Dantes Inferno :: essays research papers

The Divine Comedy was a key element to the development of European literature. By writing the epic style poem in the vernacular, he enabled all people of general literacy (ie, the commoner) with the liberty to read his work of art. This was such a landmark event because scholars of the past had always written in Latin including two of the most influential people in his life, the epic poets Virgil and Homer. Latin was the language of the Roman Empire and the Catholic Church therefore no one ever thought Dante’s use of the vernacular was capable of such poetic expression. From a mere literal perspective, The Divine Comedy can then be viewed as a pioneer in the defiance of Catholicism. Through the mere title â€Å"The Divine Comedy†, one can further unearth many significant aspects of the poem. A true comedy refers to two classical modes of composition. The tragedy was the first of these styles where the plot flowed from a high and pleasant beginning to an extremely low and destructive conclusion. The second technique is a classic comedy where the plot elevates from depressing beginning to an elevated and triumphant ending. In canto 1 it describes the 1st part of the journey vividly crossing the mtn. He keeps falling and cant quite make it. When the book ends Dante has surpassed a great deal and had learned a lot from his journey.Dante’s work is not solely dependent on either of the two styles rather it incorporates aspects of both approaches. The plot of The Inferno mirrors a classic comedy for it progresses from the horrors of Hell to the joys of Heaven, nevertheless it is constantly presenting the reader with individual situations of tragedy. EX-alive b4 jesus(virgil,limbo),suicides†¦those who are good, gays. The Divine Comedy is a truly universal work for it deals with the most significant question of humanity, the existence of an afterlife and the consequences of our lives on Earth. His convo w Virgil, Dante asks why we are here. this Dante was so confident in his abilities as a poet that he attempted to answer such questions through the voice of the vernacular.

Macbeth vs. Henry V Essay

Shakespeare’s play Macbeth shows the roots of all evil, our own human nature. The play is centered on the coexistence of good and evil. Macbeth, unlike any other Shakespeare play has the protagonist convert to evil. In the beginning of the play, Macbeth is shown as a hero in the Scottish army, that is ironic because Macbeth defeats a traitor and he himself becomes one later. Macbeth knows his place in the world. He is fully capable of distinguishing between right and wrong. Macbeth purposely disregards his own moral judgment to rise to power which is again ironic and goes against his own beliefs. Macbeth stands as a symbol for Satan’s sin of ambition. Like Satan, Macbeth’s thirst for power and ambition drives him to commit evil.Contrary to the theory of supernatural forces he is responsible for his own actions. The Three Witches and Lady Macbeth were only influencing factors in Macbeth’s demise. Macbeth was pressured to do a horrible deed which was driven by evil. The beginning of the evil was rooted in his wife and the witch’s but quickly spread into his mind and heart. The Three played a part in predicting the evilness of Macbeth which is known as the prophecy and Macbeth receives it from them. After receiving this prophecy, Macbeth starts to transform into an evil man who will not let anything stand in his way. For instance, when Macbeth is questioning whether or not he should murder Duncan, Lady Macbeth fools Macbeth into thinking about how any real man would commit the murder. She quotes â€Å"What beast was’t/ then, / that made you break this enterprise to me? / When you durst do it, then you were a man; / and to be more than what you were, you would/ be so much more the man† (Act 1 scene vii lines 53-58).she sees the opportunity to kill Duncan and make Macbeth king. She knows Macbeth’s ambitions, but says he lacks the ruthlessness, and although Macbeth will take an opportunity, he wants to earn his honours honestly. He also knows the murder would be wrong and he would end up paying for it. Macbeth makes a firm statement saying that â€Å"We will proceed no further in this business†(I.vii.32). But after speaking with Lady Macbeth he counter d ecides and proclaims, â€Å"I am settled, and bend up/Each corporal agent to this terrible feat†. Macbeth now proclaims himself king, fore-filling his ambition. Macbeth’s guilt is recognized after the killing of the king; when he is unable to answer himself. Macbeth’s final words in this scene tell us he has committed himself to the path of evil. â€Å"I am in blood, stepped in so far that, should I wade no more, returning was as  tedious as go o’er.† He acknowledges his torturous pain and knows there is no way of stopping it. He has ruined his life forever. Macbeth now doesn’t have a place among the others. He became enraged as he knew that that was true but later accepted it by going to meet with his own evil kind, the witches. Macbeth becomes ruthless and kills at will without feeling guilt. He is now a tyrant, ruling with fear until the bitter end. The thought that one can use language, rather than the conventional brute strength exemplified by Hercules and Beowulf, to achieve a beneficial outcome can be supported by Henry’s character in William Shakespeare’s Henry V. King Henry V assumes his role as king after the death of his father, Henry IV. Prior to ascending the throne, Harry, as his friends call him, was known for his debauchery. Harry was an immature prince, but as the King of England, he suddenly becomes mature and wise. Henry’s bishops convince him of his right and duty to acquire the throne of France. Soon, Britain is preparing for war and fully supporting their king in his pursuit of the French crown. Henry’s powerful words prove his ability to rouse his troops and frighten the enemy. Unlike more traditional heroes, Henry’s heroism is not shown in battle, but rather before the battle. Because Henry is able to put fear into the enemy with his threatening messages, the opposing army may not fight as well as one might expect. As seen at Harfleur, the governor surrenders to save the lives of the citizens.The speech that Henry makes demonstrates Henry’s clever tactics with his enemies. The king does this so that the governor will surrender and Henry can conquer Harfleur without a bloody battle. Although his speech sounds menacing, a quality not found in the characteristics of a hero, it is only a tactic Henry uses to achieve the outcome he wants. Henry’s reluctance to make good on his promise of this massacre is proven when he states, â€Å"use mercy to them all† (III.3. 54). Henry is not the monster he appears to be; instead, he is a leader using any method he can to gain land while keeping his troops out of harm’s way. At the final Battle of Agincourt, Henry’s ragged army expresses concern about their odds against the French; the British are outnumbered five to one. Henry’s Cousin Westmoreland. Henry, being the talented rhetorician that he is, soothes the army’s fears by delivering the inspirational speech: â€Å"[†¦] If we are marked to die, we are now To do our country loss; and if to live,  The fewer men, the greater share of honor. [†¦]But if it be a sin to covet honor, I am the most offending soul alive.† (IV.3. 21-30). Henry explains that there is a certain amount of honor to go around once the British defeat the French. It is fortunate of those soldiers that are at the battle that they do not have to share that honor with men who are fearful and therefore unworthy of honor. Henry says that honor is most important to him and that it should also be important to his army. The soldiers, feeling a renewed sense of purpose, will go into battle and claim that honor – not just for their king, but for England as well Henry explains what the British do Will stand a-tiptoe when this day is named this day, and comes safe home, on this day will be with them for the rest of their lives: He that outlives And rouse him at the name of Crispian [†¦ ]The he will strip his sleeve and show his scars, [And say, ‘These wounds I had on Crispian’s Day.’]†¦. (IV.3. 42-52). What feats he did that day.† Henry somewhat shows his softer side by expressing concern for his troops. Henry tells them he knows some will die, but those who survive will be well respected for the rest of their lives. With the reward of greatness being dangled in front of him, a speech like this can sway even the most fearful soldier into becoming the fiercest fighter. It can be argued that Henry is not a hero at all because he is fighting a meaningless war and that lives are being lost for no reason. While that might be true in one’s opinion, Henry’s opinion is quite different. Henry believes this war is for the greater good. If the British win the war, they gain land and Henry attains the crown of France he believes he deserves. Henry and the British people believe this war is justified; they cannot be faulted for doing what they believe in. Henry satisfies the qualities in the definition of a hero in using his masterful rhetoric. Henry has fought an impossible war against the French. In the final battle, the British were greatly outnumbered, but managed to escape with minimal casualties. The French, however, were not as fortunate and lost a total of ten thousand. This embarrassing defeat of the French proves just how effective Henry’s speech was in improving the morale of his doubtful army. Henry’s coldness and ruthlessness are masks that hide a man who would do anything to protect his countrymen. He uses scare tactics in his rhetoric to belittle the enemy while at the same time inspiring his men.  Remember, the definition of a hero states that bravery and firmness in any course of action qualifies one for the classification as a hero. Henry’s bravery and firmness are represented in his words, rather than his sword, therefore proving him to be a rhetorical hero. Of the two heroes Henry the V and Macbeth the more intelligent and ruthless is Henry because Macbeth was always cautious about making his decisions and needed the help[ of his wife who played the leading role in taking decisions be it to murder someone or to plot plans to get the throne. She was the more stronger person therefore she took the decisions as to what to do. Henry on the other hand did everything on his own and never liked the interference of anyone in his plotting.

Echoes of Heaven Essay

The world today seems to be going further and further from Christian Values. Denominations are arising against each other time after time. We no longer hear the proper preaching of the gospel because preachers prepare their sessions to suit the audience and therefore a lot of truth is left uncovered. A Christian who performs and leads a true Christian life seems very outdated. There are rumors of wars everywhere in the world today. People seem to rely on technology much more than on God. I am a born again Christian, I have been a Christian since I was born but there is a huge difference in my life after I accepted Jesus Christ. I have received tangible breakthroughs and therefore when I say so much truth is left uncovered in today’s churches I do it with reference to my personal experience. Sometimes suffering comes our way because God wants to show us our weakness without Him. We must rely on Him and not on our own understanding. I have observed Muslim practices closely and they are more devoted to their religion and believes than Christians! Charles I agree that God’s Love is better than Life Itself and would very much want to know where to get the book.

The Four Seasons Essays

The Four Seasons Essays The Four Seasons Essay The Four Seasons Essay Look at the structure of each poem as well as its use of language, and show how the poems not only describe the seasons but also convey its mood. As you write indicate your response to the words and ideas in the poems, and at the end say which poem you prefer, giving your reasons. I am going to tell you about three different poems I have chosen which I feel best portray the seasons. I have chosen Spring by G. M Hopkins, To Autumn by John Keats and Skating from The Prelude by William Wordsworth. The poem Spring by G. M Hopkins is a very happy and joyful poem and full of life. In the very first line, Hopkins refers to Spring as the most attractive season of them all, telling us: Nothing is so beautiful as Spring (Line 1). He carries on creating a buoyant and cheerful atmosphere by using words and phrases such as the alliterative phrases long and lovely and lush (Line 2) and With richness, the racing lambs too have fair their fling (Line 8). In the first stanza, Hopkins uses imagery with phrases such as weeds in wheels (Line 2) and The glassy pear tree leaves and blooms (Line 6), which gives the reader pictures of Springtime. The image of The descending blue; that blue is all in a rush (Line 7), gives the impression of being wrapped in a mixture of happy feelings and the promise of summer to come. The poem is very continuous and uses many enjambments so that the poem can be kept at a fast flowing speed for the reader. For example Through the echoing timbre does so rinse and wring / The ear, it strikes like lighting to hear him sing (Line 4 / 5). When Hopkins starts his second verse he writes this alliterative question What is all this juice and all this joy? (Line 9). This can be interpreted as the juice being all the new life of both animals and plants, thrushs eggs (Line 3) and racing lambs (Line 8), and the joy is in being able to see all these events happen and being part of the experience. Hopkins uses the Garden of Eden to talk about the newness and innocence of this season. He writes In Eden garden Have, get, before it cloy, / Before it cloud, Christ, lord and sour with sinning / Innocent Minds and Mayday in girl and boy (Line 11 / 12 / 13), suggesting that Spring has a purity that the later seasons lack. He supports the use of springs innocence by using the maids child towards the end of the play Most, O maids child, thy choice and worthy the winning. The Autumn Poem by John Keats is a very famous poem, written in 1819, two years before he died. The poem is written in three stanzas and he has written the poem so that at the beginning it is describing the start of autumn, progressing through the poem until autumn is turning into winter. Keats begins the poem with alliterative phrases like mists of mellow fruitfulness (Line 1), using soft consonants and extended vowels to give an atmosphere of relaxation and calmness. He uses the metaphor Close blossom-friend of the maturing sun (Line 2), to produce an image of fruitfulness and fertility. The phrase Conspiring with him how to load and bless (Line 3) makes it seem like Autumn and the Sun are human and almost God-like. He talks about all the fruit being as ripe as they are ever going to be, all the way to the core (Line 6) while the trees bend with apples (Line 5). He talks about the animals and especially the bees and says And still more, later flowers for the bees, / until they think warm days will never cease (Line 9 / 10). Keats is saying that the bees are not aware that winter is coming so they stay out still looking for more flowers. In the second stanza he talks about the main part of autumn, describing autumn as if it was a person, starting the stanza with Who hath not seen thee oft amid thy store? (Line 12). He gives the reader many images of autumn being a restful time, slowing down as winter approaches, using phrases such as sitting careless on a granary floor (Line 14) and on a half reapd furrow sound asleep (Line 16). He uses many restful alliterative words such as winnowing wind (Line 15) and the phrase Thou watchest the last oozing hours by hours (Line 22) also feels like life is slowing down. Even though he talks about this time being easy and lazy it is a very difficult and busy time for farmers, however this is not stated in the poem. Keats writes what is idealistic for him. He has again used lots of long vowels to create heaviness and slowness in the poem with phrases such as Drowsed with the fume of poppies (Line 17) to suggest sleepiness. In the final stanza he talks about the end of autumn and the beginning of winter, talking about regret, where are the songs of Spring? (Line 23). Keats also gives the reader images of the autumn evenings, soft-dying day (Line 25) and also rosy hue (Line 26) which means the setting sun, which is in contrast to the mature sun of the first stanza. Keats describes images of death using words and phrases such as mourn (Line 27), sinking (Line 29) and also the light wind lives or dies (Line 29) because it is the end of the summer. He uses many musical terms throughout the last stanza, such as wailful choir (Line 27), full-grown lambs loud bleat from hilly bourn (Line 30), hedge crickets sing (Line 31) and now with treble soft / The red-breast whistles (Line 31 / 32). They are all however very soft sounds, unlike Hopkins Spring which was all bustling and noisy. Keats describes a robin in the poem which suggests images of the forthcoming winter, and he talks about full-grown lambs, which suggests that the cycle of the year from when they were born in spring to their full grown state in autumn is complete. In general, throughout the poem he uses few full stops making very extended sentences. This keeps the poem very lethargic, lazy and restful. The pace is kept very slow and he does this by using many caesurae.

Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) Practices and the Performance of a Nigerian Small and Medium Size Enterprise (SME). The WritePass Journal

Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) Practices and the Performance of a Nigerian Small and Medium Size Enterprise (SME). Introduction Strategic Human Resource Management (SHRM) Practices and the Performance of a Nigerian Small and Medium Size Enterprise (SME). IntroductionObjectives of the Study Research QuestionsResearch OutlineLiterature ReviewResearch Methods and DataDataReferencesRelated Introduction The contribution of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to the economic growth and development has been enormous. This contribution is significant for both the developed and developing world. Many governments acknowledge the fact that SMEs play a significant role in the growth and development of their economies. Consequently, a number of government investment projects are geared towards fostering the growth and development of local SMEs. The institution of policies geared towards the facilitation and empowerment of SMEs as well as improving the performance of SMEs remains a major objective of many economic policy makers and governments. In addition, international economic and financial bodies such as the IMF, World Bank, the European Investment Bank (EIB) and the International Financial Corporation (IFC) have invested heavily in making SMEs robust and vibrant in developing countries. Furthermore, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in developing countries such as Nigeria have employed advocacy and capacity-building campaigns to promote the growth of SMEs. Despite the importance accorded to SMEs as well as their contribution to economic growth, Onugu (2005) argues that the performance of SMEs in Nigeria has been below expectations. Unlike SMEs in other countries, the contribution of Nigerian SMEs to economic growth has not been very impressive (Onogu, 2005). Following from its independence, the Federal government of Nigeria has invested significant sums of money to promote entrepreneurial and small business development projects (Mambula, 1997, 2002). However, results from these projects have not been very impressive. In order words, most of these projects have often been unable to yield their expected returns. Despite the country’s endowment with raw materials and other natural resources, there has been little progress towards the development of the manufacturing sector, which could have increased the production of value added products thereby substituting imports, increasing exports and increasing employment (Mambula, 1997, 2002). Business failure often comes as a result of a number of factors. This could be as a result of poor customer service, poor management and poor human resource management. While the poor performance of SMEs in Nigeria can be attributed to a number of factors, human resource management could be a major factor in determining this poor performance. Human resources are a principal source of economic growth. Like other resources, human resources require effective and efficient utilisation so as to ensure maximum contribution is achieved from them. Approximately 50 per cent of people work in small and medium sized enterprises. Despite this high proportion of human resources in SMEs, most studies that study human resource management have focused on large corporations with very limited attention to SMEs. Moreover, most studies on the practices of human resource management have been carried out in the developed world with very limited attention paid to developing countries like Nigeria. This study is one of the few studies that focus on the management of human resources in SMEs in a developing country. The country that has been chosen for the study is Nigeria. The paper examines the factors that affect the practices of human resource management in an SME in Nigeria and how these practices can affect the performance of the SME in particular and its contribution to the overall growth of the economy as a whole. Objectives of the Study The objective of the study is to examine the SHRM practices of an SME in Nigeria. The study will also examine how those practices affect the performance of the SME and provide policy implications of the findings for future strategy development. Research Questions The paper will be providing answers to the following questions: What are the Strategic human resource management practices of the SME? How do these practices affect the performance of the SME? What are the implications for future development of strategic human resource management practices at the SME? Research Outline The paper is going to follow the following areas: Section one will cover the introduction; section 2 will be dealing with the literature review; section 3 will be discussing the methodology and describing the data; section 4 will provide the results and analysis; and section 5 will present conclusions and recommendations. Literature Review Strategic human resource management (SHRM) practices refer to those activities that are specifically developed, executed and implemented on a deliberate alignment to a firm’s strategy (Huselid et al., 1997). The phrase â€Å"strategic human resource management is an indication that people in the firm are regarded as strategic resources (i.e human capital) that must be managed and leveraged when implementing and executing the strategy of the firm. In early years, efforts made to develop a conceptual framework on strategic human resource management were based on the assumption that in order to promote human behaviour that would fulfil the strategic objectives of the firm, the firm had to implement specific human resource management practices (Fisher, 1989; Schuler and Jackson, 1989; Snell, 1992). A strategic approach to human resource management is an approach that links the human resource management policies with the strategic objectives of the firm. There has been significant debate over the term SHRM as has been the case for human resource management (HRM). Many researchers argue that SHRM lacks conceptual clarity (e.g., Bamberger and Meshoulam, 2000). Three competing frameworks on SHRM have emerged: the contingency, universal and configurational perspectives (Miles and Snow, 1984; Schuler and Jackson, 1987; Delery and Doty, 1996; Pfeffer, 1998; Youndt et al., 1996; Boxall and Purcell, 2000, 2008). According to the universal perspective, all HR practices in all firms have a positive impact on firm performance (Delery and Doty, 1996). The configurational perspective suggests that firm performance depends on unique HR practices while the contingency perspective suggests that a firm’s HR practices are a function of its strategy (Miles and Snow, 1984; Schuler and Jackso n, 1987). A number of studies have tested the different frameworks and found contradictory results. For example, Youndt et al. (1996); and Chang and Huang (2005) argue in favour of the contingency perspective while Tackeuchi et al. (2003) favour the configurational perspective. The frameworks suggested above are mostly relevant for large organisations. Little effort has been devoted towards the development of SHRM in SMEs. For example, Saini and Budhwar (2008) in a study of SHRM practices in SMEs in India argue that bounded rationality tends to constrain the willingness to implement innovative HR practices in SMEs in India because most owners of SMEs tend to believe that they are doing their utmost best. Barber et al (1999) observe that HRM practices that work well in large organisations do not work properly in small firms. As a result, Heneman and Tansky (2002) stresses the need to develop different HRM models for SMEs rather than simply extending existing models that are suitable for large organisations to SMEs. The literature on Human resource management in SMEs suggests that a strategic approach to HRM in SMEs is yet to be developed. Conceptual models that relate human resource management practices in SMEs to the strategic capabilities of these organisa tions need to be developed in order to enable SMEs achieve the full benefits of their human resources. As can be observed, most of the studies of HRM practices in SMEs have been limited to SMEs in Western Europe, U.S.A and India with very limited attention given to Africa in general and Nigeria in particular. In the light of the above limitations, this study aims at contributing to the literature by studying the SHRM practices of SMEs in Nigeria. The study does not intend to test any hypothesis. Rather it intends to focus on providing an in-depth analysis and discussion of the HRM practices of a Nigerian SME. Research Methods and Data Research Methods are the approaches taken to achieve the objectives of a research project (Saunders et al., 2009). There are two main approaches to research including the inductive and deductive approaches. The inductive approach is an approach that aims at developing testable hypotheses while the deductive approach focuses on testing existing hypotheses. The inductive approach can use a single case study to multiple case studies while the deductive approach depends on the use of multiple cases. Moreover, the inductive approach can use either qualitative or quantitative methods whereas the deductive approach relies heavily on the use of large data sets and quantitative research methods. The inductive approach is advantageous over the deductive approach in that it does not generalise its results to all cases. It aims at providing an in-depth analysis of a small number of cases. Therefore, it is the approach that will be used in this study. In other to achieve the objective of this study, this paper will use a case study approach. In order to do this, a Nigerian-based SME will be selected. An in-depth analysis of its SHRM practices will be examined and related to its performance. In order to gain detailed understanding of the approaches, the â€Å"Interpretative phenomenological Analysis (IPA) will be used to gain an in-depth analysis of the HRM practices of the SME.   The Interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) is an experimental qualitative approach to research in psychology and the human, health and social sciences (Smith et al., 2009). The human resource practices that will be investigated include recruitment, selection, training, remuneration, leave of absence, interpersonal communication, sick pay, and promotion. The practices of these variables will be analysed and an evaluation of how they affect the performance of the SME will be conducted. The performance measures that will be used include profitabil ity, liquidity, management efficiency and leverage ratios. The ratios will be analysed in relation to the SHRM practices identified along with the Nigerian economic environment in which the SME is based. Data The research will use both primary and secondary data. Data for the SHRM practices will mainly be primary data. This data will be collected using survey questionnaires issued to the employees of the SME and interviews conducted with key management staff. Performance data will be collected from the financial records of the SME. Data on the performance measures will be gathered from the financial records of the SME. References Boxall, P., Purcell, J. (2000). Strategic human resource management: Where have we come from and where should we be going? International Journal of Management Reviews, 2(2), 183−203. Boxall, P., Purcell, J. (2008). Strategy and Human Resource Management. Hampshire: Palgrave MacMillan. Chang,W. J. A., Huang, T. C. (2005). Relationship between strategic human resource management and firm performance: A contingency perspective. International Journal of Manpower, 26(5), 434−449. Delery, J. E., Doty, D. H. (1996). Modes of theorizing in strategic human resource management: Tests of universalistic, contingency. Academy of Management Journal, 39(4), 802−835. Huselid, M.A., S.E. Jackson, and R.S. Schuler. 1997. â€Å"Technical and Strategic Human Resource Management Effectiveness as Determinants of Firm Performance,† Academy of Management Journal 40(199), 171-188. Miles, R. E., Snow, C. C. (1984). Designing strategic human resources systems. Organizational Dynamics, 13(1), 36−52. Schuler, R.S. and S.A. Jackson. 1989. â€Å"Determinants of Human Resource Management Priorities and Implications for Industrial Relations,† Journal of Management 15(1): 89-99. Snell, S.A. 1992. â€Å"Control Theory in Strategic Human Resource Management: The Mediating Effect of Administrative Information,† Academy of Management, Journal 35(2), 292-327. Schuler, R. S., Jackson, S. E. (1987). Linking competitive strategies with human resource management practices. Academy of Management Executive, 1(3), 207−219. Pfeffer, J. (1998). Seven practices of successful organizations. California Management Review, 40(2), 96−124. Onugu, B. A. N. (2005) Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in Nigeria: Problems and Prospects, St. Clements University Smith, J. A., Flowers, P., Larkin, M. (2009) Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis: Theory, Method and Research, Sage Publications. Heneman, R. L., Tansky, J. W. (2002). Human resource management models for entrepreneurial opportunity: Existing knowledge and new directions. In J. Katz, T. M. Welbourne (Eds.), Managing people in entrepreneurial organizations, vol. 5 (pp. 55–82). Amsterdam: JAI Press. Barber, A. E., Wesson, M. J., Roberson, Q. M., Taylor, M. S. (1999). A tale of two job markets: Organizational size and its effects on hiring practices and job search behavior. Personnel Psychology, 52, 841–867. Saunders M, Lewis P and Thornhill A (2009) Research Methods for Business Studies, 5th edition, Prentice Hall FT Harlow Saini, D. S., Budhwar, P. S. (2008) Managing the human resource in Indian SMEs: The role of indigenous realities, Journal of World Business, Volume 43, No. 4, Pages 417-434 Takeuchi, N., Wakabayashi, M., Chen, Z. (2003). The strategic HRM configuration for competitive advantage: Evidence from Japanese firms in China and Taiwan, Asia Pacific Journal of Management, 20(4), 447−480.

Single Variable Equations on SAT Math Complete Strategies

Single Variable Equations on SAT Math Complete Strategies SAT / ACT Prep Online Guides and Tips In a way, single variable equations are some of the most common and least common types of questions on the SAT math section. Why? Because it’s rare to find more than one or two single variable equations per test, and yet knowing how to solve and manipulate single variable equations is a basic requirement for solving most all SAT math questions. Even though you won’t often see single variable equations by themselves, it is crucial that you know how to set up, use, and manipulate them. You cannot solve the more complex expressions like quadratics, multiple variables, and so on, without first understanding single variable equations. This guide will be your complete walk-through of single variable equations for the SATwhat they are, how you’ll see them on the test, and how to set up and solve them. Once you get the hang of single variable equations, you can go on to solve more and more complex problems. What Are Single Variable Equations? A single variable equation is comprised of two parts: the (lone) variable and the equation. So let’s look at what those are and how to put them together. A variable is a symbolic placeholder for a number we do not yet know. Often, you’ll see x or y used as a variable in math problems, but variables can be represented by any symbol or letter. $$4t=20$$ In this case, t is our variable. It represents a number that is currently unknown. An equation sets two (or more) mathematical expressions equal to one another. To show that the expressions are equal, we use an equals sign (=). Each side of the expression can be as simple as a single integer or as complex as an expression with multiple variables, exponents, or anything else. $$15(a+b^3)−(a−3)^12=22$$ The above is an example of an equation. Each side of the expression equals the other. So if we put together our definitions, we know that: A single variable equation is an equation in which there is only one variable. The variable can be used multiple times and/or used on either side of the equation as long as the variable remains the same. Some examples of single variable equations: $${4(a−3)}/a=2(a^8)$$ $$a+7−(a+3)=4$$ $$6a+a−3=a+21$$ You’ll notice that some of the equations used the variable, a, multiple times. Other equations used the variable on either side of the equals sign. No matter how many times the variable is used, all of these are still single variable problems because the variable remains constant and there are no other variables. Once you find your variable, you can solve the whole puzzle. Typical Single Variable Equations on the SAT Single variable equations will fall into two broad categories on the SATgiven equations and word problems. Word problems are by far the more common and you should expect to see one or two per test. Given equations, when they appear, will usually fall between problems 1-4 on any given math section. Let’s look at each type. Given Equations A given equation will provide you with the equation you need to use to solve the problem. We will go through the exact processes needed to solve this kind of problem in the next section, but for now just understand that your goal is to isolate your variable. (We will walk through how to solve this question later in the guide) In this problem, you are being asked to find the isolated variable as your final answer. But do be sure to note that this is not always the case. Sometimes the question will ask you to solve for y alone (or x or any other variable), and sometimes the question will ask you to solve for y to a different term (2y or 12y, etc.). Always pay close attention to exactly what the question is asking you to find. You need to first isolate your variable to solve the problem, but always double-check whether you should stop there or if you need to continue on, in order to find your final answer. Word Problems A word problem will describe a situation and ask you to find a missing variable. You must write your own equation based on the information you are given in the question. Again, your final answer may be the value of your variable (x or y, etc.) or your variable taken to a different term ($2x$, $y^2$, etc.). (We will walk through how to solve this question later in the guide) How to Manipulate a Single Variable Equation In order to solve a single variable equation, we must isolate our variable on one side of the equation. And the way we do this is by shifting everything else to the other side of the equals sign. In order to shift our terms (expressions), we must cancel them out on their original side. This means we have to set the non-variablesto zero when using addition/multiplication, and set the variable to 1 when using division/multiplication. (Why do we set it to 1 when using division/multiplication? Because we use multiplication and division to isolate our variable. But setting it to 1, we give ourselves just the one variable to work with.) The way we cancel out our terms is by performing the opposite function of each term. Opposite function pairs are: Addition and subtraction Multiplication and division For example, if we have a term on one side that has a minus sign (subtraction), we must add that same amount from both sides. $x−4=6$ $x−4+4=6+4$ $x=10$ If we have a term that is being multiplied, we must divide that same amount from both sides. $4x=20$ ${4x}/4={20}/4$ $x=5$ And so on. Whatever you do on one side of the equation, you must do on the other. This cancels out like terms and essentially moves your terms from one side of the equation to the other. Manipulating equations isall about balance. Steps to Solving a Single Variable Problem Let us take a typical variable expression and break it into the steps needed to solve it. $14−2x+2+6x=64.$ Find ${1/2}x.$ #1: Combine like terms If there is more than one term with a same variable, we must combine them in order to ultimately isolate that variable. We can add or subtract terms with a same variable in the same way we can any other numbers. $14−2x+2+6x=64$ Here we have a $−2x$ and a $6x$ (notice how we had to keep the signs in front of the numbers intact). Now we add them together. $−2x+6x=4x$ We also have multiple numbers without variables on the left side of our equation. We must combine these as well, as they are also like terms. $14+2=16$ So now, when we put the pieces together, our equation looks like this: $16+4x=64$ #2: Isolate the term with your variable Once we have combined our variables, we must isolate the variable term. If the term is simply the variable itself (e.g. $x$), then we can skip this step. But since our term here is $6x$, we must isolate the whole term first. $16+4x=64$ We have a positive 16 here that we want to get rid of in order to isolate our $4x$. This means we must subtract 16 from both sides of our equation. Why? Because we have a positive 16, which means that it is addition. And subtraction is the opposite of addition. We must also subtract 16 from either side to cancel out the 16 on the first expression (make it zero) so that we can isolate our variable. $16−16+4x=64−16$ $4x=48$ #3: Isolate your variable Now that we’ve isolated our term ($4x$), we can further isolate the variable. Again, we perform an opposite function of the term. In this case, we have $4x$, which uses multiplication. In order to isolate the variable, we must therefore use division (the opposite of multiplication) by dividing by 4 on both sides. This will set our x equal to one and thus isolate it. $4x=48$ ${4x}/4={48}/4$ $x=12$ #4: Double-check your variable by plugging it back in Now that we’ve solved for our variable, let us check to make sure it is correct by plugging it back into the original equation. $x=12$ $14−2x+2+6x=64$ $14−2(12)+2+6(12)=64$ $14−24+2+72=64$ $−10+74=64$ $64=64$ Success! We have correctly isolated the variable and found its value. #5: And, finally, double-check to make sure you are answering the right question. Ah-ha! We can’t stop here. Our initial question asked for the value of $1/2x$, not just x by itself. If we had stopped here at $x=12$, we would have gotten the final answer wrong. Now, we end the problem by saying: ${1/2}x=(1/2)12=6$ So our final answer is 6. Always be sure to double-check both that your variable is correct and that you are answering the exact question the test is asking you to answer. Now let’s try it again with our given equation problem from earlier. We have ${1/3}y+9=0$ and we must isolate our variable in order to ultimately find the value of y Step 1, combine like terms: There are no like terms to combine, so we can skip step 1. Step 2, isolate the variable term: $1/3y+9=0$ $1/3y+9−9=0−9$ $1/3y=−9$ Step 3, isolate the variable: $1/3y=−9$ $3*1/3y=−9$ $y=−27$ Step 4, double-check answer: $1/3y+9=0$ $(1/3*−27)+9=0$ $−9+9=0$ $0=0$ Step 5, double-check if answering the right question: The initial question wanted us to find y, and that is exactly what we found. We can confidently say that we are finished. Success! Our final answer is A, -27. Ready to put your single variable equation knowledge to the test? Test Your Knowledge 1. 2. 3. 4. Answers:700, B, A, C Answer Explanations: 1. This problem is one to be cautious of because you'll note that your final answer is NOT your variable. Why? Because we are asked to find the total amount of money each person made during the week and yet our variable is the amount of sales they made. So let's walk through the problem and set up our equation. We are told that both Tom and Alison made the same amount of money in a certain week, which means that this is an equation problem (their earnings are set equal to one another). We also know they had the exact same number of sales and that this number is yet unknown. This is our single variable. Let us call it x. Tom made 300 dollars plus 20% of his sales. We can set up his half of the equation like so: $300+0.2x$ (For more on percentages and why we can set up 20% of x as $0.2x$, check out our guide to SAT fractions and ratios.) Alison made 200 dollars plus 25% of her sales. So we can set up her half of the equation thusly: $200+0.25x$ Now, let us set the two sides equal to one another and solve for our variable. $300+0.2x=200+0.25x$ First, let us combine our like terms by moving them to opposite sides of the equation: $300−200=0.25x−0.2x$ $100=0.05x$ Now, let's isolate our variable: $100/0.05={0.05x}/0.05$ $2000=x$ This means that they each sold 2000 dollars worth of product. But wait! We can't stop here. The question asked us to find their weekly compensation, NOT their weekly sales. We must plug 2000 back into one of the original equations in place of x to find our final answer. Let's take Tom's weekly earnings again: $300+0.2x$ $300+0.2(2000)$ $300+400$ 700 So both Tom and Alison (remember, they made the same amount) earned 700 dollars that week. Our final answer is 700. (Note: you can also double-check your answer with Alison's original equation as well: $200+0.25x$ $200+0.25(2000)$ $200+500$ 700 Either way, the answer is 700) 2. We are told that a triangle has a perimeter of 13 and one side length of 3. The other two sides are equal. That means we would set up an equation that would look like this: $3+2x=13$ The left side of the equation is the sum of all the triangle’s sides. x is substituting for our unknown side lengths. And we have multiplied our x by 2 because the two unknown side lengths are equal. Now, we solve. $3+2x=13$ Subtract 3 from both sides $3−3+2x=13−3$ $2x=10$ Isolate our variable ${2x}/2=10/2$ $x=5$ So each of the other side lengths must be equal to 5. Let’s plug the answer back in to make sure this is correct. $3+5+5=13$ $13=13$ Success! And we are being asked for the length of each side, so we know that our variable answer is the final solution. Our final answer is B, 5. 3. We are being asked to find the number of sandwiches that Ali made, so let’s make our unknown variable a for Ali. This means that Ali made a number of sandwiches. We are told that Ben made three times as many sandwiches as Ali, which means that Ben made $3a$ sandwiches. Now Carla made twice as many sandwiches as Ben. We will still say that all the sandwiches made are in terms of a number of sandwiches, so Carla made $2*3a=6a$ sandwiches. And we also know that the total number of sandwiches was 20. So now, when we put it all together, we get: $a+3a+6a=20$ Combine our like terms and we get: $10a=20$ Isolate our variable. ${10a}/10={20}/10$ $a=2$ Now let’s double-check to make sure that is correct. If Ali makes 2 sandwiches, and Ben makes three times as many, he will have made 6 sandwiches. If Carla makes twice as many as Ben, she’ll have made 12 sandwiches. $2+6+12=20$ 20=20 Success! We have correctly isolated our variable. Since we said that a was the number of sandwiches that Ali made, this means: Our final answer is A, Ali made 2 sandwiches. 4. We are given the problem: "$10+x$ is 5 more than 10." The "is" in the question sets the terms equal, so when we translate this statement, we get: $10+x=15$ Now, let’s isolate our variable. $10−10+x=15−10$ $x=5$ Now let’s double-check by plugging our x back into the original equation. $10+x$ is 5 more than 10. $10+5=15$ is 5 more than 10. Success, we have isolated our variable. But wait! The final question wants us to find the value of 2x, not just x. $x=5$ $2(5)=10$ So our final answer is C, $2x=10$ Whoo! You conquered those single variable equations! The Take Aways Single variations make up the backbone of many other SAT problems. By knowing how to manipulate these kinds of expressions, you’ll be able to build on these techniques to solve much more complex problems and equations. Just remember to always perform the same act to each side of the equation and save isolating your variable for last, and you’ll be conquering single variable equations left and right. Now you’ve got the building blocks for understanding how to go forth and take on the rest of the SAT math topics. So build upon this knowledge and tackle the rest of what SAT math has to offer. What’s Next? You’ve build up your mathematical foundation and now you’re raring to take on more. Before you start in on another SAT math topic guide, make sure you have a good idea of all the topics covered on the SAT math. Think you might need a tutor? Check out the best ways to find a tutor that suits your needs, whether online or in person. Taken a practice test and don’t know how you match up for schools? Make sure you have a good idea of what your ideal score truly is. And if you feel like you’ve got a handle on the math itself, but struggle with the timing, then be sure to check out our guide on how to complete your SAT math section on time. Want to improve your SAT score by 160 points? Check out our best-in-class online SAT prep program. 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Data, Information and Communication in Organizations Management Essay - 10

Data, Information and Communication in Organizations Management - Essay Example Data needs analysis and interpretation with probable possibilities to enable for the proper development of information in management processes. Communication incorporates data processing by the sender through channels in a manner that the recipient can understand. Communication within organizations requires clear and well-defined channels, which pass instructions to various stakeholders within organizations. Organizations use well-analyzed data, processed information and channeled communication to improve efficiency and effectiveness in networking and team building among employees. The use of data within an organization enables the disclosure of various facts that are invaluable in the implementation management practices. At Nike Company where I serve, for instance, the use of statistical data to know the population of people using Nike products assists in the production of a significant number of products that serve all customers. Statistical information on Nike products gives figures on how Nike products get into the market and the level of their demand and supply. Proper application of the statistics ensures appropriate production in the company without any shortage in the marketplace. Based on the theory of price mechanism, especially in management, the use of data in organizations gives them the real figures on demand and supply chains. Therefore, the use of data in organizations en ables for the implementation of demand and supply theory in management (International Conference On The Bookmark Of The School Of The Future, Taylor & Hogenbirk, 2013, p. 138). Information increases efficiency in organizations by expanding knowledge among stakeholders on the proper operations and management techniques. Remarkably, the use of information allows various employees and customers to equip themselves with ideas on various products and their use.