. "Make me late?"

Harry's innocent expression doesn't reach his eyes.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," he says, his hand sliding down her naked back. "I was simply making love to my girlfriend."

Y/N pushes his wandering hand away, sitting up to look at him properly.

"Harry, this project is important. It's worth thirty percent of my grade."

He sits up as well, the sheet pooling around his waist.

"And I'm sure your partner can manage without you for one session," he points out, reaching for her again. "Come here."

Y/N allows herself to be pulled back into his arms, her irritation fading under his touch. But a seed of concern has been planted.

---

The pattern continues over the next three weeks. Harry doesn't crash every study session, but his presence remains a constant shadow over the project. He appears unexpectedly at the coffee shop where they're working. He calls with "emergencies" that pull Y/N away early. He schedules romantic dinners that conflict with planned research time.

And then there's the morning Y/N finds him scrolling through her laptop while she's in the shower.

"What are you doing?" she asks, tightening the towel around her body.

Harry doesn't even look guilty, continuing to read through her project notes.

"Just checking your progress," he says casually. "This Ethan doesn't seem to be contributing much."

Y/N strides across the room, closing the laptop firmly.

"That's because you're only seeing my draft notes," she says, her patience wearing thin. "Ethan does plenty of work. And even if he didn't, that's between him and me, not you."

Harry leans back in his chair, studying her with narrowed eyes.

"You're defending him."

"I'm stating facts," she corrects, frustration building. "Harry, this has to stop. You're interfering with my education."

He stands, approaching her with that predatory grace that normally makes her heart race but now just adds to her irritation.

"I'm looking out for you," he counters, his hands settling on her hips. "Making sure you're not being taken advantage of."

Y/N steps back, removing herself from his touch.

"The only person taking advantage right now is you," she says firmly. "Taking advantage of my feelings for you to control who I spend time with."

Harry's expression darkens.

"That's not what I'm doing."

"Isn't it?" Y/N challenges. "Then what would you call it?"

He doesn't answer immediately, his jaw working as he considers her question.

"Protection," he finally says. "I'm protecting what's mine."

Y/N's frustration boils over.

"I'm not a possession, Harry! I'm a person with my own life, my own goals, my own responsibilities."

"I know that," he insists, running a hand through his hair. "But you don't see how he looks at you."

"Even if that were true," Y/N argues, "it wouldn't matter because I love you. But you're so caught up in your jealousy that you can't see how ridiculous you're being."

Harry's expression hardens, his defensive walls slamming into place.

"Ridiculous?" he repeats coldly. "For wanting to keep other men away from my girlfriend?"

"For sabotaging my education!" Y/N exclaims. "For making me late to meetings, for intimidating my project partner, for acting like I can't be trusted to handle a simple academic assignment!"

They stare at each other, both breathing hard, neither willing to back down.

"I could get him removed from your class," Harry says suddenly, his voice deceptively calm. "One call to the dean, a generous donation to the psychology department—they'd transfer him to another section immediately."

Y/N stares at him in disbelief.

"Tell me you're joking," she says quietly.

The look in his eyes tells her he's absolutely serious.

"It would solve the problem," he points out.

"No, Harry, it would create a much bigger one," Y/N says, her voice tight with anger. "The problem isn't Ethan. The problem is that you think it's acceptable to use your power and influence to control my life."

Harry steps toward her, but she backs away again.

"I need you to leave," she says, her voice shaking slightly.

Something flickers in his eyes—surprise, hurt, anger—before his expression closes off completely.

"Fine," he says coldly, grabbing his jacket. "Call me when you're done playing student with your project partner."

The door slams behind him, leaving Y/N alone in the sudden silence of her apartment. She sinks onto the edge of her bed, still in just her towel, and allows the tears she's been holding back to fall.

---

Three days pass without contact from either side. Y/N throws herself into her project work, meeting with Ethan more frequently now that there are no interruptions. Harry buries himself in business, his mood so foul that even his most hardened men give him a wide berth.

On the fourth day, Y/N's phone rings as she's leaving campus. She almost doesn't answer when she sees Harry's name, but something compels her to accept the call.

"Hello?" she says cautiously.

There's a brief silence before his voice comes through, rougher than usual:

"I miss you."

Just three words, but they carry the weight of an apology he doesn't quite know how to give.

Y/N closes her eyes, fighting against the immediate softening she feels.

"I miss you too," she admits. "But that doesn't fix anything."

"I know," he acknowledges, surprising her. "Can I see you? Please?"

The 'please' catches her off guard. Harry rarely asks for anything—he commands, he takes, he arranges. But he doesn't plead.

"Okay," she agrees after a moment. "My place, one hour."

---

When she opens her door to him, the first thing she notices is how tired he looks. There are shadows under his eyes, and his normally immaculate appearance shows subtle signs of neglect. It's the way his hair is less than perfectly styled, his stubble slightly heavier than he usually allows.

They stand looking at each other for a long moment before Harry breaks the silence:

"I behaved like a jealous asshole."

Y/N raises her eyebrows, not expecting such a direct admission.

"Yes, you did," she agrees, but steps back to let him enter.

He moves past her into the apartment, turning to face her once she's closed the door.

"I've never done this before," he says abruptly.

"Done what? Apologize?" Y/N asks, crossing her arms.

Harry shakes his head slightly.

"Been in love," he clarifies, the words coming with difficulty. "Had something I couldn't control through money or power or fear."

Y/N's expression softens slightly, but she remains firm.

"That's not an excuse, Harry."

"I'm not offering excuses," he says, shoving his hands into his pockets. "I'm trying to explain. Poorly."

He takes a deep breath, visibly struggling with vulnerability.

"In my world, anything valuable is a target," he continues. "You protect what matters by any means necessary. But I applied those rules to you, to us, and I was wrong."

Y/N watches him carefully, hearing the sincerity in his voice.

"I don't need your protection from a harmless psychology student," she points out gently.

Harry's laugh is short and without humor.

"I know that. Logically, I know that. But seeing you with him..." He trails off, jaw tightening. "I hated it. I still hate it."

Y/N steps closer, but maintains enough distance to keep the conversation serious.

"You have to trust me, Harry. Not just say you do, but actually trust me."

"I do trust you," he insists, reaching for her hands. "It's everyone else I don't trust."

"That's the same thing," she argues, allowing him to take her hands but keeping her tone firm. "If you trust me, you trust my judgment. You trust that I can handle myself around other people without you interfering."

Harry looks down at their joined hands, his thumbs tracing circles on her skin.

"I don't know how to do this," he admits quietly. "I don't know how to love someone without trying to control everything around them."

The raw honesty in his voice breaks through Y/N's remaining anger. She steps closer, one hand moving to touch his face.

"You learn," she says simply. "We both learn. This is new for me too, Harry. Being with someone like you. It's not exactly covered in Dating 101."

A small smile tugs at his lips.

"I imagine not."

Y/N's expression turns serious again.

"But I need you to promise me something."

Harry nods, his eyes never leaving hers.

"Anything."

"No more interfering with my studies. No more intimidating Ethan. No more 'coincidental' appearances at our study sessions. And absolutely no calls to the dean."

Harry's jaw works as he considers her demands, his instincts warring with his desire to make things right.

"Two more weeks," he says finally. "Then the project is done."

"And then there will be another class, another project, another study partner," Y/N points out. "This isn't a one-time issue, Harry. This is about how we move forward together."

Harry pulls her closer, his forehead resting against hers.

"I'm trying," he murmurs. "I'm not good at this, but I'm trying."

"I know," she acknowledges, her hands sliding up to his shoulders. "That's why I'm still here."

He kisses her then, gentle at first but quickly deepening with the intensity of four days apart. When they finally break apart, both breathing heavily, Harry speaks against her lips:

"I love you. More than I thought possible."

Y/N smiles, her fingers tangling in his hair.

"I love you too. Even when you're being a possessive jerk."

Harry's laugh is genuine this time, his arms tightening around her waist.

"I'll work on that," he promises.

"You'd better," she warns, but there's no real threat in her tone. "Because next semester I'm taking Abnormal Psychology, and I hear the professor likes to assign group projects."

Harry groans, burying his face in her neck.

"You're going to be the death of me, angel."

Y/N laughs, pulling back to look at him.

"But what a way to go, right?"

His answering smile is predatory as he lifts her, carrying her toward the bedroom.

"Right," he agrees, kicking the door shut behind them. "Now, let me show you exactly how much I missed you."

She giggles, wrapping her legs around him and burying her face into his neck, kissing the apex of his jaw, “I hate fighting with you by the way” she murmurs in between kisses

Harry carries her to the bed with practiced ease, his strong hands gripping her thighs as he lowers them both onto the mattress. He stays above her, his weight supported on his forearms as he looks down at her with an intensity that still makes her breath catch even after all these months.

"Fighting with you is fucking terrible," he agrees, his voice low and rough with emotion. "Three days without you...I nearly lost my mind."

His fingers thread through her hair, cradling the back of her head as he studies her face like he's memorizing it all over again.

"Marco said they were taking bets on who I'd kill first," he admits with a hint of dark humor. "Apparently I'm even more of a bastard when you're not around."

Y/N's hands slide up his chest to rest on either side of his face, her thumbs tracing the sharp lines of his cheekbones.

"Poor Marco," she teases softly. "Did anyone survive your bad mood?"

Harry turns his head slightly to kiss her palm, his eyes never leaving hers.

"Barely," he murmurs against her skin. "Joey made the mistake of asking if we'd broken up. Nearly broke his fucking jaw."

Y/N's expression turns more serious, her fingers gentling against his face.

"We're not going to break up over this," she assures him, understanding the fear that likely fueled his anger. "We're going to figure it out together."

A shadow passes over Harry's face, vulnerability showing for just a moment before he masks it with desire.

"I meant what I said," he tells her, his voice dropping lower. "I don't know how to do this. Everyone I've ever..." He pauses, searching for the right words. "Everyone I've ever cared about has either left or been taken from me. And then you came along, and suddenly I had something—someone—I couldn't bear to lose."

Y/N feels the weight of his confession, understanding how difficult it is for him to express these feelings.

"I'm not going anywhere," she promises, pulling him down for a gentle kiss that quickly deepens with need.

Harry groans against her mouth, his control slipping as his body presses more firmly against hers. When they break apart, both breathing heavily, his eyes have darkened with hunger.

"I need you," he says simply, the words carrying more meaning than just physical desire.

Y/N responds by tugging at his shirt, helping him pull it over his head before her hands explore the familiar landscape of his chest and abdomen. Her fingers trace the scars that mark his skin, some from childhood, others from his dangerous life, each one a chapter in the story of the complicated man above her.

"I need you too," she whispers, arching up to kiss a particularly jagged scar near his collarbone that was the result of a knife fight when he was seventeen, he'd told her one night after they'd made love.

Harry's hands make quick work of her clothes, practiced fingers unhooking her bra and sliding her jeans down her legs until she's left in just her panties. He pauses then, sitting back on his heels to look at her, spread out beneath him.

"Fucking beautiful," he murmurs, his accent thickening as it always does when he's aroused. "Every time I see you like this, I can't believe you're mine."

Y/N reaches for his belt, her fingers working the buckle.

"I am yours," she confirms, watching his eyes darken further at her words. "Just like you're mine."

Harry helps her remove his remaining clothes, then settles back between her legs, his skin hot against hers. His mouth finds her neck, teeth grazing the sensitive spot below her ear that always makes her gasp.

"Say it again," he demands softly, his hand sliding between their bodies to cup her through her panties.

Y/N's back arches at his touch, her nails digging into his shoulders.

"I'm yours, Harry," she breathes, feeling him hard against her thigh. "Only yours."

His fingers push aside the fabric, finding her already wet for him. A satisfied growl rumbles in his chest.

"Did you miss me, angel?" he asks, circling her clit with agonizing slowness. "Did you think about me while we were apart?"

Y/N moans as he slides a finger inside her, her hips lifting to meet his hand.

"Every night," she admits, her voice breaking as he adds a second finger, stretching her deliciously. "I couldn't sleep without you."

Harry's mouth claims hers in a bruising kiss as his fingers continue their torment, building her pleasure with practiced skill. When he breaks the kiss, his eyes are almost black with desire.

"I couldn't either," he confesses, his voice strained with the effort of maintaining control. "Haven't slept more than a few hours since I walked out that door."

His fingers withdraw, making Y/N whimper at the loss. He hooks his thumbs in her panties, dragging them down her legs before positioning himself between her thighs, the head of his cock pressing against her entrance.

"Look at me," he commands softly, waiting until her eyes meet his before continuing. "I love you, Y/N. More than anything in this fucked-up world."

The raw emotion in his voice makes her heart swell. She reaches up to touch his face, her eyes never leaving his.

"I love you too, Harry. All of you. Even the difficult parts."

Something in his expression breaks open at her words, and he pushes into her in one smooth thrust, both of them gasping at the sensation of being joined again after days apart.

"Fuck, I missed you," he groans, stilling for a moment to savor the feeling of her around him.

Y/N wraps her legs around his waist, drawing him deeper.

"Show me," she challenges, rolling her hips against his.

Harry's control snaps. He begins to move with powerful thrusts that have her clutching at his back, her nails leaving crescent marks in his skin. There's an edge of desperation to their lovemaking. A need to reclaim each other after their first serious fight.

"Mine," he growls against her neck, his pace relentless. "Say it."

"Yours," Y/N gasps, feeling the familiar tension building inside her. "I'm yours, Harry. Always."

His hand slides between them again, his thumb finding her clit as his thrusts grow more erratic.

"Come for me, angel," he demands, his voice rough with exertion. "Let me feel you."

The combination of his words, his touch, and the delicious friction of his cock pushing deep inside her sends Y/N over the edge. She cries out his name as her orgasm washes over her, her body clenching around him.

Harry follows moments later, burying himself to the hilt as he comes with a guttural groan of her name. He collapses beside her, immediately pulling her against his chest, their bodies still joined.

They lie tangled together, breathing heavily, neither willing to move or break the connection. Harry's fingers trace lazy patterns on her back as their heartbeats gradually slow.

"I'm sorry," he murmurs against her hair, the words clearly difficult for him. "For being such a jealous prick."

Y/N lifts her head to look at him, her expression soft but serious.

"I need you to trust me, Harry. Not just say it, but really trust me."

Harry tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, his eyes searching hers.

"I do trust you," he says earnestly. "It's just..." He sighs, struggling to articulate his feelings. "In my world, showing any weakness can get you killed. And you, Y/N, you're the biggest weakness I've ever had."

Y/N's heart aches at his admission, understanding what it costs him to be this vulnerable.

"Love isn't weakness," she tells him gently. "It takes more strength to open yourself up to someone than it does to push everyone away."

Harry's laugh is soft and without humor.

"Tell that to my father," he says darkly. "Man beat that lesson into me before I could even tie my own shoes."

Y/N kisses him softly, her hands cradling his face.

"Your father was wrong," she says firmly. "About so many things, but especially about that."

Harry pulls her closer, burying his face in her neck as if seeking refuge from memories he rarely discusses.

"I'm trying," he murmurs against her skin. "For you, I'm trying to be...better."

"I know," Y/N assures him, her fingers threading through his hair. "And that's all I'm asking for. Just try."

They lie in comfortable silence for a while, their bodies cooling in the aftermath of their passion. Eventually, Harry speaks again, his tone lighter:

"I may have already run a background check on Ethan."

Y/N props herself up on an elbow, staring down at him in disbelief.

"Harry!"

"What?" he defends, not looking remotely guilty. "Old habits. At least I didn't have him followed."

Y/N narrows her eyes.

"Did you consider it?"

Harry's silence is answer enough.

"Unbelievable," she mutters, flopping back onto the pillows.

"So, this Ethan bloke...he's really not your type?"

Y/N laughs, pinching his side gently.

"He wears Star Wars t-shirts and lives with his mother," she reminds him. "Besides, I seem to have a thing for dangerous men with British accents and too many trust issues."

Harry rolls them suddenly so she's beneath him again, his expression mock-serious.

"Good," he says, lowering his head to kiss her collarbone. "Because I'd hate to have to make him disappear."

Y/N stiffens slightly, pulling back to look at him.

"Harry..."

He meets her gaze, his eyes softening as he reads her concern.

"I'm joking, angel," he assures her, kissing the tip of her nose. "Mostly."

Y/N narrows her eyes, but there's no real anger in her expression.

"Harry Styles, I swear to god—"

He cuts her off with a kiss, his hands sliding down to grip her hips.

"I promise not to touch your precious study partner," he says when they break apart. "But I make no promises about not touching you."

His hand slips between her legs again, finding her still sensitive from their lovemaking.

"In fact," he continues, his voice dropping to that seductive rumble that never fails to make her shiver, "I plan to touch you quite thoroughly for the rest of the night. To make up for lost time."

Y/N's protest dies on her lips as his fingers begin to move with purpose, her body responding instantly to his skilled touch.

"That's cheating," she gasps, her head falling back against the pillows.

Harry's smile is pure sin as he begins to kiss his way down her body.

"All's fair in love and war, angel," he murmurs against her stomach. "And making up is definitely my favorite part of fighting with you."

Y/N can't help but laugh despite herself.

"You're impossible," she says, the words carrying no heat.

"Yet you love me anyway," he reminds her, echoing his words from weeks before.

Y/N looks at him, this dangerous, difficult, complicated man who is trying, in his own flawed way, to be better for her, and feels her heart swell.

"I do," she confirms softly. "God help me, I really do."

As his mouth reaches its destination between her thighs, Y/N decides that further discussion about boundaries and jealousy can wait until morning. Right now, she's perfectly content to let Harry demonstrate exactly how sorry he is—in the most delicious way possible.

· · ─────────── ·· ────────── · ·

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[spr1ngpvrinbwunnie]

Do you think that Harley Sawyer is the type to initiate things when he's (romantically) interested in somebody? Like, is he capable of falling first or would the one interested in him need to do all of that stuff first?

If he actually did start things how do you think that would go?

Oh, this is a fascinating question because Harley Sawyer is not the type to approach romance like a normal person.

Would He Fall First?

It’s possible, but he wouldn’t recognize it—or at least, not immediately.

Harley is a man of logic, control, and precision. Emotions? Messy. Love? Even messier. If he does develop feelings, his first instinct isn’t to acknowledge them—it’s to analyze them, compartmentalize them, maybe even outright reject them.

“This is nothing but an anomalous reaction to repeated exposure.”

“It’s a distraction. Unnecessary.”

“This will not affect my work.” (Lies.)

But despite himself, he’d still find himself doing things that don’t make sense for a man who doesn’t care.

Noticing small things—the way you hold a pen, how you tap your fingers when you're thinking, the slight cadence of your voice when you're tired.

Paying attention to details—what kind of coffee you like, what habits you have, how you react to different things. (Not because he cares, of course. Just… data gathering.)

Adjusting his behavior—without realizing it. Standing a fraction closer when he normally wouldn’t. Pausing in conversation just a little longer than necessary. Choosing to listen rather than dismiss something outright.

So yes, he could fall first. But he would fight it every step of the way and probably wouldn’t realize what was happening until it was way too late.

Would He Initiate?

This depends. If Harley did recognize that he wanted something more, his version of “initiation” would be incredibly awkward, entirely clinical, and vaguely ominous.

He wouldn’t do anything traditionally romantic. No flowers, no obvious flirting. Instead, it’d be weirdly methodical—offering small but significant gestures under the guise of practicality.

“You’re inefficient when you’re sleep-deprived. Take this.” (Hands you a coffee exactly how you like it.)

“Your lab coat is insufficient. Wear this instead.” (It’s his.)

“Your methodology was flawed. I’ve corrected it.” (Totally not an excuse to be in your space longer than necessary.)

He might even try to test the waters in the most Harley way possible—by deliberately provoking a reaction just to see how you respond.

Standing a little too close and watching.

Saying something laced with meaning just to see if you catch it.

Acting as if nothing has changed—even when it clearly has.

And if you don’t react the way he expects? If you return that interest? That’s when he starts to unravel.

How Would It Go If He Actually Started Things?

Probably like a science experiment gone wrong—full of denial, internal conflict, and a gradual but undeniable loss of control.

Stage 1 – Denial: “This is nothing.”

He rationalizes every single action. He’s not interested, he’s just observing.

Avoids acknowledging his own behavior, even when it’s obvious.

Stage 2 – Frustration: “Why is this still happening?”

He starts to resent the way his thoughts drift toward you.

Gets irrationally annoyed when you distract him (even though you’re not doing anything).

Snaps more often, only to immediately regret it.

Stage 3 – Testing: “If I push, will they pull?”

This is when he prods, provokes, and watches.

He’s still trying to control the situation, to control himself, but it’s slipping.

Stage 4 – Breaking Point: “…Oh.”

The moment he realizes it—when he finally stops rationalizing and accepts it.

And from there? One of two things happens:

He runs from it, burying it down and pretending it never existed.

He leans into it—not gently, not gracefully, but intentionally.

If he does initiate, it won’t be in a way that’s grand or obvious. It’ll be subtle, deliberate, and laced with underlying intensity. Not because he’s trying to be romantic, but because he doesn’t know how to be.

And that? That’s what makes it all the more fascinating.

[isagrimorie]

Disney+ Putting 'Showrunner' as Jac Schaeffer's title is a win for the WGA.

I remember in 2021 everyone was miffed when Disney+ had Jac Schaeffer credited as a Headwriter.

Effectively, the studio is making its TV shows as if they were roughly six-hour movies, applying the same production methodology it’s used for the 23 unprecedentedly successful interconnected feature films that comprise the Marvel Cinematic Universe. That means empowering directors to lead a lot of creative decision-making, in collaboration with a small cadre of hands-on Marvel creative executives who are with the project from the beginning and report up to Feige.

---

For writers outside the company, however, Marvel’s decision to diminish the wide creative autonomy showrunners have traditionally wielded in TV — with directors and executives not just calling more shots within the production but also sitting in the writers’ room and requesting rewrites — touches a particularly raw nerve.

Fast forward to 2023 after the flop that was Secret Invasion and the mess of the first Disney+ Daredevil series, and after the WGA strike, Disney will now use Showrunners.

Daredevil is far from the first Marvel series to undergo drastic behind-the-scenes changes. Those who work with Marvel on the TV side have complained of a lack of central vision that has, according to sources, begun to afflict the studio’s shows with creative differences and tension. “TV is a writer-driven medium,” says one insider familiar with the Marvel process. “Marvel is a Marvel-driven medium.”  On the Oscar Isaac starrer Moon Knight, show creator and writer Jeremy Slater quit and director Mohamed Diab took the reins. Jessica Gao developed and wrote She-Hulk: Attorney at Law but was sidelined once director Kat Coiro came on board. Production was challenging, with COVID hitting cast and crew, and Gao was brought back to oversee post-production, a typical showrunner duty, but it’s the rare Marvel head writer who has such oversight.

---

Marvel is making concrete changes in how it makes TV. It now has plans to hire showrunners. Gao’s postproduction work on She-Hulk helped Marvel see that it would be helpful for its shows to have a creative throughline from start to finish. “It’s a term we’ve not only grown comfortable with but also learned to embrace,” says Winderbaum of showrunners and Marvel TV’s intention to hire them. The studio also plans on having full-time TV execs, rather than having executives straddle both television and film. “We need executives that are dedicated to this medium, that are going to focus on streaming, focus on television,” says Winderbaum, “because they are two different forms.”  It also is revamping its development process. Showrunners will write pilots and show bibles. The days of Marvel shooting an entire series, from She-Hulk to Secret Invasion, then looking at what’s working and what’s not, are done. And just as Loki, which returned Oct. 5, marked Marvel’s first season two of a series (out of nine TV shows to date), the studio plans on leaning into the idea of multi season serialized TV, stepping away from the limited-series format that has defined it. Marvel wants to create shows that run several seasons, where characters can take time to develop relationships with the audience rather than feeling as if they are there as a setup for a big crossover event. 

Marvel tried to reinvent the wheel but found out the hard way why TV is made the way it's made. But also, it's hilarious how Disney Marvel tried to sell this whole strategic move as solely their idea and not because WGA strike kicked them in the teeth.

So, Jac Schaeffer getting the Showrunner credit on a Disney-Marvel 'Making Of' episode is a really big win.

[transmutationisms]

hello caden do you have any tips for approaching history texts (both primary and secondary) as someone not in the history field? also how does one widen their general knowhow regarding the histories of diff countries? it seems like the type of thing one shld work on if they want to do largescale analyses but ive only really ever known my own country's history and america's history

these are some guiding questions i wrote out in regards to evaluating sources, and some more general tips for reading academic texts. i would also honestly recommend this extract from david bloor's strong programme in the sociology of knowledge—this pertains specifically to scientific knowledge so may not be entirely relevant to you, but is worth glancing over anyway as the general positions on symmetrical analysis are really critical to absorb imo. i would also say a key to reading historical texts regardless of what field you're in or not is that you absolutely must be willing to call bullshit when somebody is just peddling reactionary or liberal frameworks LOL. these are texts that may have useful data or anecdotes in them but whose explanatory narratives are flawed off the bat and you can, should, and must say so. :-)

in regards to breadth of knowledge, i think it's easy to be intimidated, but the truth is most historians do not have a lot of facts memorised about the entire world either. to some extent breadth and depth will always have some conflict with each other, and most historical methodology these days leans more toward developing deeper knowledge of a few countries or regions (usually even more specifically identified by a research area focussed on some particular topic and time period!) than toward a narrative of world-history. a text that purports to accomplish that tends to be bad, honestly, because there's a necessary lack of specificity, elision of very different cases into one another, &c. that said i obviously do recommend digging into any and all topics you do have an interest in; try to read widely and critically, and over time you will usually find that you start to orient yourself in the particular history you're looking at. i don't think you're ever past a point where you can start this process and i think the skills that comprise historical study can always be learned and honed.

[transformeroftheday]

Simpatico | Brainstorm x Perceptor FIC Recs

✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬

@fascinationex Simpatico Fics

(Literally just all of them. But for my top favorites.)

A Record of the Eating Days | Ongoing | 12/? | E

Summary: In which Brainstorm takes a stopgap job as a cleaner and becomes attached to a very dangerous lab specimen--one he's not even meant to know about.

🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬

The One Where Brainstorm And Percy Go To A Conference | Complete | 1/1 | E

Summary: For the prompt, "🤔 percy and bstorm go to a science conference, no one gets/believes that they're dating, smh"

✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️

The one where Brainstorm sends Perceptor off to work with a sex toy like it's a packed lunch | Complete | 1/1 | E

Summary: :I packed something for you,: Brainstorm commed him, once he was already on the shuttle.

Perceptor's first instinct was to lunge for his pack in case something exploded.

🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬

the sealpatico au | Series | G-E

Summary: Perceptor is a marine scientist working in the Arctic. Brainstorm is a frightfully clever, mammalian polar mermaid. Chromedome and Rewind have a television show on a cable channel where they're supposed to be documenting orcas. This series is heavily focused on the mermaid stuff but we learn about other characters along the way.

✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️

heart's still beating, guess I'm pretty lucky | @sroloc--elbisivni | Complete | 4/4 | T

Summary: Brainstorm was silent, field indicating nothing. Perceptor calculated whether it would be more logical or illogical to wait, and concluded the latter. Brainstorm made rapid decisions, and had not formerly needed encouragement to voice them, but that had been millions of stellar cycles ago. “I would appreciate promptness in your rejection.”

“Who said anything about rejecting?” Brainstorm tipped his head to the side. “I’m just trying to make sure I’ve got this straight in my processor. You performed ethically dubious, untested, methodologically uncertain engineering on yourself. Because you missed me.”

Perceptor deleted all of his emotions for a reason. After the Quintesson threat leads Optimus Prime to push through the Autobot-Decepticon Alliance, that reason no longer applies. Fixing the situation is going to take some trial and error...and a self-proclaimed genius.

🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬

The Left Side of the Lab | prisonmechanic | Complete | 8/8 | M

Summary: Preceptor takes a job in Iacon without reading the fine print. He very much regrets this.

Brainstorm has a large decision to make- expose himself and thousands of others and solve the fuel crisis or stay chained to a lab desk for the rest of his functioning. But Brianstrom Has always been good at creative solutions; Much to Perceprtor's dismay.

✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️

Hazard Light | cerkowah, @eatyoursparkout, @emporianne | Complete | 1/1 | T

Summary: In the aftermath of the time travel incident, Perceptor made a resolution to get to know his lab partner better. He didn’t anticipate that he’d grow so fond of Brainstorm in the process. Blindsided by a rare and deadly illness, he realizes that he’s miscalculated the depths of his regard.

Perceptor is determined to study and cure the disease with Brainstorm none the wiser. Unfortunately, feelings have never been his area of expertise.

(Hanahaki AU)

🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬

and the other | @polyhexian | Complete | 1/1 | E

Summmary: "Wow, you've had new emotion protocols installed for like a day and you're already developing new fetishes," Brainstorm commented, "Lucky thing they're fetishes for me specifically."

✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️🔬✈️

you can touch (you can play) | badskeletonpuns, thevosboss | Complete | 1/1

Summary: “Ah, there you are, Brainstorm. I had a question for you about—ah. You seem…busy.” The lab's sudden guest—Perceptor—came fully into view, stopped in his tracks by the scene of Brainstorm leaning against a workbench covered in interface arrays. Brainstorm tried his best to keep heat from rising to his cheeks, especially as Perceptor cutely tilted his head and quirked a brow. “What…exactly are you doing?”

Fragging myself for science, Brainstorm thought. “Building spike and array mods for the crew, by request,” he said instead.

As an MTO, Brainstorm wasn't constructed with an array. In a fit of inspiration after a Perceptor-fueled recharge flux, he decides to fix this. Perceptor probes at his experiment, and Brainstorm finds answers to questions he hadn't even thought to ask.

[arshipweek]

AR Ship Week - Fandom in 2024

Another year, another shipweek, and another State of the AR Shipping Fandom post. This is the first weekly post leading up to the Alex Rider Ship Week. Just under 4 weeks to go!

This post focuses on pre-S3 fandom, since the data was scraped before the season was released, but we might do an update for post-S3 fics. For methodology, it can be found both on the graphic analysis pages and in the notes at the bottom of this post. For those only curious about the popular pairings this year (1), feel free to read right on.

This year, we have analysed a few specific shipping stats to get a look at us as a fandom.

We have also created an interactive dashboard of all the graphs for you to explore. This is where the following data was taken from, as well as some bonus visuals!

A Timeline of AO3

For a blast from the past, we took a look at the shipping timeline - the count of fics and authors per year for the top ten most popular AR ships - and found immediate proof that as a shipping fandom, we're still small enough that a few, determined people can make a difference. AR fandom's use of AO3 as its primary fandom purveyor is fairly recent, as most of its history can be found on FFnet, but with a total of just under 3k fics as of April 20th, we're gaining on FFnet's 4.5k of AR fics at a very respectable pace.

Some particular developments were:

The number of Yalex authors was about the same in 2021 - 2023 (just around 40) but the number of Yalex fics in 2022 was almost double that of 2021 and 2023. This was not due to a sudden, imported backlog that we could see but a handful of popular events/challenges and potentially the release of S2 in December of 2021.

Tom/Alex and Yassen/Ian both had a peak of fics in 2021, most likely because of the release of S1 that gave Tom a much larger part and offered an intriguing look at Yassen and Ian's potential past.

Fiona/Sabina had a huge spike in fics in 2023 due to a Femmeslash February event (2) that sent it firmly up the ranks of popular ships.

The State of the OTP

For the top ten AR ships, we also took a look at how many of the writers that had written other AR ships (and which ones) to look for interesting patterns and to see if there was any real difference to spot. As it turns out, the answer was a resounding yes:

At one extreme, we have Alexmis (Alex Rider/Artemis Fowl) which is a fandom unto itself. Only 20 percent of the writers of the pairing have written for other pairings in AR fandom fics, and Alexmis fics as a whole tend to lean more towards adding Alex to the Artemis Fowl world rather than vice versa (3).

In the middle range, we have Yalex and Alex/Wolf - two pairings about as old as the fandom itself, and which both have an OTP percentage around 55 - as well as (mostly) newcomers Tom/Alex and Kyra/Alex, both with an OTP percentage in the 40-50 range.

At the other extreme, we have Yassen/John with an OTP percentage of just 4. Fiona/Sabina does it one better with an OTP rate of 0 (!) but the sample size here is so small it makes no meaning to compare it.

So what other pairings do these writers enjoy indulging in, then?

Yalex writers really like their Yassen pairings. Out of the combined number of non-Yalex fics the Yalex authors have written, 24 percent of them are Yassen/Ian and 22 percent are Yassen/John. This means that almost half of their non-Yalex pairings feature Yassen in some way.

70 percent of John/Helen shippers have written other pairings, too - probably because of the pairing's nature as a background part of Alex's story and not necessarily the focus of a shipfic they're in. 30 percent of the fics written by John/Helen writers outside of the ship are Yalex (and 6 percent are Yassen/John).

The case is even more extreme for Yassen/John, which is firmly entwined with the Yalex pairing. 96 percent of the writers have written other AR ships, with three quarters of those fics being Yalex.

Text Analysis

Interactive dashboard with graphs and visuals

We also ran a text analysis on the shipfics to look for patterns and recurring details in the writing - first in general, then for specific ships. The amount of detail for each ship depends a lot on the sample size, which results in a detailed, varied word cloud for Yalex and somewhat less so for several of the smaller ships.

For that analysis, we recommend clicking around to explore the word clouds and get a feel for the different ships, but for the ambitious types, we have a word hunt ready as well (4):

Word Hunt, Significant Phrases edition:

Tools of the Trade:

Duct tape

Frying pan

Krav Maga

Sniper rifle

Zip ties

I Know That Reference:

Fer de Lance

Air Force

Albert Bridge

Point Blanc

Brecon Beacons

Getting Kinky:

Boxer briefs

Dimly lit

Lower lip

Pressed a kiss

Yes sir

Feel free to comment with any particularly entertaining/intriguing/otherwise just plain fun word cloud combinations you've spotted, and we will see you again next week!

______ 

Note on methodology:

The two Alex Rider sections (main + TV) were scraped over the course of two days in early March 2024, except for fics that were locked to AO3 users only (5). For the author specific statistics, we excluded orphan_account and anonymous authors. Median measures were chosen over average the majority of the time to account for outliers, especially in the case of the rarer pairings (6).

For ship-analysis, a fic counts under every pairing it has. This means that someone who writes Yassen/Alex, Yassen/John and Yassen/Ian in the same fic (7) will count as an author for all three pairings and under the Yalex OTP analysis, they will have an additional fic marked under both Yassen/John and Yassen/Ian.

(1) Yalex. It's Yalex. Look, we're not even going to bother posting the stats for that. It's still Yalex, trust us. Though we can talk again next year, considering how well Kyralex is currently doing post-S3. (2) Proving that a few, determined writers can make or break the non-Yalex ship rankings. Please use this power for good; if someone manages to get Sayle/Nadia Vole or something into the top three next year, I'm outsourcing that part of the stat post to a particularly enthusiastic raccoon with a keyboard. (3) Canonically, the wholesale kidnapping of Alex is pretty on-brand for Alex Rider supervillains so really, Artemis is in excellent company. (4) Technically two, but there is unsurprisingly a lot of overlap between the general wordcloud and the Yalex one. For those curious, here's the Word Hunt, Yalex edition:

Adam's apple

Bottle of lube

Cock

Index finger

Nerve endings

Pale skin

Scar tissue

(5) As of April 20th, 225 out of 2961 fics were locked to AO3 users. (6) Meaning anything non-Yalex, let's all be honest here. (7) Because sometimes, like a particularly persistent Pokémon player, Yassen also needs to catch them all. Traumas or Riders is dealer's choice.

[awelion]

Leadership Training

In today’s competitive business arena, exceptional leadership isn’t just advantageous — it’s the bedrock of sustainable success. Whether you’re steering a large corporation, managing a dynamic team, or aspiring to amplify your individual impact, strategic investment in leadership training is paramount. At Seicho Consulting, headquartered in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, we recognize the transformative power of strong leadership in cultivating high-performing teams and driving organizational excellence. Our meticulously crafted leadership training programs are designed to empower you with the essential skills, actionable strategies, and a growth-oriented mindset to thrive in any leadership capacity.

The Indispensable Value of Leadership Training:

Leadership training transcends theoretical frameworks; it’s about cultivating tangible skills and nurturing a leadership philosophy that aligns with your unique strengths and your organization’s specific culture. Embracing leadership development yields significant benefits:

Elevated Communication Prowess: Effective leaders are master communicators. Our training hones your active listening, articulate expression, and persuasive communication abilities, enabling you to inspire, align, and motivate your team effectively.

Sharpened Decision-Making Acumen: Navigating intricate challenges demands astute judgment and strategic analysis. Leadership training equips you with proven methodologies to dissect situations, evaluate diverse options, and make confident, impactful decisions.

Strengthened Team Cohesion and Collaboration: High-achieving teams are built on a foundation of mutual trust and seamless collaboration. Our programs emphasize fostering robust teamwork, constructively resolving conflicts, and cultivating synergistic and productive units.

Enhanced Employee Engagement and Retention: Employees flourish under visionary and supportive leadership. By developing your capacity to inspire, mentor, and empower your team members, you can significantly boost morale, foster loyalty, and minimize costly turnover.

Cultivating Strategic Vision and Foresight: Leadership extends beyond managing daily operations; it involves shaping the future trajectory. Our training cultivates a strategic mindset, enabling you to articulate a compelling vision and guide your organization toward ambitious goals.

Building Adaptability and Resilience: The contemporary business landscape is characterized by constant flux. Leadership training instills the agility and resilience necessary to navigate change effectively, overcome obstacles with grace, and lead decisively amidst uncertainty.

Seicho Consulting: Your Strategic Partner in Leadership Excellence (Ahmedabad, Gujarat)

At Seicho Consulting, based in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, we offer bespoke leadership training solutions tailored to the unique demands of your organization and the developmental needs of your individuals. Our seasoned consultants employ a dynamic blend of interactive workshops, practical simulations, real-world case studies relevant to the Indian business context, and personalized coaching to ensure tangible and lasting results.

Our Leadership Training Expertise Includes:

Identifying and Honing Your Authentic Leadership Style: Discover your inherent strengths and learn to leverage them authentically and effectively within the Indian cultural context.

Mastering Crucial Leadership Competencies: From effective delegation and constructive feedback to performance management and culturally sensitive conflict resolution.

Building and Empowering High-Performing Teams: Learn culturally intelligent strategies for team building, motivation, and fostering a positive and inclusive work environment in India.

Developing Strategic Thinking and Planning Capabilities: Acquire the skills to analyze market dynamics, set strategic objectives aligned with India’s growth trajectory, and drive sustainable organizational advancement.

Leading Through Transformation and Ambiguity: Equip yourself with the tools to navigate organizational shifts and inspire your team during periods of change within the Indian business environment.

Fostering a Culture of Innovation and Growth: Learn how to cultivate an environment where new ideas are encouraged, and individuals are empowered to reach their full potential within the Indian context.

Elevate Your Leadership Impact with Seicho Consulting:

Investing in leadership training is a strategic imperative for sustained success. At Seicho Consulting in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India, we are deeply committed to empowering individuals and organizations across India to achieve their full leadership potential.

Embark on your journey to becoming a more influential and effective leader. Explore our leadership training programs at https://seichoconsulting.com/ and discover how our tailored solutions can drive transformative growth for you and your organization.

Connect with us today for a personalized consultation and unlock the power of exceptional leadership with Seicho Consulting.

Keywords: Leadership Training Ahmedabad, Leadership Development Gujarat, Management Training India, Executive Coaching Ahmedabad, Leadership Skills India, Team Building Ahmedabad, Employee Engagement India, Strategic Leadership Gujarat, Seicho Consulting Ahmedabad.

[metaficco]

Unlock the Power of Minimum Viable Product with Metafic’s Expert Insights

Discover the top MVP benefits that help startups launch faster, reducing development costs and improving market validation through rapid feedback.

[xaltius]

Business Analytics vs. Data Science: Understanding the Key Differences

In today's data-driven world, terms like "business analytics" and "data science" are often used interchangeably. However, while they share a common goal of extracting insights from data, they are distinct fields with different focuses and methodologies. Let's break down the key differences to help you understand which path might be right for you.

Business Analytics: Focusing on the Present and Past

Business analytics primarily focuses on analyzing historical data to understand past performance and inform current business decisions. It aims to answer questions like:

What happened?

Why did it happen?

What is happening now?

Key characteristics of business analytics:

Descriptive and Diagnostic: It uses techniques like reporting, dashboards, and data visualization to summarize and explain past trends.

Structured Data: It often works with structured data from databases and spreadsheets.

Business Domain Expertise: A strong understanding of the specific business domain is crucial.

Tools: Business analysts typically use tools like Excel, SQL, Tableau, and Power BI.

Focus: Optimizing current business operations and improving efficiency.

Data Science: Predicting the Future and Building Models

Data science, on the other hand, focuses on building predictive models and developing algorithms to forecast future outcomes. It aims to answer questions like:

What will happen?

How can we make it happen?

Key characteristics of data science:

Predictive and Prescriptive: It uses machine learning, statistical modeling, and AI to predict future trends and prescribe optimal actions.

Unstructured and Structured Data: It can handle both structured and unstructured data from various sources.

Technical Proficiency: Strong programming skills (Python, R) and a deep understanding of machine learning algorithms are essential.

Tools: Data scientists use programming languages, machine learning libraries, and big data technologies.

Focus: Developing innovative solutions, building AI-powered products, and driving long-term strategic initiatives.

Key Differences Summarized:

Which Path is Right for You?

Choose Business Analytics if:

You are interested in analyzing past data to improve current business operations.

You have a strong understanding of a specific business domain.

You prefer working with structured data and using visualization tools.

Choose Data Science if:

You are passionate about building predictive models and developing AI-powered solutions.

You have a strong interest in programming and machine learning.

You enjoy working with both structured and unstructured data.

Xaltius Academy's Data Science & AI Course:

If you're leaning towards data science and want to delve into machine learning and AI, Xaltius Academy's Data Science & AI course is an excellent choice. This program equips you with the necessary skills and knowledge to become a proficient data scientist, covering essential topics like:

Python programming

Machine learning algorithms

Data visualization

And much more!

By understanding the distinct roles of business analytics and data science, you can make an informed decision about your career path and leverage the power of data to drive success.

[tideandtale]

Mastery Journal Entry: Reflecting on Business Venture Research Class

Going into m Business Venture Research class, my main goal was to get the understanding of how to properly do research and learn the different research methods while learning and evaluating how to launch a successful business. I was using this class as a way to develop the skills I needed to be in marketing, and how to learn about the trends within my writing industry. I also wanted to learn about the structure of my own business idea with using real data from people who already did the research, and I just had to find it to see how well I would pair off in my field.

Needless to say, this course met my expectation because it equipped me with the tools on how to conduct research with valid resources on different aspects of my writing business. I looked at many different case studies, I read different articles, and the assignments I did helped me assess the market demand and how I should refine my business model to make it better, and how to make it stand out above the others.

The key takeaway from this course would be how important it is to actually do research and make sure its thorough before putting your business out there. You want to make sure you stay on top trends and that there is a demand in the market for your business. Some of the readings I found extremely useful would be:

The Five Cs of Opportunity Identification: The five Cs would be Customer needs, competition, context, and capabilities. These principles had given me a structured format to visualize when creating my business idea.

Business Research Methods by Naval Bajpai: Specifically I want to talk about chapter 1. The chapter went over the differences between basic and applied research. The purpose of these two types of research is to help you decide to develop or contribute your knowledge. It went over the importance of the techniques and procedures for doing the research.

Startup Opportunities by Brad Feld and Sean Wise: This is another noteworthy resource I found helpful. In Chapter 3 it talks about the criteria for an opportunity. An idea but be durable, timely, attractive and it has to add value to the buyer. If it doesn't meet these four criteria's then there is no opportunity, and it won't be successful.

The Lean Startup by Eric Ries: This reading had given me an understanding about the methodology of the Lean Startup. It had focused on creating products and get feedback from customers so that we could better our business and products. This approach would be essential or me simply because with my content creation I want to create content people want, and in order to do that I would need to gather my reader's and clients feedback. It's essential to my success.

In my business, I would utilize the skills I learned in this class and apply al of the research methods and evaluations so that I can make my freelance business better and more appealing to my clients. More importantly, I would utilize the Five Cs of Opportunity Identification so I can better understand the market, trends, clients, and my readers. This would help strengthen my confidence in my ability to do proper research but also help me gain the knowledge for my writing. This class has helped me make better decisions and gave me the kills I needed to help me during my decision-making process and how to properly find opportunities for my business.

Mastery Journal