Drawbacks of Solitary Confinement - 1716 Words

Not too many people know what Solitary confinement is or what it can do to a human being. Solitary confinement is a special form of imprisonment. The prisoner is confined in a small windowless unit completely isolated from any human contact. It is a form of punishment for behavior modification beyond incarceration for a prisoner and is used as an additional measure of protection from the inmate. The issue of solitary confinement is extremely controversial and is a complicated subject to decide on. Some consider the extreme isolation to be torture, others feel it is necessary. Different states and prisons define their conditions differently, but one thing is for certain, the psychological impacts on the prisoners due to this long-term isolation are inevitable. Solitary confinement is cruel and ineffective. Why is this considered torture? Because different people have different capacities for resilience. What really happens to people who are deprived of social contact for months or even years? Could the mental stability of the prisoner ever recover after the psychological disorders caused by this extreme disciplinary act of isolation are impacted? We need to be looking for other ways to keep our prisons safe. Solitary Confinement is torture and should be banned due to violations of our basic human rights. Torture is defined as any act by which severe pain or suffering, whether it is mentally or physically, is intentionally inflicted on a person for information, punishment,Show MoreRelatedSolitary Confinement Is A Form Of Punishment918 Words   |  4 PagesSolitary confinement is a separate housing unit where housing is for the worst of the worst and any criminal who cannot be left in general population. Supermax prisons is a form of tool where the wardens and security guards can manage any disobedient prisoners. Many state wardens believe that solitary confinement does provide order and safety to the correctional staff and the inmates as well. This form of housing unit is needed because those who are not cooperative to any form of treatment and whoRead MorePenitentiary Ideal and the American Prisons1292 Words   |  5 Pagesdevelopment of the belief among early Quakers in the United States that removing a criminal from every temptation, isolation from other offenders, and replacing a regular routine would transform the criminal (A Short History, n.d.). In this case, solitary confinement of the criminal in large cells and within humane conditions was the main method of incarceration. Therefore, this system was largely recognized to be the isolation approach for criminals who were housed in prisons. One of the most recognizedRead MoreJuvenile Prisons And Its Effects On Youth1204 Words   |  5 Pageslife because, it can affect them both psychologically and physically which can lead to self-degradation. Every day, we see in our TV or through other means, Juveniles committing crimes and being arrested. They are locked up in cells and other confinement areas due to certain acts and attitudes. Currently, statistics show us that there is an increase of 26% in the crime rate done by juveniles. Juvenile delinquency is found in all countries and prominently widespread in highly industrialized largerRead MoreMy Analysis of the Stanford Prison Experiment1529 Words   |  6 Pagesbecame prison cells with lonely, hard beds. They were fortified so no one could escape once locked in. The walls were made bare and bleak, as if to wash away any hope that a person kept there might have. Closets were even cleared out to be solitary confinement chambers for the â€Å"prisoners† who misbehaved. The next stage was to fill these cells with prisoners. A survey was given out to all students who were interested in participating in the study. Anyone selected for the experiment had to be bothRead MoreRobots : Robots And Rectilinear Robots1482 Words   |  6 Pagesaluminum applications, such a variety of have evaded the act of robotizing MIGW. The weld control source ought to be combined with the robot specifically through an advanced system. The robot turns into the interface to the weld gear, offering a solitary purpose of control to alter parameters and wiping out the requirement for extra programming gadgets. With a computerized arrange, charged yields are total. The time it takes for the robot to converse with the power source is minimized, rolling outRead MoreEssay on Reform Between 1825 And 18501352 Words   |  6 Pagescitizens had suddenly become a much more pressing issue, and various reform assemblies, and especially the church, struggled to improve society in ways they thought helpful. Due to the mass urbanization occurring so rapidly, there were naturally drawbacks. Prostitution and consumption of alcohol ere at an all time high, and the church aimed to lower those numbers significantly. The second great awakening came at an excellent time to revive religion, and claim that all people had the opportunity toRe ad MoreThe Argument Against The Mass Amnesty Of The Millions Of Illegal Immigrants1527 Words   |  7 Pages has decided to push the issue of mass amnesty, a move on allowing around eleven million of these illegal immigrants to stay in the United States as citizens. This course of action, while noble and humanitarian, refuses to address the multiple drawbacks resulting from this course of action. From the undercutting of the wages of the average American person to reaping the benefits of American social programs, such as health care and welfare, without even having the capability to pay into them, theseRead MoreThe Issue Of Health Informatics And Will Be Focused On Electronic Health Records2518 Words   |  11 Pagesinformation replication as there is one and only modifiable document, which implies the record is continually exceptional when seen at a later date and dispenses with the issue of lost structures or printed material. Due to all of the data being in a solitary record, it makes it substantially more compelling when extricating therapeutic information for the examination of conceivable patterns and long haul changes in the patient. It’s essential to note that an EHR is produced and kept up inside anRead MoreThe Prison Policy Initiative From Bureau Of Justice Statistics1790 Words   |  8 Pagesstarted in 2010 when Browder was accused for stealing a backpack, his parents couldn t afford the 10,000 dollar bail cost so he was compelled to sojourn in jail for three years (Starr). While he was in jail he was held 400 days ,over a year, in solitary confinement ,beaten by the police and jail guards, and abused by other people inside the jail (Starr). Racism within the criminal justice system affects the person being charged ,but it also affects the families of the person and people of the same raceRead MoreDarkness at Noon Essay2227 Words   |  9 Pagesthat was yet another attempt by Stalin to silence his critics. In the novel, Koestler expounds upon Marxism, and the reason why a movement that had as its aim the â€Å"regeneration of mankind, should issue in its enslavement† and how, in spite of its drawbacks, it still held an appeal for intellectuals. It i s for this reason that Koestler may have attempted â€Å"not to solve but to expose† the shortcomings of this political system and by doing so reiterated once more the sanctity of individual freedom over

The Secrets of Good Topics to Write an Argumentative Essay Revealed

The Secrets of Good Topics to Write an Argumentative Essay Revealed The reader needs to be impressed by the manner in which you defend your ideas. Bear in mind that a really great essay about life is going to have a good deal of your own thinking and experience. By way of example, in college, you might be requested to compose a paper from the opposing standpoint. A conclusion is, undoubtedly, the most crucial portion of the argumentative essay because you can either support the excellent impression or destroy it entirely. You should have your reasons, and our principal concern is that you find yourself getting an excellent grade. What You Don't Know About Good Topics to Write an Argumentative Essay Moral argumentative essay topics are a few of the simplest to get carried away with. It will be simple to go through the entire essay when you've made from the beginning. An argumentative essay is a certain kind of academic writing. Regardless of the popular myth, a decent argumentative essay is more than simply attempting to show your point with a couple arguments. Plus, do not forget that you're writing an argumentative essay, which usually means you need to mention what you stand for in the very first area of the introduction. Now the reader will be aware of what to anticipate from the essay and are going to have superior comprehension of the principal points of the argument. Tell the reader why you feel how you do and give a concise review of what was discussed in the duration of your essay. Ultimately, you ideally need to select a topic which is going to be interesting for your readers. Recent argumentative essay topics that are related to society is going to do. While informal essays don't need specific understanding of particular topics, we suggest that you look at the info you use while writing. 1 last point, argumentative essays do not have to be boring. All argumentative essays should have a thesis statement close to the start of the essay, where the writer succinctly outlines their argument in a couple of sentences. You may continue to keep your argumentative essays for your upcoming job portfolio in case they're highly graded. Our crew of essay writers works with any sorts of academic papers for many decades. To compose a strong argumentative essay, students should start by familiarizing themselves with a number of the common, and frequently conflicting, positions on the research topic so they can write an educated paper. They often find that most of their work on these essays is done before they even start writing. Weave in your perspective to earn your essay unique. It's possible to easily write your persuasive essay if you adhere to these steps. An argumentative essay requires you to choose a topic and have a position on it. Professional customized essay writers for hire to make your essay from scratch. On-line writing is a really terrific medium, only recently offered. Alcohol usage ought to be controlled. It is not important to us, whether you're too busy on the job concentrating on a passion undertaking, or simply tired of a seemingly infinite stream of assignments. Possessing excellent research abilities and selecting an excellent topic is important. Pick an activity or skill you're capable of completing to compose an instructional speech. If you make an order on our site, you obtain all extra guarantees. Some political topics include things like pending legislative accounts, the budget or employment development. Our customer support will gladly tell you whether there are any special offers at the present time, and make sure you are getting the very best service our company may deliver.

Thesis story Free Essays

Being smart on handling one’s money is one of the fundamental ways how to become rich. The fact that money, no matter how much it is, can flee from our hands even in just mere seconds is a thing to keep in mind. So we should learn how to save and invest our money in a trust-worthy institution with good facility with a service admirable in regards to its quality. We will write a custom essay sample on Thesis story or any similar topic only for you Order Now Banking is indispensable in the modern world as it connects savers and borrowers. If you are a â€Å"saver†, where would you save your treasures efficiently? Saving it on a chest or a vault is bold stupidity. Banks pay you interest because they loan your money to those who have ideas to use it. This is where â€Å"borrowers† enter. Banks do charge them interest but they will have money for innovative business ideas, providing jobs for people, and stimulating the economy. If you are a consumer, you can use banknotes as a medium of exchange. Remember, without banks, there would be no money for The Bangko Sentral Ng Pilipinas (BSP) is a bank as well who produces money for the nation. Banks are  financial institution  and a  financial intermediary  that accepts  deposits  and channels those deposits into  lending  activities, either directly by loaning or indirectly through  capital markets. A bank is the connection between customers that have capital deficits and customers with capital surpluses. In other words, it is the middleman to those who are in need and to those who can give. There are two forms of banking institutions. A banking institution can either be a Government or Private banking Institution. The difference between the two is A Government bank is a bank where the Government has a minimum 51% or more stakes in that bank. A Private bank is a bank where the Government does not have any stake. But, both types of banks have to follow the same laws applicable to them. In either way, a bank no matter what form it is, will always make sure that our savings earn interests and make the money they have in their hands rotate on the economy to provide financial growth. Statement of the Problem This study aims to assess the pproduactivity, profitability, and customer satisfaction of selected banking institution in Metro Manila. Specifically, it answered the following questions: 1. 0 What is the profile of the participants in terms of the following variable; 2. 1 Name of the bank 2. 2 Campaign Advertisement 2. 3 Vision 2. 4 Mission 2. 5 Foundation 2. 6 Number of Branches 2. 7 Subsidiaries and Affiliates 2. 8 Number of Employees 2. 0 What are the things involve in the production of each respondents in terms of: 2. 1 Organizational Chart 2. 2 Management Plans and Principles 2. 3 Product and Services 3. 0 What is the status of the respondents with regards to the profitability of the institution under two conditions: 3. 1 Financial Statement Prior Year . 2 Financial Statement Current Year 4. 0 What is the standing of satisfaction of customers in the respondents’ way of production in terms of: 4. 1 Security of the customers’ deposits 4. 2 Interest return offered 4. 3 Effectiveness of respondents’ products and services 4. 4 Service Comfortability 4. 5 Affordability of Interest payable in loans 5. 0 Is there any significant relationship between profitability, pproduactivity, and customer satisfaction when the respondents are group according to their profile? Hypothesis There’s not much of any difference between the operations of a government and a privately owned bank. The factors that affect the iinvestors to choose are the offers, location, and services. Significance of the Study The purpose of this study is to provide information and answer the stated problems to help those who are in need if they will be investing. Through this study the future readers may find out what are the factors to consider when putting their investment in the line. This study conducted can be help in any of the readers: Iinvestors / Potential Iinvestors – To identify and be aware how to invest their money and feel safe and lessen the risk about the decisions they will make. Job Seekers – be able to know where to file their application and put their talents and skills in full potential. Future Seekers – This study will serve as guide for future researchers who will conduct a study with about this topic. Further research should be made regarding this topic. Scope and Limitation of the Study This study was conducted to know the status of pproduactivity, profitability and customer satisfaction of selected banking institution in Metro Manila. The researchers focused on three banking institution which are MetroBank of Metropolitan Bank, Bank of the Philippine Islands and Landbank of the Philippines. How to cite Thesis story, Papers

Nigerias Public Service Reform Process Human Resource Issues Essay Example

Nigerias Public Service Reform Process: Human Resource Issues Essay That Nigeria is going through a phase of rapid transition is beyond doubt. Variability in any case, is a constant feature of human societies. There was a time not too far in the past when the Nigerian economy was based on agriculture. Then for a few fleeting years, petroleum resources transformed the outward appearance of the economy. In recent years, oil wealth has proved to be so fickle and elusive a partner in development that frantic efforts have been, and are being, made to search for alternative sources of wealth. Looking at the vicissitudes in the life of a nation, as we have just done in the case of Nigeria, it is tempting then to suggest that the single determinant of a nation’s growth is the quantum of resources it possesses. To put it in another language, a nation waxes or wanes depending on its natural resource endowment. If this hypothesis is not totally false, it is also not exactly true. The experience of the last forty or so years has demonstrated that one factor that has proved decisive in Africa’s development effort is the caliber of the available human resource. It is this factor, rather than any other, that has pushed the continent farther on the path of dependence, recession and economic decay. We will write a custom essay sample on Nigerias Public Service Reform Process: Human Resource Issues specifically for you for only $16.38 $13.9/page Order now We will write a custom essay sample on Nigerias Public Service Reform Process: Human Resource Issues specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer We will write a custom essay sample on Nigerias Public Service Reform Process: Human Resource Issues specifically for you FOR ONLY $16.38 $13.9/page Hire Writer It is the only energy source that has the potential of igniting the engine of recovery and growth. If we are keen on a serious debate, we may even advance the proposition that of all the variables crucial to an understanding of the development process, the human resource stands out as an independent variable. It is the variable that operates on, and transforms, other variables to produce a given development scenario. If the human resource is presumed to be so important, what then is its true nature, and in what ways can we support its development and growth? As argued in this paper, human resource is more than the complements of staff required to implement a specific policy or programme. It is even more than the â€Å"training† and â€Å"development† of manpower. We are getting close to the true character of human resource when, in addition to the preceding components, we look at the morale and motivation of the work force, the tactics and strategies adopted in deploying the workforce on agreed assignments, as well as the internal (management) and the external (socio-cultural) influences operating on the behaviour of employees. Much as one would like to be â€Å"practical† and down-to-earth, the preceding attempt to define the scope of human resource management raises a serious but unavoidable conceptual problem. We began with the a priori assumption that the human resource is strategic. We even went to argue that the sub-optimal behaviour of this strategic resource is the fortes et origo of Africa’s troubles. It is 3 on the basis of its importance that we classified it as an independent variable. But then, the definition of the variable leads us to believe that its behaviour is also subject to the behaviour of other variables – notably, the methods and policies affecting the recruitment, training, motivation, deployment and utilization of personnel. Thus, within the twinkle of an eye, an independent variable has become very much dependent. This raises the question, how come? The failure to solve the conceptual puzzle in human resource management is, in fact, the bane of previous efforts at devising practical and reliable strategies aimed at deriving optimum benefits from the allocation of this vital resource. To be specific, our failure to distinguish the point in time when human resource is considered strategic enough to â€Å"stand by itself† from that when it is so devalued that it becomes a â€Å"captive† of other variables (administrative, political, cultural, etc. ) explains the inconsistency and the double-talk on the importance of human resources in national development efforts. If we are able to establish the strategic nature of the human resource and, at the same time, identify the factors that militate against its optimum allocation, what policy measures can we propose to rectify any perceived anomalies? In specific terms, what actions can we urge employing authorities to take to derive maximum benefits from the monies and efforts which they invest on recruitment, training and manpower development as well as on the â€Å"sanitization† of the management environment against possible outbreaks of productivity-resisting diseases (notably, corrupt practices, mismanagement of diversity, sagging morale, bad time-keeping, willful elongation of procedures, and brain-drain). In proposing a radical review of human resource development and utilization policy in Nigeria, this paper begins by discussing the role of human resources in the development process. It then proceeds to examine factors within the formal organization, and in the external environment, which determine the effective allocation of this vital resource. The third part of the paper focuses on short- and medium-term policy measures, while the fourth outlines a long-term plan aimed at countering the negative effects of he external environment. 2. Human Resources and National Development The development of any nation depends to a very large extent on the caliber, organization and motivation of its human resources. In the specific case of Nigeria where diversity exerts tremendous influence on politics and administration, the capacity to increase the benefits and reduce the costs of this diversity constitutes a human resource management challenge of epic proportion. 4 During the colonial period, Nigeria’s economy was based on primary production – more specifically, on the production of primary commodities and raw materials for the export market. Although the population was relatively small, the country’s contribution to world trade in specific commodities was impressive. For example, in 1938, Nigeria’s population was less than 30 million, and even up to 1955 the figure could not have been higher than 35 million. Yet, within this period, 1938-55, when there were no more than 35 million Nigerians, the country recorded constant increases in the production of palm kernel, palm-oil and groundnuts, and was a major force to reckon with in the international exchange of the commodities. Tables 1, 2 and 3 depict Nigeria’s share of the world trade in palm kernels, palm-oil, and groundnuts, between 1938 and 1955. Table 1: NIGERIA’S PALM-KERNELS EXPORT AS % OF WORLD TOTAL, 1938 – 1955 1938 Tons exported (‘000) Value (? illion) % of total world export of palm-kernel 312. 0 2. 2 46. 0 1947 316. 0 6. 2 58. 0 1949 397. 0 12. 3 52. 0 1955 433. 0 19. 2 56. 0 Source: K. M. Buchanan and J. C. Pugh, Land and People in Nigeria, Hodder and Stoughton, London, 1955 Table 2: NIGERIA’S PALM-OIL EXPORT AS % OF WORLD TOTAL, 1938-1955 1938 Tons exported (‘000) Value (? million) % of total world trade in palm-oil Source: Buchanan and Pugh 110. 0 1. 0 22. 0 1947 121. 0 3. 2 43. 0 1949 159. 0 7. 2 34. 0 1955 182. 0 13. 2 33. 0 5 Table 3: NIGERIA’S GROUNDNUT EXPORTS AS % OF WORLD TOTAL, 1938-1955 1938 Tons exported (‘000) 180. 0 Value (? million) 1. % of total world trade in groundnuts 9. 0 Source: Buchanan and Pugh 1947 250. 0 6. 3 38. 0 1949 355. 0 12. 0 40. 0 1955 528. 0 23. 1 In explaining the vast contributions of a thinly populated Nigeria to world trade in primary commodities, we cannot but acknowledge nature’s bounty in the form of fertile soil, favourable weather and constantly good harvests. But over and above these natural advantages, the colonial administrators consciously applied the then rare skill of managing people and ensuring that they (the mass of the people) produced the goods and services required for the sustenance of the colonial economy. Indeed, the palm trees could have yielded the kernels without being cultivated, but the seeds and the oil would have gone to waste if plans had not been made to collect them for further processing. Groundnut cakes and oil would have gone to waste if plans had not been made to collect them for further processing. Groundnut cakes would not materialize unless the seeds were planted, the farms properly tended, and the crops harvested at the right time and transported to the collection depots or oil mills. In realization of the Biblical warning that after his transgression in Heaven, Adam would have to toil and sweat before he could have his daily bread, the colonial authorities devised an ingenious plan of extracting as much work as possible from the colonized people. First, they instituted the system of labour contract – a system which no less a personality than Lugard regarded as more efficient than slavery. Secondly, the colonial power introduced the system of direct taxation, and insisted that the tax must be paid in a recognized and legally sanctioned currency. Since the African could not resort to trade by barter in discharging his tax obligations, he now had two options – to look for wage labour (e. g. in the coal mines or in construction projects) or to produce more cash crops (cotton, cocoa, groundnuts, hides and skins). Thirdly, to encourage increased agricultural production and facilitate the movement of commodities, the colonial regime (particularly between 1906 and 1936) gave priority to the development of infrastructural facilities such as roads, railway, ports and harbours, and internal communication services. In case the facilities proved inadequate as an incentive to production, the colonial administration encouraged the importation of European 6 manufactured goods that had to be paid for with income generated from formal or informal employment. It was in fact this craving for prestigious European goods (ranging from the Raleigh bicycle to the Ford Motor Car) which served as the most powerful inducement to work. As we are likely to discover later, it was this same craving for imported manufactured items which proved detrimental to the development of self-reliance, and for that reason, of indigenous technical knowhow. In any case, the strategy adopted by the colonial regime did achieve its basic objective – i. e. the deployment of local human resources in such a way that primary commodities and essential raw materials were produced as and when required. The same strategy made possible the construction of infrastructural facilities and the extraction and exploitation of mineral resources such as coal and tin ore. At the very least, therefore, the colonial administration’s deployment of human resources did produce operatives, if not managers. After the attainment of independence, and, particularly, towards the latter part of the 1960s, crude oil steadily emerged as a vital economic asset. Although the civil war (1967-70) prevented a full-scale exploitation of Nigeria’s petroleum resources, the cessation of hostilities in 1970 witnessed a sharp increase in oil revenue. This had the effect of transforming the shape and size of the economy. In contrast to the 1960s when the growth rate seldom exceeded 4 per cent per annum, the period 1970 to 1977 saw the economy grow at the rate of between 9. and 30. 6 per cent. While the external appearance of the economy conveyed an impression of growth, decay was gradually creeping in. in fact, a number of danger signals could be detected even at the height of the oil boom. First, what passed for growth was nothing more than the beguiling influence of what was essentially a wasting asset. Whereas oil exports continued to rise in volume and value, traditional exports – especi ally primary commodity exports either stagnated or declined. In other words, the economy â€Å"grew† in the 1970s not because labour and other factor inputs were more productively deployed than before, but because nature was, in a manner of speaking, bestowing increasing resources on Nigeria. If we are looking for further proof of this statement, we may wish to compare the rate of population growth with per caput agricultural production. In the 1970s, the population grew at the rate of over 3 per cent per annum, while per capital agricultural production was lower than 2 per cent. Also, while the total population in the 70s approached 75 million, (more than twice what it was in 1955) Nigeria had by then lost the commanding lead which it possessed in the 1950s in the production and export of certain primary commodities. In a nutshell, 7 the more people there were, the less productive Nigeria’s food and agriculture sector tended to become. If that is curious, then we need to look at another concurrent â€Å"development† in the 1970s – that is, the second danger signal which ought to have been promptly heeded. While the country earned an increasing amount of revenue from petroleum exports, the balance on the current account was apt to tilt towards the negative rather than the positive side. In 1970/71, current account deficit amounted to N500 million; in 1971/72, N229 million; in 1972/73, N315 million; and in 1976/77, N219. 9 million. Only in 1975/76 was a surplus of N172. 6 million recorded. The deficits are by themselves not disastrous for the economy – especially, if the economy had an in-built mechanism for transforming the goods financed under the deficits into productive assets. In the case of Nigeria, the deficits simply reflected an uncontrollable propensity to import capital goods, raw materials, and consumer items, without a clear programme for the development of indigenous capacity in the areas. We need to make necessary allowance for the fact that the early 1970s was a period when Nigeria was faced with a huge challenge in the areas of national reconciliation, reconstruction, and rehabilitation. Government had no choice but to earmark large sums for these urgent tasks. We must also recall that the Government did make a serious attempt to promote self-reliance. As a matter of fact, a sizeable proportion of the oil revenue went into financing a comprehensive indigenous enterprises promotion (otherwise known as the â€Å"indigenisation†) policy. The disappointing response of the new (indigenous)entrepreneurs was the problem. Instead of accepting the challenge by initiating new managerial and technical processes, some of the new â€Å"owners† of enterprises were either content to operate as fronts for aliens or continued to rely on the industrialized economies for leadership in management and technology. Even industrial raw materials had to be imported with the result that if foreign xchange became scarce the factories had to close down or to operate at reduced capacity. The third danger signal noticeable in the 1970s was the emerging culture of replacement and the abandonment of the repair and maintenance culture. While the replacement of unserviceable equipment or mechanically faulty motor vehicles saves the owner a lot of head ache, it is wasteful in terms of the additional financial outlays involved, and more especially, in terms of the loss of the training opportunity which repairs and maintenance would have offered. In effect, the replacement culture which evolved with the oil boom of the 1970s aggravated Nigeria’s technological dependence situation and did an incalculable harm to the development and utilization of the nation’s stock of human resources. 8 There are reasons to believe that attitudes are changing. After the oil shock of 1982 and the series of belt-tightening measures which accompanied it, it became clear that even metal scraps and â€Å"carcasses† of motor vehicles could be put to good use. At any rate, with the shortage of foreign exchange, it is becoming increasingly difficult to import new machinery and equipment or obtain spare parts for existing ones. Necessity, they say, is the mother of invention. In Nigeria, necessity has led mechanical workshops to experiment with the idea of â€Å"cannibalising† one equipment to â€Å"save† another. However, the earlier practice of waiting for, or merely reacting to, external leadership in science and technology has cost Nigeria very dearly. It resulted in financial resource leakage, and aborted whatever plans there might have been to promote indigenous technological development. It was like losing the chance of a life time. I must stress that by focusing on what might have been, I do not wish to create the impression that Nigeria’s current socio-economic crisis arose out of the fact that within the period of oil boom, the Nigerians stopped working. If anything, the rush to make a quick Naira led many a Nigerian to sleep less and toil more. However, and from the point of view of optimum allocation of effort, we may argue that a disproportionate amount of time was spent on pursuits whose impact on the long-term health of the economy was questionable. And practically every Nigerian has a share of the blame. The political leaders did not map out a clear-cut policy on self-reliance and on indigenous technological development. The senior managers, administrators and professional personnel were either too impotent to influence policy in the direction of self-reliance, or they saw no need to tamper with what was essentially a neo-colonial (and dependent) socio-economic arrangement. Their subordinates in the executive and technical cadres could not be expected to think differently. Theirs, in any case, was to implement laid down policy, avoid â€Å"mistakes†, and generally steer clear of trouble. The clerical and operational staff might be interested in change, but that change must have direct and immediate impact on their limited earnings. As all the classes have lately discovered, the wrong channeling of energies has reversed the gains of yester-years, and substituted economic decline for economic growth. The development strategy which evolved over the years, and the implementation of the strategy, has placed the economy in a situation of dependence. In such a situation, the human resource is merely a follower rather than an initiator of technology. The consequence is obvious. The leaders decide the fate of the followers. For instance, if factories in the industrialized economies turn back 9 Nigeria’s cotton, cocoa and other commodities, the only option available to Nigeria (in the absence of alternative uses) is to step down the production of the commodities. In fact, during the second world war when the British diverted resources to the war effort, cocoa farmers (now knowing what to do with the harvest on their hands) set their plantations on fire! No doubt, therefore, human resources play a crucial role in national development. Yet, as the next section shows, policies governing the development and utilization of the resources might fail to grapple with the major problems in human resource management. 3. Problems in Human Resource Development and Utilization: a Review of Policies and Practices A umber of factors tend to influence the optimum allocation of human resources. Among them are the policies relating to recruitment, training, employment conditions, and the deployment of personnel. Equally important are the prevailing management environment, socio-economic conditions, and the traditional work culture. Let us take this one by one. Recruitment Policies and Practices The contribution of the human resource is likely to be determined largely by the caliber of people recruited into an organization. In most cases, employers focus on the qualifications and experience of candidates being considered for vacant positions. While this is prima facie useful, it does not necessarily follow that the credentials make the employee. Even when we discount the possibility of forgeries and certificate racketeering, academic training by itself might not adequately prepare a person for a job. The same thing applies in the case of experience which might neither be â€Å"cognate† nor â€Å"relevant†. In fact, instead of focusing mainly on educational qualifications and experience, recruiting bodies would need to go further and probe deep into the aptitudes, attitudes, personal character of candidates for certain jobs. Certainly, jobs in the security and law enforcement agencies, financial institutions, customs, immigration and the postal service would, in view of the public attention they have attracted, benefit from a professional approach to staff selection. The need for federal character in the recruitment of public personnel has generated a lot of controversy in recent years. There is nothing wrong with the principle. It is only the application that we have to watch. Federal character, as I once argued, mean looking far and wide for the best and the most competent. 10 However, in practice, the principle may be subverted, especially if it is interpreted as a crude form of ethnic balancing. In a diverse society like Nigeria, the public service cannot evade the issue of representation. When an agency is dominated by individuals from one ethnic group, the un-represented groups are likely to cry foul, and for good reasons too. It is only when the diversity of a nation is properly reflected (or mainstreamed) in decision-making structures that the fairness of decisions could be constantly tested. It goes without saying that the issue of diversity does not end with recruitment. It extends to the day-to-day management of inter-personal and inter-group relations in public agencies. It is therefore imperative that senior managers be exposed to the appropriate sensit ivity training so that the networks of relations would be properly and adequately managed. Training and Manpower Development Closely related to the problem of recruitment is, therefore, that of training and manpower development. Presumably, those to be recruited would first have to be trained. It was in realization of the importance of pre-entry training that priority was attached to the establishment of primary, secondary, vocational, and technical schools, and universities. In 1970, there were 3,515,820 primary, 310,054 secondary, vocational, and technical schools in Nigeria. By 1978, the number had increased to 11,410,360; 1,223,200 and 43,088 respectively. And while there were only 5 universities in 1962, Nigeria has no less than 21 today. Therefore, at least, in terms of the basic, pre-entry training, candidates for different classes of jobs seem to be well catered for. The problem again lies in the gap which exists between, on the one hand, the formal academic training offered by the schools and the universities, and, on the other, the practical requirements of the jobs. No where is this gap as wide as in the technical/vocational area. A secondary school graduate can, with little preparation, move straight to an office and carry out basic clerical or bookkeeping functions. With additional training, he/she would be ready to perform secretarial and ICT-related duties. However, for the tasks of electrical wiring, airconditioning and refrigeration, maintenance of electronic and mechanical equipment, even attendance at the technical and vocational schools may be considered an inadequate preparation. The reason for this is that the technical schools have concentrated on text-book solutions, and distanced themselves from the world of work. What was said earlier on about dependence on externally developed technology applies here. Unless and until the polytechnical institutions start to dismantle complicated equipment and fabricate spares, their contribution 11 to human resource development would remain minimal. As for the universities, they would need the support of the government and the private sector in aligning their academic research with the development needs of the country. We have so far focused on the pre-experience training institutions. The challenge facing the post-experience ones is equally daunting. The 1970’s witnessed the establishment of a few of them, in addition to those which had existed before and immediately after independence. For example, the Centre for Management Development (CMD), the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) and the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) came into being at about the same time (1972/73). NIPSS was established in 1978. I understand that plans for the establishment of a new Civil Service College are at advanced stage, although I am yet to come across a convincing argument for this latest proposal. Prior to the establishment of these institutions (in fact, as far back as 1956) an Institute of Administration had been set up in Zaria to organize training programmes for senior and intermediate level personnel of government and the native authorities in the North. When the universities of Ife, Lagos and Nigeria came into being in 1962 they too set up their own institutes or schools of administration. The first major problem then is that of ensuring that the postexperience institutions’ activities are coordinated and that unnecessary overlapping or duplication of effort is avoided. The second problem is how to find the resources which the institutions undoubtedly require to fulfill their mandates. Then, there is the question of how to ensure the relevance of their activities, particularly during this period of economic emergency. Employment Policy and Conditions The third factor influencing the performance of the human resource is the employment policy, and particularly, the impact of the policy on employment conditions, and on morale and motivation of the employees. At an AAPAM Roundtable which took place in Kampala, Uganda in November 1988, Professor Gelase Mutahabe (the AAPAM Secretary-General) and my humble self argued that a possible explanation for the massive brain-drain in many African countries was the demotivating employment policies and practices. The assumption by the employer that the stock of human resources is limitless has led to the total disregard of the most elementary principle of motivation. The on-going socioeconomic crisis has worsened the situation by throwing many able-bodied persons out of their jobs. It goes without saying that an employment policy which is founded on the assumption that the supply of labour exceeds demand would not 12 seek out the best brains or make a serious effort to develop the employees’ productive capacity. Management Environment The management environment may reinforce the negative tendencies in the employment policy. In the 1970s, a number of administrative review/reform commissions were established by African Governments principally to make the management environment conductive to efficient allocation of resources. At least one of them, the Ndegwa Commission (in Kenya), called attention to factors within the managerial environment that tended to hinder the productivity of human resources, viz. (a) reluctance by manager to delegate operational responsibilities, with the result that the managers neglected their policy and innovate responsibilities and focused on administrative routine (leaving subordinates with little or nothing to do); lack of communication within departments and between one department and another (resulting in duplication of effort, and lack of coordination); failure to specify targets or hold subordinates responsible for specific results areas (with the consequence that some junior officers misunderstood, or were ignorant of, the purpose of their jobs); centralization of authority at the ministry headquarters. b) (c) (d) In their own ways, the Udoji Commission (Nigeria) and the Wamalwa Commission (Swaziland) addressed the issue of the managerial environment. It was in fact in an attempt to install â€Å"results-oriented† structures in place of the hierarchical, and status-oriented ones that the Commissions recommended the introduction of accountable management systems. Unfortunately, the aspects of the review Commissions’ proposals relating to structural reform were either simply â€Å"noted† or implemented in a half-hearted manner. In some ases, recommendations which subsequently proved harmful to the health of certain subsectors (particularly public enterprises, universities and research institutes) were implemented. An illustration is the concept of unified grading and salary system (UGSS) which transferred the hierarch ical attributes of the civil service to organizations that were in need of innovative approaches to problems. Supervisory Problems 13 Weak and/or bad supervision may also have adverse effects on human resource development and utilization. For example, when a superior officer consistently fails to monitor the performance of subordinates or leaves them to their own device, laxity and indifference may set in. If s/he neglects his responsibility to train or counsel newly recruited staff, s/he cannot assist his organization in integrating the theoretical training of the staff with the practical requirements of the job. But perhaps as damaging as (if not more damaging than) non-supervision is highhanded treatment of subordinates. A supervisor who victimizes his workforce or refuses to see any redeeming side of his close associates is a serious liability to his organization. Instead of rallying the staff behind the goals of the organization, he would tend to promote discord and bitterness. This is particularly significant in Nigeria where the typical public office brings together individuals from diverse cultural settings. External environmental factor I have alluded to the influence of the environment when I referred to Nigeria’s diversity. Ethnic, religious, language, cultural, and gender differences exert influences on inter-personal and inter-group relations. It is therefore of utmost essence that the public manager be aware of how to handle and manage such differences. The projected reform of the public service should also incorporate diversity management strategies. Another important environmental issue that future reform efforts should address is that of corruption. In fact, this subject is so important to deserve separate, in-depth treatment. I am therefore attaching a copy (in page proof format) of a forthcoming article in vol. 5, no. 2 Spring 2003 issue of Public Integrity. Readers should kindly note that before returning the proof to the journal, I inserted in the final draft the Government of Nigeria’s trong reservations on a Time magazine article written by Stephen Faris on Nigerian on 17 April 2002. 4. Human Resource Development and Utilization: Short- and Medium-Term Measures The short- and medium-term measures which are likely to facilitate the judicious allocation of human resources include the streamlining of employment policies, the improvement of the management environment, and the evaluation and redefinition of the role of tr aining institutions and manpower development agencies. 14 If the country is to derive maximum benefits from its investment on human resources, it should make a serious and sustained effort to motivate all categories of personnel. Motivation includes, but is by no means limited to, financial rewards and incentives for increased productivity. Government needs, as a matter of priority, to identify productive units and assign measurable targets to them, the attainment of which should attract specified rewards or benefits. The Republic of Tanzania experimented with this idea in its customs service, and the result exceeded all expectations. The parastatal bodies with economic or quasieconomic objectives (NITEL, NEPA, Nigeria Airways, etc. ) have nothing to lose, and probably a lot to gain, from a carefully designed programme of target-setting that is closely related to a motivation package. Even in the regular civil service, we are likely to find agencies or units offering services while at the same time operating in the market place. Any market-related operations should come under the new arrangement of target-setting and motivation. Material rewards are, however, not the only tools of motivation. The senior mangers and administrators in fact look for more. They expect to be appreciated for the contributions they are making to national survival and development. If they are not considered worthy of national honours or merit awards, they at least would not like to be prematurely retired or publicly disgraced. Motivation, as far as they are concerned, means not losing sleep over when the axe is going to fall. Equally important to the effective utilization of human resources is the reform of the management environment. Anything which constitutes a barrier to efficient resource allocation (be it hierarchy, grading of posts, systems and procedures, allocation of responsibilities, supervision styles, or civil service rules and regulations) should be closely reviewed and properly streamlined. As part of the short- and medium-term measures, steps should be taken to evaluate, rationalize, and coordinate the

Free Essays on Conflicts In Communication

Conflicts in Communication â€Å"I just don’t understand men!† This expression is a popular one used by women of all ages. From adolescents to senior citizens, women are at a struggle in understanding why men do the things they do and vice versa. It is a general understanding that communication is the key to any relationship. However, both sexes use language for different purposes making it difficult to comprehend one another. In chapter 3 of Understanding Human Communication, Gender and Language is discussed in detail. According to the book, both genders share common topics of discussion such as movies, television and work. However, women generally use language for social purposes, to discuss personal problems and feelings. While on the other hand, men use language in a more impersonal manner, to complete the task at hand with minimal expression of their emotions. Women view conversations with other females a necessity, while men view conversations with other males as something they simply lik e to do. Through my experiences, I can honestly say that I agree with these descriptions of male and female language. Obviously not everyone complies with these descriptions, but for the most part these generalizations are true. Every female deals with their problems in very various ways yet there is always one similarity: girlfriends are a necessity in resolving those problems. When I look back at high school, I see a nonstop cycle of gossip, lies, fights, boyfriends, and heartaches. These were the toughest years of my life so far and I am glad I did not have to go through them alone. In any bad situation, the first to be by my side were my girls. They helped me realize things that I already knew deep down, but needed to hear it out loud to believe. We would talk all night about our feelings on sex, boys, family, friends, and high school gossip. These â€Å"bonding sessions are a main reason that women need female-to-female conversations. Fe... Free Essays on Conflicts In Communication Free Essays on Conflicts In Communication Conflicts in Communication â€Å"I just don’t understand men!† This expression is a popular one used by women of all ages. From adolescents to senior citizens, women are at a struggle in understanding why men do the things they do and vice versa. It is a general understanding that communication is the key to any relationship. However, both sexes use language for different purposes making it difficult to comprehend one another. In chapter 3 of Understanding Human Communication, Gender and Language is discussed in detail. According to the book, both genders share common topics of discussion such as movies, television and work. However, women generally use language for social purposes, to discuss personal problems and feelings. While on the other hand, men use language in a more impersonal manner, to complete the task at hand with minimal expression of their emotions. Women view conversations with other females a necessity, while men view conversations with other males as something they simply lik e to do. Through my experiences, I can honestly say that I agree with these descriptions of male and female language. Obviously not everyone complies with these descriptions, but for the most part these generalizations are true. Every female deals with their problems in very various ways yet there is always one similarity: girlfriends are a necessity in resolving those problems. When I look back at high school, I see a nonstop cycle of gossip, lies, fights, boyfriends, and heartaches. These were the toughest years of my life so far and I am glad I did not have to go through them alone. In any bad situation, the first to be by my side were my girls. They helped me realize things that I already knew deep down, but needed to hear it out loud to believe. We would talk all night about our feelings on sex, boys, family, friends, and high school gossip. These â€Å"bonding sessions are a main reason that women need female-to-female conversations. Fe... Free Essays on Conflicts In Communication Conflicts in Communication â€Å"I just don’t understand men!† This expression is a popular one used by women of all ages. From adolescents to senior citizens, women are at a struggle in understanding why men do the things they do and vice versa. It is a general understanding that communication is the key to any relationship. However, both sexes use language for different purposes making it difficult to comprehend one another. In chapter 3 of Understanding Human Communication, Gender and Language is discussed in detail. According to the book, both genders share common topics of discussion such as movies, television and work. However, women generally use language for social purposes, to discuss personal problems and feelings. While on the other hand, men use language in a more impersonal manner, to complete the task at hand with minimal expression of their emotions. Women view conversations with other females a necessity, while men view conversations with other males as something they simply lik e to do. Through my experiences, I can honestly say that I agree with these descriptions of male and female language. Obviously not everyone complies with these descriptions, but for the most part these generalizations are true. Every female deals with their problems in very various ways yet there is always one similarity: girlfriends are a necessity in resolving those problems. When I look back at high school, I see a nonstop cycle of gossip, lies, fights, boyfriends, and heartaches. These were the toughest years of my life so far and I am glad I did not have to go through them alone. In any bad situation, the first to be by my side were my girls. They helped me realize things that I already knew deep down, but needed to hear it out loud to believe. We would talk all night about our feelings on sex, boys, family, friends, and high school gossip. These â€Å"bonding sessions are a main reason that women need female-to-female conversations. Fe...

3 Key Strategies for SAT Passport to Advanced Math

3 Key Strategies for SAT Passport to Advanced Math SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips Worried about exponents or coordinate geometry on the SAT? Never fear, this guide is here! I'll explain everything you need to know about SAT Math's trickiest subject area: Passport to Advanced Math. This topic tests all the algebra skills you must have firmly in place before you move into the study of more complex math, including systems of equations, polynomials, and exponents. Of course, the questions are presented in a uniqely SAT way, so I'll walk you through exactly what you can expect from this subsection of SAT Math. Basic Data: Passport to Advanced Math There are 16 Passport to Advanced Math questions on the test (out of 58 total math questions). These questions will not be explicitly identified- there's no label or anything marking these questions as members of this category- but you will receive a subscore (on a scale of 1 to 15) indicating how well you did on this material. You will see this type of question in both the calculator and no-calculator sections. There will also be both multiple choice questions and grid-in questions covering these topics. Passport to Advanced Math Concepts Below are the major skills tested by Passport to Advanced Math questions. Pay attention, now! Understanding Equation Structure The College Board wants to know that you understand how expressions, equations, and the like are structured. Also, the College Board will call upon you to demonstrate a real comprehension of why they're structured that way- and how they work as a result. For a question like this, you need to put both sides of the equation in the same form. So we'll start by FOILing the left side of the equation: $$abx^2+7ax+2bx+14=15x^2+cx+14$$ By comparing the two sides of the equation we can draw two conclusions: $$ab=15$$ $$7a+2b=c$$ Now we can use the following system of equations to determine the possible values for $a$ and $b$: $$a+b=8$$ $$ab=15$$ Therefore, $a=3$ and $b=5$, or $a=5$ and $b=3$. Finally, we plug both of those possible sets of values into the equation $7a+2b=c$ and solve for $c$, which gives us $c=7(3)+2(5)=31$ or $c=7(5)+2(3)=41$. Thus, (D) is the correct answer. Modeling Data You'll have to demonstrate the ability to build your own model of a given situation or context by writing an expression or equation to fit it. Here, the testmakers are asking us to recognize that $C$ is a function of $h$. We're looking at a variation on $y=mx+b$ where $C$ is on the y-axis and $h$ is on the x-axis. In order to find the correct equation for the line, we need to determine the values of constants $m$ (slope) and $b$ (y-intercept). We can look at the graph and immediately see that the y-intercept is 5, but that only allows us to rule out answers A and D. We need to find the slope as well. The equation for the slope of a line is $m=(y_2-y_1)/(x_2-x_1)$ Let's choose points $(1,8)$ and $(2,)$ from the graph and plug these values into the slope equation: $$m=(-8)/(2-1)=(3/1)$$ Given a slope of 3 and y-intercept of 5, we know the correct equation is $C=3h+5$, so the answer is (C). Mathematical modeling will, unfortunately, not get you on the front page of Vogue. Manipulating Equations This skill is very important to have mastered, as it will be useful in a large number of problems. It's all about where you can rearrange and rewrite expressions and equations. This question is pretty straightforward in asking you to rearrange the original formula. The math needed to do so, however, looks pretty nasty, by a glance over the answer choices. Let's take a look. Really, all we're doing is dividing both sides by the big nasty part, which is to say we're dividing by: To do that, we can multiply both sides by the reciprocal, which is: $${(1+r/1200)^N-1}/{(r/1200)(1+r/1200)^N}$$ So, we have: $$m{(1+r/1200)^N-1}/{(r/1200)(1+r/1200)^N}={(r/1200)(1+r/1200)^N}/{(1+r/1200)^N-1}{(1+r/1200)^N-1}/{(r/1200)(1+r/1200)^N}P$$ The two fractions on the right cancel each other out and this simplifies to: $$m{(1+r/1200)^N-1}/{(r/1200)(1+r/1200)^N}=P$$ The answer is (B). Math is one place where manipulation is not a malicious or fraudulent activity. Simplification This aspect is all about turning down the noise within an expression or equation by canceling out useless terms. In other words, the testmakers are likely to throw a whole lot of impenetrable garbage at you and wait for you to rearrange it so it makes human sense. This question is relatively straightforward: it just looks like a handful. It's all a matter of lining up like terms and combining them; careful of the signs. First, we distribute the negative to the terms in the second set of parentheses: $$x^2y-3y^2+5xy^2+x^2y-3xy^2+3y^2$$ Then we combine like terms: $$(x^2y+x^2y)+(-3y^2+3y^2)+(5xy^2-3xy^2)=2x^2y+2xy^2$$ Thus, (C) is the correct answer. Specific Topics in Math Here, we'll talk less about the broad scope of skills you'll need and more about specifics topics you have to be familiar with. Systems of Equations You need to be able to solve a system of equations in two variables where one is linear and one is quadratic (or otherwise nonlinear). Often, you will need to identify extraneous solutions- so don't forget to double-check the answers you find to make sure they work. There's a lot going on with this question, so let's start by simplifying the first equation. $$x^a^2/x^b^2=x^16$$ $$x^(a^2-b^2)=x^16$$ Since we know $x=x$, we can infer the following equation: $$a^2-b^2=16$$ $$(a+b)(a−b)=16$$ We know $a+b=2$, so we can plug that in and solve for $a-b$: $$2(a-b)=16$$ $$a-b=16/2=8$$ The equations on the SAT tend to be more complicated than this one, though. Polynomials You need to be able to add, subtract, multiply, and even occasionally divide polynomials. With polynomial division comes rational equations. You've got to be able to clear variables out of the denominator in rational expressions. Clearly the issue here is simplifying that rather intimidating denominator. Let's try multiplying the whole thing by ${(x+2)(x+3)}/{(x+2)(x+3)}$. $$1/{1/(x+2)+1/(x+3)}{(x+2)(x+3)}/{(x+2)(x+3)}$$ $${(x+2)(x+3)}/[{(x+2)(x+3)}/(x+2)+{(x+2)(x+3)}/(x+3)]$$ $${(x+2)(x+3)}/{(x+3)+(x+2)}$$ $$(x^2+5x+6)/(2x+5)$$ You'll recognize that as answer (B). The "polynomial" heading also includes your friendly neighborhood quadratic functions and equations. You need to be able to devise your own quadratic equation from the context of a word problem. Exponential Functions, Equations, Expressions, and Radicals You need an understanding of exponential growth and decay. You also need a solid comprehension of how roots and powers work. This question looks vaguely impossible, but the trick is just realizing that $8=2^3$. Once we know that we can rewrite the expression: $(2^3^x)/2^y=2^(3x-y)$ Per the question, we know that $3x-y=12$, so we can plug that value into the expression above to get $2^12$ or (A). Oh, the fun we can have with exponents! Algebraic and Graphical Representations of Functions Here are some terms you should understand, both as they apply to functions and as they apply to graphs. What do they mean in each case? x-intercepts y-intercepts domain range maximum minimum increasing decreasing end behavior asymptotes symmetry You'll also need to understand transformations. You should understand what happens, algebraically and graphically, when $f(x)$ changes to $f(x)+a$ or $f(x+a)$. What's the difference? Adding a outside of the parentheses moves the function up or down, graphically, and increases or decreases the overall values being spit out, algebraically. Adding a inside of the parentheses moves the function side to side, graphically, and shift the output the corresponds to the formal input, algebraically. Analyzing More Complex Equations in Context Sometimes you need to combine your "mathematical" knowledge with a plain old sense of logic. Don't be afraid to plug numbers in and watch what's going on in that alphabet soup when you try some actual values. Take everything step by step. Tips for Passport to Advanced Math The Passport to Advanced Math questions can be tricky, but the following tips can help you approach them with confidence! #1: Use multiple choice answers to your advantage. Always keep an eye out for what may be plugged in, tried out, or worked backwards from. One of the answers listed has to be the right one, so toy around with those four options until it all falls into place. Be sure to read our articles on plugging in answers and plugging in other useful numbers. Also, don't forget the process of elimination! If two answers are definitely bad and two might be okay, at least you're now guessing with a 50-50 chance of success- and that's not too bad! #2: Remember that squaring an expression isn't something you can really undo. There are so many problems where it's tempting- and often best- to square an expression, but remember there are caveats if you do. You may end up with extraneous solutions or some other such nonsense. Squaring also wipes out any negatives that are present. Taking a square root messes with the signs in a different way: you're going to have a positive case and a negative case, and that may not be appropriate. #3: Make sure you understand how the laws of exponents and how powers and radicals all relate. These laws can be pesky to memorize, but they're crucial to know. Exponents show up a lot on the test, and not knowing how to manipulate them is just a way of robbing yourself of all of those points. There he is! The dreaded points-robber! Closing Words There are a few fundamental skills that are essential to doing well on Passport to Advanced Math questions on the SAT. A lot of it comes down to knowing the different forms that an expression or equation can take- and understanding what they al mean. Basically, get comfortable with equivalences, and with mathematical operations used on terms more complex than plain old constants, because you'll be seeing plenty of them. Another thing that this type of question tests is your ability to recognize information- and I mean this in the pure sense of noticing that a certain term can be factored out, that it would be convenient to rewrite an equation with a different system of organizations, or that if I shoved most of the terms in an equation to the opposite side of the equals sign than I would be left with the difference of squares on one side. This awareness is, unfortunately, the hardest part to teach- and one of the most important to practice. Remember to stay calm- and breathe. Use your time wisely: if a problem looks totally overwhelming, skip it. Save it for the end, and however much time (if any) you have left over. If you sense that you're truly stuck, guessing is not the end of the world- it's better than leaving a question blank. There's no guessing penalty, so you won't lose points for a wrong answer. Before you throw in the towel, though, and time permitting, take a few minutes to fiddle around with the problem, trying out some different strategies. Try anything that comes to you! Work backwards from the answer choices, trying them out and plugging things in. What's Next? Now, if I gave the impression that any of these skills are impossible to learn, I apologize. Certain skills are harder to pick up, but we've got resources that should give you a leg up. We've got articles that cover just about anything you could ever want to know about SAT Math. Now, anxiety results from anticipating the unknown, so make the worst of the possible worst on SAT Math a little less mysterious by trying out some extra tough problems. And, just in case, learn how to do your very best guessing on SAT Math. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points? Check out our best-in-class online SAT prep program. We guarantee your money back if you don't improve your SAT score by 160 points or more. Our program is entirely online, and it customizes what you study to your strengths and weaknesses. If you liked this Math strategy guide, you'll love our program. Along with more detailed lessons, you'll get thousands of practice problems organized by individual skills so you learn most effectively. We'll also give you a step-by-step program to follow so you'll never be confused about what to study next. Check out our 5-day free trial:

Assignment Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 3000 words - 4

Assignment - Essay Example In reality however excellence has a dimension as limited as the companies itself. It means that the organization strives to find the best available practice rather than following market leaders or competitors. This finding the best practices and implementing them will result from an exhaustive self assessment and investigation by the organization itself. The level of excellence that an organization has achieved is generally measured by the results the organization has delivered and is very greatly dependent upon the performance management systems used. Organizational excellence is an overall way in which organizations work from balancing stakeholders interests to the management of profits and prioritizing ones needs without losing control with such operational efficiency that doesn’t lead to doubts about its performance and utilization of resources. The achievement of such excellence has since always been a dilemma with multiple theories based on it. But in a nutshell it should be understood that the means of achieving excellence were always and will always be an item of great interest and research and though unanimity will never be achieved, the best way is to strive hard to question how to achieve it and then implement those solutions with utmost efficiency. What should be remembered however is that in the race of excellence there is no finish line. The business excellence model largely determines how organizations all over the world handle their operations and how decision making takes place. Different parts of the world have different excellence models which are dependent upon the organizational structure in those regions as well as the preferences of customers and the mindset of the employees. Customer focus and logical decision-making, form the core of all models. One of the earliest excellence models is the Deming Excellence model which is based on