Beyond analytics

“Analysis is focused on understanding the past, what happened, and why it happened. [On the other hand], Analytics focuses on why it happened and what will happen next. Data analytics is a multidisciplinary field. There is extensive use of computer skills, mathematics, statistics, the use of descriptive techniques and predictive models to gain valuable knowledge from data while analyzing data.” [Wikipedia]

In the meantime, “Big data’s potential keeps growing. Taking full advantage means companies must incorporate analytics into their strategic vision and use it to make better faster decisions.” [The age of analytics: Competing in a data-driven world, McKinsey Global Institute, December 2016]

In other words, analytics presupposes a strategic vision, aka foresight. It is likewise, multidisciplinary.

Here’s a quote from an earlier posting: “People from different backgrounds approach problems from different angles—that much should be blindingly obvious.

“In the modern world, with all its complexity, co-operation is essential if breakthroughs will occur. In science and engineering, teams rather than individuals write 90% of papers. Analysis of American patent filings since 1975 showed teams dominate in every one of the 36 defined categories.” [In praise of dissenters: It pays companies to encourage a variety of opinions, The Economist, 10th Oct 2019]

Analytics came to mind while reading the following: (1) Tax POGOs in lieu of ‘a-sin’ tax, Marichu A. Villanueva, COMMONSENSE, The Philippine Star, 20th Nov 2019; (2) The war on drugs that works for me, Andrew J. Masigan, THE CORNER ORACLE, The Philippine Star, 20th Nov 2019.

“[There] are at least 100 POGOs that are illegally operating, while of the 60 licensed by Pagcor, several have temporarily closed shop. Industry sources place the number of POGO workers at around 230,000, a bulk of whom are Chinese nationals. Official data from the Department of Labor showed there are only 119,000 Chinese nationals with alien employment permits or special working permits who are working in Pagcor-licensed POGOs in the Philippines.

“The emerging Philippine offshore gaming industry could be a deep well of wealth to source government revenues because reportedly, it could generate more than P200 billion in income per month.” [Villanueva, op. cit.]

Here’s another quote from a previous post: “Sadly, on a per capita basis, notwithstanding the size of the GDP, it is not enough an engine to rapidly drive economic development.

“Worse, because we have not demonstrated foresight, we can’t figure out the road we must traverse from poverty to prosperity. 

“Recall that the three drivers of PH national income are: (1) OFW remittances, (2) BPO industry, and (3) the Top 8 listed companies that made it to the Forbes list.

“Where do we stand with national income? We are the regional laggard with a per capita income of an underdeveloped economy. Even more fundamental, we can’t provide essential services like water, electricity, public transportation, and then some.

“In other words, we are relying on a tax base that is the size of a small pie. Moreover, given that we are a consumption economy, we find ourselves skewed to taxing consumption like the sin tax.”

Foresight. Foresight. Foresight.

“I have always had mixed feelings about the war on drugs. While I realize that illegal narcotics is a serious problem, I don't think it merits being the centerpiece agenda of the President. I reckon the country has more serious problems to deal with, not the least of which is poverty. Even today, despite the economy's growth of six percent or more, I worry that public consumption and government spending are driving our growth. OFW remittances fuel the former while debt funds the latter. Unlike economies based on investments, manufacturing, and real productivity, ours sits on hollow grounds.” [Masigan, op. cit.]

Sadly, Juan de la Cruz won’t develop foresight without understanding and accepting the imperative to shift his paradigm. “Pinoy kasi,” is how we rationalize why we’re in idling mode. 

It’s worth to quote from a previous post: “[High] IQ alone is not predictive of wise decision making and overall life success. Brainpower may often contribute to severe reasoning mistakes.

“So how can you avoid foolish mistakes fueled by your intelligence? Open-mindedness, continuous self-questioning and a willingness to change one's mind (all of which happen to be principles of the yogic understanding of wisdom) are key factors for making wiser choices.” [“Are You Too Smart to Think Wisely? Brainpower can contribute to surprising reasoning mistakes”; Eva M. Krockow, Ph.D., Psychology Today, 6th Mar 2019]

The blog often references us in the elite class because we hold the key if Juan de la Cruz is ever to succeed in figuring out the road from poverty to prosperity as well as show him the way.

Because we’ve been allowed to see the world beyond our parochial confines, we send our children to the best schools in the world. Unfortunately, we’re also the ones that keep political patronage and oligarchy very much alive in the instincts of Juan de la Cruz.

In other words, the status quo will not thrive if we in the elite class will not perpetuate it.

Because until we question the establishment, no one will dare. The wife and writer are on holiday traveling around France with Filipino friends but had the chance to watch the impeachment proceedings against Trump.

As Dr. Fiona Hill gave her riveting testimony, the group couldn’t help but be in awe of Hill’s integrity, matched by her articulate delivery. It is noteworthy that she’s an immigrant yet espouses American exceptionalism.

How do we show the way to Juan de la Cruz that foresight demands more than the war on poverty and the war on drugs – or even taxation as we know it? 

Foresight is likewise beyond the twin innovation legislations, i.e., The Philippine Innovation Act and Innovative Startup Act, or the Philippine Competition Act.

That is why the blog has previously discussed “Force-field analysis.” “It is a development in social science that provides a framework for looking at the factors (forces) that influence a situation, originally social situations. It looks at forces that are either driving movement toward a goal (helping forces) or blocking progress toward a goal (hindering forces).

“The principle, developed by Kurt Lewin, is a significant contribution to the fields of social science, psychology, social psychology, community psychology, communication, organizational development, process management, and change management.” [Wikipedia]

“In other words, the fact that Rizal hasn’t influenced us and instead kept to our instincts will explain why we’re on the road to a failed nation, not prosperity. 

Consider: We are parochial and insular. We value hierarchy and paternalism, rely on political patronage and oligarchy, that at the end of the day, ours is a culture of impunity.”

Industrialize. Industrialize. Industrialize.

It does not mean protecting oligarchy but learning from the playbook of the Asian Tigers and, more recently, Vietnam. Beg for Western money and technology instead of making the Joint Foreign Chambers beg for us to run with Arangkada.

Gising bayan!

“Why independence, if the slaves of today will be the tyrants of tomorrow? Moreover, that they will be such is not to be doubted, for he who submits to tyranny loves it.” [We are ruled by Rizal’s ‘tyrants of tomorrow,’ Editorial, The Manila Times, 29th Dec 2015]

“Now I know why Paul dared to speak of ‘the curse of the law’ (Galatians 3:13). Law reigns and discernment is unnecessary, which means there is little growth or change in such people. When you do not grow, you remain an infant.” [Faith and Science, Open to Change, Richard Rohr’s Daily Meditation, 23rd Oct 2017]

“As a major component for the education and reorientation of our people, mainstream media – their reporters, writers, photographers, columnists, and editors – have an obligation to this country . . .” [Era of documented irrelevance: Mainstream media, critics and protesters, Homobono A. Adaza, The Manila Times, 25th Nov 2015]

“National prosperity is created, not inherited. It does not grow out of a country's natural endowments, its labor pool, its interest rates, or its currency’s value, as classical economics insists. [A] nation’s competitiveness depends on the capacity of its industry to innovate and upgrade.” [The Competitive Advantage of Nations, Michael E. Porter, Harvard Business Review, March–April 1990]

“You have to have a dream, whether big or small. Then plan, focus, work hard, and be very determined to achieve your goals.” [Henry Sy Sr., Chairman Emeritus and Founder, SM Group (1924 - 2019)]

“Learning and innovation go hand in hand. The arrogance of success is to think that what you did yesterday will be sufficient for tomorrow.” [William Pollard, 1911-1989, physicist-priest, Manhattan Project]

“Development [is informed by a people’s] worldview, cognitive capacity, values, moral development, self-identity, spirituality, and leadership . . .” [Frederic Laloux, Reinventing organizations, Nelson Parker, 2014]