Evaluation of a business code of ethics Essay

Ethical behavior from employees is the foundation for a successful business. Trevino and Nelson define ethical behavior as being, â€Å"consistent with the principles, norms, and standards of business practice that have been agreed upon by society (2007, p. 16, para. 1). A code of ethics is an example of the way a company would have employees act; an instruction manual for ethical behavior. Simply possessing a code of ethics does not guarantee ethical behavior from employees. Therefore, a code of ethics must outline consequences for violations. Employers must enforce the code as well. A code of ethics ensures that, if followed, employees will work diligently with integrity and expertise, safeguard confidential information, and do so in a professional manner. Implementing and maintaining a code of conduct and ethics creates stakeholder confidence in a multinational financial services company. MetLife is one of the largest financial services companies in the world as well as the number one life insurance company in the United States; providing services worldwide in the following areas: investments, financial planning, banking, and insurance. MetLife was formed as a mutual insurance company in 1864 in the wake of the American Civil War. The company would insure Civil War veterans against disabilities because of wartime injuries and sickness. After a rough start in the first four years and several reorganizations, the company started to focus primarily on the life insurance industry; a move that would establish MetLife as one of the largest companies in the United States. Over the span of 143 years MetLife grew significantly through acquisitions and continuing to provide superior service and support to clients. Most recently MetLife acquired American Life Insurance Company (ALICO), and provides people financial services, life insurance, health insurance, and investments, in the following counties: Australia, China, India, Japan, Korea, and Pakistan. This acquisition has given MetLife a dominant spot in the global financial services market making MetLife the largest insurance company in the world. With more than 50,000 employees worldwide, management  accentuates an ethical corporate culture with a compliance department that goes above any state or federal regulations with strict compliance monitoring. Management also creates a positive working environment free of harassment in any form and develops employees with goals of creating professional relationships that last a lifetime as well as achieving high levels of sales and pay. In addition to MetLife’s code of ethics all officers, managers, and employees are must follow and obey all applicable states and federal laws, company policies, and industry regulations where they hold a license to avoid any perception of impropriety. MetLife’s Chief Executive Officer Robert Henrickson states, â€Å"For 140 years, MetLife has helped individuals and institutions build and protect their most valuable assets† (MetLife, 2005, p. 2). In accordance with this reputation, MetLife has a code of ethics in place to support these efforts with the core values integrity and honesty as the foundation of the ethical culture within the company. These core values are vital to the company achieving the MetLife vision; to build financial freedom for everyone. The code of ethics at MetLife is a voluntary code of conduct that emphasizes a duty-based ethical system. The foundation for the code is broad and encompasses the following corporate values: integrity, expertise, suitability, full disclosure, fair competition, service, brand, confidentiality, professionalism, and reputation. However, a code of ethics does not guarantee ethical behavior. Managers enforce the code of ethics with employees as well as administer legal or disciplinary action that results from a deviation from the code of ethics. In the financial services industry deviations from compliance may result in a producer and manager getting in serious trouble. Trouble can be anything from fines to arbitration hearings and loss of licenses and registration. Therefore, many employees genuinely try to make a living and build a successful career following the code of ethics. This is a result of the organizational culture at MetLife. Employees and managers must make minimum sales number each year and failing to hit target numbers results in termination. Any major deviation from MetLife’s code of ethics that results a fine or legal action against the company will have the same end. There is a strong acceptance and adherence to the code of ethics. For example during quarterly compliance meetings employees get refresher training on important state and federal tax laws that change often. The effect this has on the organization is a positive one. However, there are exceptions to this as some employees and competitor’s employees just have bad personal ethics and draw negative attention to the industry for bad business practices. A recent example is the Ponzi scheme committed by Bernard Madoff. In one of the worst periods of economic uncertainty Madoff defrauded thousands of investors out of billions of dollars and at the same time planted the seeds of consumer mistrust against individuals working in the financial services industry. Management expects employees to â€Å"do the right thing† for clients. The primary focus for employees is to achieve MetLife’s vision through fair sales practices, excellent customer service, and making suitable recommendations to clients. Employees must adhere to strict corporate compliance monitoring that goes above state and federal regulations. For example an independent insurance agent, non-MetLife, must complete 16 hours of state mandated continuing education classes each year whereas a MetLife agent must comply with state regulations as well as MetLife’s annual continuing education courses. MetLife’s courses are intentionally more in-depth than the material that the state courses cover and emphasize ethics in all business practices. MetLife is proud of the reputation the company has established in the financial services industry and expects employees to operate their personal business with â€Å"the highest standards of conduct in all business endeavors† (MetLife, 2010, p. 7). Managers also follow the same code of conduct and  ethics. And can be held accountable for employee violation of the code of ethics. Management must adhere to strict company guidelines and complete many more continuing education classes that cover a variety of topics; some that employees take as well as many others that focus on corporate compliance regulations. State and federal laws to abide by so MetLife has its own regulations that cover all states and goes beyond any individual state’s laws or regulations. Each employee, manager or producer must complete an annual compliance review and demonstrate an understanding of the concepts and practices covered by the code of ethics. Corporate ethics and compliance managers hold quarterly and annual compliance meetings with all employees to discuss industry incidents and violations that cost other companies and producer’s money, court proceedings, and careers. In the code of ethics there is little space for change to make monitoring employees easier or any individual employee more compliant. In the financial services industry state and federal laws change or are undergo tweaks a little each year. To that end MetLife releases a code of ethics each year that outlines any new practices or changes in the way employees are to do business, always keeping standards consistent with MetLife’s vision. In short, a code of ethics is a necessary tool for management in an organization such as MetLife. All directors, managers, and employees are expected to read the code of ethics and refer to it when making critical decisions. The company keeps employees up to date with compliance meetings and maintains a high standard of compliance monitoring and reviews. However, ethical behavior is not guaranteed simply because these systems are in place or available for review. Managers set the example for employees and set the standard for the employees they supervise. Under the duty-based system in place employees are expected to do the right thing for clients. The company hires from within only the best employees into management positions. This ethical system keeps organization simple while maintaining a strong compliance keeps financial transactions ethical and in line with  MetLife’s vision; to build financial freedom for everyone. References Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. (2009). Keeping Our Promises. Retrieved February 6, 2011 from www.metlife.com/assets/investments/products/annuities/CLVA6037-3.pdf Metropolitan Life Insurance Co. (2010). Representative Compliance Manual. How We Do Business. Retrieved February 5, 2011 from https://imetlife.metlife.com/wps/myportal/rpp/content? contentId=8ac6c697baa72210VgnVCM1000000ae818acRCRD Trevià ±o, L. K., & Nelson, K. A. (2007). Managing business ethics: Straight talk about how to do it right (4th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

Mid Semester exam

It's not a noise that you usually hear coming from a hospital room. â€Å"Ha ha ha! He heel† You open the door to see twelve patients – all sick, several in wheelchairs – tickling each other with long balloons and laughing as hard as it's possible to laugh. Joining in with the fun is Dry Tim Crick, and this is his weekly session of laughter therapy at Leeds City Hospital. The aim of these 30-minute sessions is not only to help patients forget that they are sick, according to Dry Crick: â€Å"Laughter gives the lungs and the muscles a good workout, which Is Important In long-term patients.But more than this. I believe that laughter can actually speed up recuperation from sickness. † Laughter therapy's recent history begins in the asses, when writer Norman Cousins described in Anatomy of an Illness how he used comedy films to successfully give himself some relief from a painful medical condition. This promoted academics to begin looking at the physiological effects of laughter. The spread of therapeutic â€Å"laughter clubs† began In India In the asses with Dry Madman Astral, who began taking patients for sessions In a public park.So Is there any science behind the claims that laughter speeds recovery? Certainly, it triggers a range of reactions in the body. Some studies have shown that the ability to use and respond to humor may raise the level of infection-fighting antibodies, and boost the level of immune cells. A recent study with diabetics showed that laughter helped control blood sugar levels. And research at the University of Maryland showed that laughter helped blood flow by keeping blood vessels relaxed.For Dry Crick, It is In laughter's ability to relax s that Its healing power lies. After a good laugh. Our muscles relax. Our mind stops focusing on pain or negative thoughts, and endorphins start to flow in our brains. It puts the body in a situation where it can begin to heal itself. When we are healthy we can achieve this state through physical exercise, social contact, and on- things that are more difficult when you are n hospital. Laughter, in the same way as music, can bring relaxation into the wards. While many are doubtful about the scientific basis of laughter therapy, It would be Impossible for even the most extreme septic to watch these helve patients In Leeds laugh until tears run down their faces without thinking, â€Å"this is doing them good. † Questions: 1- Read the text and answer the following questions: 1. In what two ways is laughter good for patients, according to Dry Tim Crick? Laughter therapy session held? † 3. Why might laughter help diabetics? Ã'› 2. Where were the 1st 4. How does laughter help fight infections, according to some studies? 2- Match the highlighted words In the text with the meanings below: a.Designed to effect that you are trying to achieve: c Makes something begin to happen: † 3- Fill in the blanks with the comparative or superlative f orms of the adjectives: a. Aspirin is (strong) painkiller we've got, I'm afraid. B. Can I do anything to make you feel (well) ? C. Moving around is getting (hard) to do. D. Injection is (fast) way to administer pain relief. E. He is (weak) † he was yesterday. F. For children, thinking about the injection is (frightening) the pain itself. 4- Complete the questions in the dialogue: Nurse: When did the symptoms first appear? Patient: About a year.Nurse: Why (you/not come) to see me? Patient: At the time I wasn't very worried. Nurse: And (the symptoms/ get worse) † 7 Patient: Yes, they started to get worse about a month ago. Nurse: I see, and (you/ take) any medication since then? Patient: I went to see a homeopath and he prescribed these pills. Nurse: I see. (You/ your mouth wide and say â€Å"ah†? – Ah. Nurse: Good, can open) † and (what/ happen) when you took the pills? Patient: This rash appeared. (You/ can see) it on my back? Nurse: Yes, I see. SO, ( there was) any improvement when you took the pills? Patient: No

Is legal pluralism incompatible with the human rights An analysis of Essay

Is legal pluralism incompatible with the human rights An analysis of the case law of the European Court of Human Rights in relation to Turkey - Essay Example What constitutes an inalienable right on the part of one ethnic group might for example, be repugnant in the context of moral standards that are held to be the ideal by another cultural group. Nowhere is this more evident that Islam, where religious precepts based on Sharia may in some instances, contravene the principles underlying human rights and liberty, as conceived in the Western world. The decision of the European Court of justice in the case of Welfare Party v Turkey1 appears to support the conclusion that the protection of human rights may in some instances, take precedence over the preservation of religious and cultural diversity. The question that rises in this context is whether universal human rights are essentially incompatible with legal pluralism? The concept of universal human rights raises the issue of a controversy in the relationship between (a) institutionalization of religion in the State through religious beliefs or practices versus human rights norms.2 This st udy will examine whether universal human rights could be compatible with maintenance of religious and cultural diversity. Those advocating universality claim that international human rights â€Å"are and must be the same everywhere†, just like the rights to equal protection, physical security, rights to freedom of speech, expression and religion and the right to a fair trial3. As pointed out by Donnelly, human rights on a world wide basis are irrevocably tied to claims of universality4. Human rights, if taken literally, are understood to be the rights one has simply because one is human. On this basis, rights accruing to every individual must of necessity be equal rights, because everyone is human, and these rights would be inalienable, because they are associated with the human state. On this basis, basic human rights can be seen to be

The Importance of Marketing in the Twenty-First Century Essay

The Importance of Marketing in the Twenty-First Century - Essay Example This will be explained better with the help of material available in text books such as the one written by Baines, Fill and Page (2008) and a few concepts from other books such as Principles of Marketing by Philip Kotler and Gary Armstrong. Pepsi is a carbonated drink that was developed in the United States of America as Brad’s drink in 1898 and in its existence, of more than a century; it changed its name twice. First change resulted in Pepsi Cola and then finally Pepsi. The trademark received recognition in 1902. There have been various Pepsi variants produced over the years, as will be discussed shortly. Many changes in the marketing strategy have taken place from the very beginning including in the change of its logo design. Currently, Pepsi has a share of 43.9% in the beverage industry in the USA. As explained by Philip Kotler, in his book Marketing Principles, marketing environment is a set of conditions that either directly or indirectly affect the performance of a brand or a product. These include various factors such as government regulation, culture, social factors and many others. Pepsi is a global product that is marketed throughout the world. Though it does not change its product but does alter other marketing strategies. It is important to discuss two factors here. Firstly, due to increased consumer protection and awareness amongst individuals, Pepsi had to become more conscious about its product’s ingredients and other related quality measures with respect to that. Another aspect of the environment is the competition that they face. The fiercest competition comes from the side of Coca Cola. Although, it is more expensive but still it is the second largest carbonated beverage with a market share of nearly 30.9% in USA. Other competition comes from Nestle fresh juices and now also Red Bull. However, they are not that close behind. Some people have a perception that established brands such as Pepsi do

The Modern Woman Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

The Modern Woman - Essay Example A majority of the water reserve is being held by a water and power (W&P) plant, therefore taking advantage of the scarce resources to control the earth’s population. The main actress ‘tank girl,’ also referred to as Lori Pretty, is a member of a rebellious crew which aims about stealing any water that they can find, in order to sustain their community. However, Kesslee (W&P’s leader) finds and attacks the crew’s hideout, thereby killing Rebeca’s boyfriend and capturing her young friend Sam. Lori Pretty is also captured but due to her defiant nature, is enslaved and tortured. Tank girl meets a new friend ‘Jet girl,’ who convinces her to make less trouble for W&P but her efforts are futile. Meanwhile, another W&P encounters difficulty with ‘the rippers,’ which consists of a group of mutated Kangaroos. Kesslee uses Tank girl as bait to draw out the rippers but they come out clever. They gravely injure Kesslee and in the process, Tank girl is freed up. Afterwards, Lori Pretty and Jet girl learn where Sam is held and they ask the help of the rippers to help them carry out a mission to free him. This results to a killing of the W&P personnel with Jet girl angrily confronting one of them who in fact had sexually assaulted her. The purpose of this film was to show how the woman could stand up and protect the ones she cares for, against all odds. However, throughout this film, there are a couple of sexual references. Therefore, the film should be watched by young adults with absolute parental guidance. On the other hand, the documentary ‘One woman One Vote,’ is an exceptional account of the long suffrage experiences that the American woman has endured to win the right to vote. This film documents the 70 years period that men and women worked towards enfranchising women. The film emphasizes that this suffrage undertaking did not really depict an amalgamated fight towards equivalent

Information Technology Assignment Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 750 words

Information Technology - Assignment Example They are only sent by the agent to the manager entity. It is also in the unconfirmed class whereby operations are not acknowledged (Mauro, 2005). 3. It does not have a presentation layer (Goshima, 2011). Machine architecture simply means modes by which data and information is stored and represented in computers, circuits and the CPU. Bits, which are binary digit, are the basic unit for storage and presentation of information in the machine. They operate in two ways, either false or true, which are in the form of 0s or 1s. Characters and integers representation in computers are all represented by a sequence of binary digits. The presentation layer is used to compress, translate, and encrypt data to the required form, so it is responsible for data displaying and managing how data is presented to the application level from the lower levels. In the internet, data sources through the application layer, are represented by unique numeric number called internet protocol addresses. Each machine or computer connected to the internet, is assigned its own IP address to use in a computer network, therefore, forming a sharing ability of available resources and information. When one of the computer s needs to access some information, the user will enter the documents name, but the machine will automatically convert it into an address that will enable the machine to identify the document. This way of representing data creates web pages, location of files and authentic sources, sending of emails and proxy availability (lammle, 2011). 4. Lastname::=OCTET STRING {weight, 277} Weight::= INTEGER {lastname, â€Å"greg†} 3 2 2 2 g e r g 4 4 Combining the two, weight and name, we will establish a set that has both the integer and the IA5string. Set is a collection of one or more types and is represented by a â€Å"31 14† in the encoding rules. G r e g 04 71 82 69 71 In BER encoding using hexadecimal like in the word

The Conservative’s Right to Buy policy has changed the quality Essay

The Conservative’s Right to Buy policy has changed the quality and quantity of local authority housing beyond all recognition. Discuss - Essay Example But the scenario changes when the government of a country makes it easier and affordable for the people to buy houses. An example is the introduction of the ‘Right to Buy Policy’ (RTB) introduced by the Conservative government in the UK (later to become part of the Housing Act 1985 as sections 188 to 188). This paper is a review of the positive and negative effects of the policy and whether it has changed the quality and quantity of local authority housing beyond all recognition. The right to Buy scheme was first introduced in 1980 and the policy aims at â€Å"at secure tenants of local authorities (councils) and those assured tenants of registered social landlords/housing associations who previously held secure tenancies with local authorities. It is open to virtually any secure tenant who can afford to buy† (Communities and Local Government). Relatively high levels of discounts were also provided for the tenants if they intended to exercise their rights to buy. Several changes in legislation have taken place over the years and it is not intended in this paper to go into its details. The primary purpose as mentioned earlier is to understand its effects and repercussions. It is clear from published literature and facts that the policy did have an enormous impact on the housing sector in the country. According to the Guardian newspaper, as of 2003, nearly 1.5 million homes have been purchased by tenants and the level of ownership has risen from 55 to 7 0%. (Weaver 2003). The figure for Scotland in 2006, according to Communities Minister Malcolm Chisholm was 67%. Balchin and Rhoden quoting Hamnett state that the near dormant housing sector radically changed gears within ten years of the introduction of the policy. The housing sector was not very dynamic for nearly half a century prior to its introduction (Balchin &Rhoden 2002, p. 10). There are more words of praise and appreciation. In the book

Explanation of how alcohol is metabolised in a human body Essay

Explanation of how alcohol is metabolised in a human body - Essay Example Acetaldehyde is a poison that is related to formaldehyde. The acetyl acid is a component of vinegar and its radical is the combining form of the acid. The acetyl acid radical combines with Coenzyme A in the formation of acetyl-CoA that goes into the Krebs Cycle that acts as the basic powerhouse in the body of a human being. In the Krebs Cycle, the acetyl acid radical is broken down into water and carbon dioxide. The figure below shows how alcohol is metabolized in a human body When metabolizing alcohol, the human body uses three different enzymes to convert alcohol into acetaldehyde. All the three enzymes work in their different ways to strip two hydrogen atoms from the alcohol molecule. This process converts the alcohol molecule into an acetaldehyde molecule. The acetaldehyde is converted to acetyl radical by a different enzyme. The three enzymes include the alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), cytochrome P450 (CYP2E1), and catalase enzymes. The three enzymes are found in different parts of the body and handle the hydrogen atoms in different ways. Non-liver tissues, such as the brain metabolize alcohol with Cytochrome and catalase enzymes (Starr, et al., 2008, p. 103). It has been found that some people get intoxicated more than others do, for instance between men and women, East Asians and American Indians, older males, menopausal women and people with liver damage among others. The reason behind this is that women have much lesser alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme in the stomach compared to men. Therefore, women get drunk more than men do when they drink the same amount of alcohol under same conditions. In terms of East Asians and American Indians, they produce ALD2*2 that is less efficient in converting acetaldehyde compared to ALD2. They also have a more efficient alcohol dehydrogenase than any other genetic background. Older males produce less alcohol dehydrogenase and are likely to be more intoxicated than younger men are. Hormone changes in menopausal women make the m become more intoxicated. Therefore, more or less intoxication can be attributed to the production of less or more alcohol dehydrogenase and ALD2*2. This factor is important in traffic accidents because a person may consume a less amount of alcohol but because his body mechanism produces less alcohol dehydrogenase, he or she will become drunk and likely cause an accident. This applies similarly to people who produce ALD2*2 that is less effective in breaking down acetaldehyde. The Breathalyzer is used in measuring the amount of alcohol found in a person’s breath. A Breathalyzer works works in a similar manner to the diabetic testing strips or pool testing kits. It contains a collection gadget; that is, a straw that is attached to a cylinder. The cylinder has two vials that have a solution of potassium dichromate, silver nitrate, sulfuric acid and water. The person being tested blows air into the straw for about 2 to 4 seconds. The air goes through the vials where the silver n itrate will act as a catalyst to initiate and fasten the process. The sulfuric acid eliminates the alcohol from the air and produces the acidic condition that enables the next process to go on. The alcohol is then absorbed into the liquid solution where the potassium dichromate breaks it down into chromium sulfate, acetic acid, water and potassium sulfate. This process causes a color change. The chromium ion is green while the dichromate ion is reddish orange. The color change reflects the amount of alc

Aid for trade is beneficial for developing countries but Coursework - 1

Aid for trade is beneficial for developing countries but disadvantageous for firms in the developed world - Coursework Example The guidelines are monitored and implemented by the WTO. Some of the International trade organizations include; the Uruguay round of trade, the OECD and the Irish fair trade network. An example of an anti-globalization movement is the global justice movement which is against organizations such as WTO and OECD which promote globalization. Aid for trade was meant to assist developing countries to expand their trade in order to eradicate social problems such aspoverty and poor firm performance. The objective of the international community constitutes mobilizing resources to address trade constraints among the LCDs to help them streamline their trade. However, most of the third world nations such as African countries do not have the capacity of undertaking large infrastructural projects on their own without capital funding from developed nations. On the other hand, firmsfrom developed nations benefit from offering aid for trade to developing nations because they increase their market share and at the same time they may be given mining rights as a favor in return (Wilkinson,2010). In general, firms from the developing nations tend to benefit more while giving aids while third world countries tend to be more economically unstable and dependent, always waiting to be given donations. International trade to beneficial to both trade partners; this explains the reason why it is largely embraced. Unfortunately, most exports from developing nations are agricultural-based, for example, tea that often faces unfavorable terms of trade whereby the income generated from exports is less than the import payments (Berndt, 2013). This results in situations where third world nations accumulate huge foreign debts with firms from developed nations. The balance of payments for developing countries is always a deficit, making these countries even more economically unstable. This clearly reveals that though there are rules on

Hispanic Americans in the United States Essay Example for Free

Hispanic Americans in the United States Essay Abstract Over the past several decades, the United States has become a much more diverse country. Immigration from most if not all countries throughout the world are the reason for this. A large portion of the immigrants that make up our country are Hispanics. Hispanics aren’t just made up of one group of people, but rather several groups from different countries of the world including Cuba, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Dominican Republic, Central America, and South America. They differ in many ways from one another including but not limited to their method of entry into the United States, the color of their skin, traditions, culture, political background, musical trends, and lifestyle. In many ways, Hispanics are disadvantaged from non-Hispanic whites. This has been the way since they first came to the United States. If it wasn’t for the color of their skin and for some of them, their dialect or language, they may not be subject to the prejudice and discrimination they encounter on a daily basis. HISPANIC AMERICANS IN THE UNITED STATES 3 Hispanic Americans in the United States A large portion of the population in the United States is made up of immigrants. Many of those immigrants are of Hispanic origin. Hispanic Americans make up several groups of people. Each of the different groups have a set of their own traditions and their cultures vary slightly and sometimes very significantly. Americans tend to group all Hispanics into one group and forget that not all of them came from one country, but rather several countries. Entering the United States Mexican Americans Throughout most of our history, Mexicans have entered the United States voluntarily. The American Southwest was previously part of Mexico until they lost it to the United States after the Mexican War (Marger, 2012). The Mexicans that inhabited those areas were then incorporated into the United States (Marger, 2012). Puerto Rican Americans Puerto Ricans didn’t come to the United States by force, nor voluntarily. The United States gained Puerto Rico as part of its territory after the Spanish-American War and those on the island were automatically given American citizenship (Marger, 2012). Puerto Ricans were then able to come and go freely as they chose, just as American citizens are able to go from state to state. Cuban Americans Cubans have recently come to the United States voluntarily similar to the Puerto Ricans and Mexicans. Their motive for migrating to the United States though was for political reasons rather than economic reasons like the Mexicans and Puerto Ricans (Marger, 2012). When the HISPANIC AMERICANS IN THE UNITED STATES 4 Cubans came to the United States, they tended to be more educated and more prepared to begin an occupation than most other foreign immigrants (Marger, 2012). Central Americans Many of the Central American immigrants have come to the United States as political refugees (Marger, 2012). Most have come voluntarily like many of the Hispanic migrants have. Another large reason for Central Americans migrating to the United States was for economic opportunities (Marger, 2012). Hispanics and Music About Latin Music Latin music first developed in different Latin American countries, mainly Cuba and it is originally derived from African religious ceremonies (Revels-Bay). Latin music is a unique kind of music and it has a unique rhythmic structure when compared to American music (Revels-Bay). American music can be considered by most people to be Rock and Roll. Latin music is typically viewed as dance music. It has a lot of rhythm which is highly syncopated (Revels-Bay). Latin music, like American music includes many instruments. American music tends to be more on the beat than Latin music. Latin music also uses more percussion instruments than American music and it includes several different string instruments. Some of the string instruments include timbales, congas, congo, guitar and the Cuban guitar (Revels-Bay). Over the years, the bass, trumpets, trombones and woodwinds were added to play melodies and repetitions of sound and the piano replaced the guitar (Revels-Bay). Latin Music Gaining Popularity The motivations underlying the boom of Latino music have brought possibilities for economic gain and increase the visibility of Latin Americans within the United States (Cepeda). HISPANIC AMERICANS IN THE UNITED STATES 5 Two Latin Americans who have brought Latin music to America are Emilio and Gloria Estefan. They have hits in the United States and also have Crescent Moon Studios. Crescent Moon Studios are a Mimi-based Sony affiliate that grosses 200 million dollars yearly (Cepeda). Their Crescent Moon Studios are also a reason for the popular building of the Latino music in the media industry in the United States. Gloria and Emilio Estefan are two very successful Hispanic Americans. There are several famous musical artists but because of their race, it is harder for them to be accepted into the musical industry. The number of Hispanic Americans who have been successful making music is relatively small when compared to the number of non-Hispanic musical artists. There have been several popular Latin musical artists who have brought new meaning to Latin music in the United States. Some examples are Ricky Martin, Jennifer Lopez and Shakira. They keep a lot of the Latin culture in the Latin-American music, but they â€Å"Americanize† it in a sense and the language used is English. This has helped to integrate one part of the Hispanic cultures into today’s American society. Hispanic American Families Family Structure Traditionally in the Hispanic culture, the father or the oldest male in the family holds the greatest amount of authority over the family and women typically show submission (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). The responsibilities tend to be shared among the members of the family. When compared to the non-Hispanic whites, many of the households are similar. Although, throughout the years, the father or oldest male is no longer always the authority holder in the home. Instead, the mother and father hold equal amounts of authority. HISPANIC AMERICANS IN THE UNITED STATES 6 The household size of Hispanic American families is larger than other American families. The average size of a Hispanic household is 3. 47 people and for the rest of the population, the average is 2. 62 people (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Family Values Family is an important part in most Hispanic American’s lives. Family is a large reason for immigration for many of them. They may have family ties here who they wish to move closer to or they may be moving here to provide a better life for their family. The extended family of Hispanic Americans plays a major role in each family member’s life (Moitinho). They tend to have strong bonds and a lot of interaction among much of the family and extended family. In many households, parents, grandparents and children live in the same home or live nearby (Moitinho). Among most Hispanic families, faith and church are a lot times central to their family and community life. Most Hispanic homes have a religious object and most attend a religious service once a month or more (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Single Parent versus Two Parent Families. In the United States, 70% of Hispanic children live in two parent homes (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention). Single parent families among Mexican Americans have grown from 14% in 1980 to 22% in 2001 (Zeiders, Roosa, Yuntein, 2011). Children who live in a single parent home tend to be at greater risk than children in two parent homes for academic and conduct problems, substance abuse and depression (Zeiders, Roosa Yuntein, 2011). This may be due to the fact that there is a lack of financial resources for some of the single parent families versus the two parent families who may have a double income. Although there are some studies HISPANIC AMERICANS IN THE UNITED STATES 7 that show Latino children in single parent homes are more likely to have negative outcomes, there are also some studies that show they are not (Zeiders, Roosa Yuntein, 2011). Marriage Patterns In the United States, Mexican American females are most likely to be married and non-hispanic blacks are the least likely (Landale, Oropesa, Bradatan, 2006). Among some of the Hispanic races in the United States, 4% of Cuban females and 38% of Puerto Rican females aged 20-24 are married (Landale, Oropesa, Bradatan, 2006). Fitting In Over recent decades, Hispanic Americans have adapted to more of the â€Å"Americanized† way of living. Many of them dress alike, eat American food, go to college, etc. They have assimilated somewhat, but are far from being fully assimilated. They may never actually be fully assimilated into American society. One main reason is their race. It has typically been shown throughout history that races made up of white people are able to assimilate much easier than those with different skin colors. Conclusion Hispanics have come from several different countries and even look dissimilar from each other but are still each identified as Hispanics. Throughout the years, Hispanics have adapted to the American way of living and continue to do so. The only thing separating many Hispanics from non-ethnic whites is the color of their skin. As a whole, Hispanics have assimilated in many ways but they will probably never be fully assimilated. Instead, they may be working towards full acculturation. HISPANIC AMERICANS IN THE UNITED STATES 8 References Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (n. d. ). Retrieved November 14, 2013, from http://www. cdc. gov/ /Audience/AudienceInsight_CulturalInsights. pdf Cepeda, M. E. Mucholoco for ricky martin; or the politics of chronology, crossover, and language within the latino music boom. Popular music and society, 55-67. Retrieved November 7, 2013, from Ebscohost. Landale, N. S. , Oropesa, R. S. , Bradatan, C. (2006). Hispanic families in the United States: Family structure and process in an era of family change. In Hispanics and the future of America. Retrieved November 14, 2013 from http://www. ncbi. nlm. nih. gov/books/NBK19902/ Marger, M. N. (2012). Race and ethnic relations American and global perspectives (9th ed. ). Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Cengage Learning. Moitinho, E. (n. d. ). Hispanic culture 101. In American association of christian counselors. Retrieved November 18, 2013, from http://www. aacc. net/2012/09/21/hispanic-culture-101-increase-your-hispaniclatinocultura l-iq/ Revels-Bey, N. (n. d. ). History of Latin music. In Revels-Bay Music. Retrieved November 18, 2013, from http://www. revels-bey. com/history_of_latin_music. htm Zeiders, K. H. , Roosa, M. W. , Yuntein, J. (2011). Family structure and family processes in mexican-american families. Family process, 70-91. Retrieved November 7, 2013, from Ebscohost.

Change In The Organization Weatherford International Ltd Management Essay

Change In The Organization Weatherford International Ltd Management Essay This study is focused on the topic management of change in organization. The basic learning outcome of this assignment is related to understand the change management process in organization. For this assignment the company chosen is Weatherford International Ltd. First of all the background of change that exists in todays economies and organisations is discussed. Then the key strengths and weaknesses of autocratic organisation are given in bullet points. After that the last part of first task, organisational development and its alternative forms are discussed in detail. Then the key stakeholders are identified from the Weatherford International and some of the tools and techniques to involve them in the change management process are suggested. Under the change management model topic, comparison of three major change management models is given, and then Kotters change management was suggested and discussed in detail for the implementation of on-going change in Weatherford Internationa l. The last section of this assignment is for the conclusion and some of the recommendations for chosen company. Background of change From the last decade, the world is changing dramatically than ever before. A chain of interrelated national trades in which businesses compete with each other on a really global basis. Maximum organizations are experiencing considerable changes in the manner they are managed do trading. These changes are influenced by many factors such as the degree of globalisation, changing technology, political, social economic changes at numerous different stages. These changes are happening speedily, unwillingly companies would never be the similar in structure or practice as a consequence. The continuous advancement in technology such as internet, communications technologies has made the world as a global village. Because of the several communication and collaboration tools, concept of virtual organization has emerged and physical presence is getting less important. The other influencing factor is the changing role of international bodies like world trade organization and international monet ary fund (IMF). The IMF has forced many countries to go through economic reforms. Because of the increasing globalization, many multinational companies are choosing the strategic business options of mergers and acquisitions, strategic alliances which have changed the way of doing businesses. The chosen organization for this study Weatherford International has also been gone through many mergers and acquisitions activities over last two decades. Few other change factors are like change in the consumers lifestyles and taste, competitive pressure to cut costs through economies of scale, use of outsourcing strategies for operational activities to low cost countries etc. Bureaucratic Organisation Max Weber first used the word bureaucracy. According to him, bureaucratic organisation is an official business with standardized set of rules and procedures which everyone within the organisation should follow. Though Weber had advocated this form of organisation structure, there are some disadvantages as well. Some of the strengths and weaknesses of bureaucratic organisation are discussed below. Strengths Bureaucratic organisation has got more control and monitoring through centralization system of decision making. Decision making is easy process by top management As processes are standardized, everyone has to follow the procedures and rules. Defined hierarchy of organization structure and clear rules and norms Weaknesses Due to its rigid structure, lot of chance of inefficiencies. Lack of innovation and flexibility Lesser employee participation and involvement Poor channel of communication and it is time consuming Delaying change or adaption Organization Development Organization Development (OD) theoretically defined as the planned efforts to bring change in organization to control and manage processes and people more effectively. It is also defined by another theorist as the fundamental change to fix the problems or improving the process or procedure. This OD program is specific for organization such as one change which is more relevant for one company and it is totally irrelevant for the other. Thus, this OD program is specifically applicable for particular organization. These are few objectivise of OD programs which shows that these program vary according to specific situation, but the objective of OD program remain same consistent. The alternative forms of organisational development are discussed below Quality development The first form of organisational development is through continuous quality improvements. The quality development can be achieved through various quality management systems like Total Quality Management, Six Sigma, Kizen, Quality Circles. This form focuses on four areas including customer, employee involvement, result based decision making, and integrated quality improvements. Now a day many of the organisations are adopting this form of organisational development. Technological development The increasing use of Internet, electronic mail Web conferencing tools have formed the capability of working together through time space within among the organizations. The technological development has renovated the organizational atmosphere and also the arena of Organization Development. At present there are 3 generally known technology application in organisational development: 1. Measurable, database valuation tools, like surveys feedback from members of staff. 2. Communications, collaborations and teamwork, which also include information sharing, document management. 3. Development of employees management through online training. OD specialists using technology more and more in their everyday work. Structural development This form of organizational development include variations in how the whole work of an organisation is distributed into different parts, reporting structure, means of control, the structure and arrangement of tools individuals, work flow measures etc. The structural development also includes removing or adding layer of hierarchy in the organization, restructuring through downsizing or redundancy, centralization or decentralization. This form redesigns the structures of organization and creates new relationships which results into improved performances. In order to cope with the changes in external environments, organization has to respond with making appropriate structural changes. The various organisational development interventions are as follows- Survey feedback: Through this activity, managers can get the important information and data about the various aspects related to employees. The data and information received through this form on employees attitude, their salary/wages level, working hours and conditions and also the relations with the employees is provided to the upper management. The top executives analyse the data and catch out the problems, assess the outcomes develop the alternatives to solve the problem. Process Consultation: Under this organizational development activity the process consultant meets various work teams and department members, interacts with them and detects the problem solving ways. The process consultant then provides the team with the data, information gathered via interactions, coaching, individual counselling and observations for shaping the behaviour of team members. Setting Goals Planning: Goals and plans are set by every department within an organization for productivity profitability. They send these goals and plans to the upper level. The top management then send them back to each division for further modification and after some amendments the goals for the whole organization are thus set. Managerial grid: The managerial grid classifies a variety of management conduct depending upon the various means that how operations oriented workforce oriented statuses interrelate with each other. These OD intervention emphases on the observations of behaviour in trainings explicitly associated with work. The training participants are motivated assisted to evaluate their own decision-making style. Team building- This organization development intervention consists of an application of several methods of Sensitivity training given on the job to the real working teams in different divisions within the organisation. This training is formulated to develop the skill of workers to work together as team. The organisational development activities discussed above helps in making the change happen smoothly through one of the three organisational development forms (Quality, Technological and structural). My Chosen Company- Weatherford International Ltd Weatherford International Ltd is the public listed company having products and services related to natural gas wells and crude oil processing. It is a multinational company having presence in above 100 countries and more than 43000 workers throughout the Globe. From last twenty years the company has been acquiring many companies. It also had couple of mergers such as Enterra in 1995 and Energy Ventures in 1998. External Drivers of change in Weatherford International Merger and acquisition of so many organizations in past few years forces the company to pursue a change in operations. To follow the financial regulations of SOX, this automation process will provide sufficient security to its information system. To have better customer management and supplier management system the change is needed. Internal drivers of change in Weatherford International Staff utilization is leading Weatherford to change its internal policies. The company was lacking a system for control and status updates. They required an automated solution implementation of an agreement procedure development initiative to back up business process re-engineering develop the working atmosphere. (The Corptax, 2008). Stakeholders The word stakeholder means anyone that has interest in the outcome of a programme/project. A legal, moral or economic stake/interest in an activity. Some stakeholders have more interest than others, but that is also changing. Major stakeholders in Weatherford International Top management- This includes the board of directors Employees: One of the key stakeholders of Weatherford International is employees. This includes the senior managers at corporate offices and the operating staff. Customers: The customers are the key stakeholder group in Weatherford who will affect with the change process. Suppliers: Suppliers are also one of the key stakeholders as they play major role in effective utilisation of resources. Governments- Local authorities and national, international governments Investors- Small and large shareholders General public Environmentalists Among these classified stakeholders the most powerful and influential stakeholder is employees. Among employees there are categories in which, Senior Management at corporate office are most powerful but less impacted by the change. On the other hand the employees of regional division are less powerful and highly impacted by the change. To build the good productive working relationships with the stakeholders, the company first needs to understand the degree of interests and powers of each stakeholder. This can be done by using a stakeholders mapping tool. Secondly to establish a simple and effective communication system by keeping the message and information as simple and short as possible to avoid overload. Show trust and faith in all stakeholder groups. Listen to all the stakeholders carefully. Consulting with the stakeholders is another method by which management can gather information from others by discussing with others about what action to take in particular circumstances. It means finding out their views and opinions before deciding what to do. Effective management of stakeholder relations during a change process calls for early, clear, and consistent communications. All the stakeholders must be properly informed of potential impacts and benefits of the developments and get their engagement in various projects. To the degree possible, try to provide information on the purpose, timing, and nature of the changes proposed; the anticipated environmental and socioeconomic consequences of relevance to specific stakeholder groups; and the ways in which different stakeholder groups can participate in planning, implementation, and monitoring. The actual decision-making process needs to be made more participatory to ensure that all decisions regarding the development are widely supported and understood. Consultation can help the management to identify the priorities which stakeholders have. This can benefit management as it can highlight the factors which are likely to be most important to the stakeholders and to which management should pay most attention. Change management models There are many change models researched and documented by different scholars. For this assignment three change models are discussed including Kanters model, Kotters 8 step transformation model and Lucckes change model. The following comparison of all three models is taken form the Todnem research study. Source: Todnem research study Kanter defines the first step as the analysis of organization and needs for change, Kotters defined as the developing the urgency for change and lastly Luccke defined the identification of business problems. While, these steps are common in among all these three theoretical models shown in above diagram such as creating vision for change, leadership and create policy. Also, According to the research of Todnem organizational change management process is basically divided into following major phase of plan, action, implementation and measure change performance. John Kotters 8 step change model According to Kotters model, the following steps describe the change implementation procedure. Kotters 8 step Change model, Source: www.Leadershiphub.com Business Process re-engineering- This change model was first invented by the duo Michael Hammer and James Champy in 1990. According to them business process re-engineering is not for the smaller changes, rather it is for the radical change. It helps to dramatically improve the different business processes within the organisation such as customer service, reduce operational costs. The role of information technology is vital in implementation of BPR change model. The other change models include- ADKAR model for change- This model depends upon awareness, desire, knowledge, ability and reinforcement. Kubler Ross change model On-going changes in Weatherford International Changes in the business process operations Automation and integration of different processes and workflows Changes in organisations structure due to on-going merger and acquisition activities Implementation of Change Model for on-going change in Weatherford International Ltd Weatherford International Ltd can use either business process re-engineering change model or the Kotters 8 step model to implement on-going changes in the organisation. My suggestion is to implement the Kotters change model which is discussed in detail as below. Step #1: Create the sense of Urgency The step of Kotters model suggests creating sense of urgency among the stakeholders. Unless there is a genuine concern, and the purpose well perceived, the implementation process may not have great implications and the outcome would not match the desired expectations. Primarily, the stakeholders who have greater influence on the business operations, for example, some key employee of Weatherford International Ltd , and in general the rest of them should be motivated, encouraged to participate. Step # 2: Form a Powerful Coalition by identifying key power points. Every organisation has a common culture and values which is shared by almost all the stakeholders including the outsiders such as suppliers and even customers in certain extent. Within this board organisational cultural frame work, there exists sub culture of group of same standing or position. For example: a team of 15 members with its line managers. The line manager can identify a key employee within the team who are influential and have a certain commanding. The line manager can include these members of team and form a strong coalition to influence the others team members. Naturally such a formation would compel others in the team to oblige. Step # 3: Creation of Vision for the Change implementation As much its a fact that plans well drawn help in proper and systematic execution of a project, so is the psychological factor involved in the execution. Every person requires a sense of purpose and share a vision for self- motivation. Change management would not be effective unless a clear vision is shared among the participants. The vision should be associated with better results, improvement in the present system and the benefits that can occur to the participants, and in general. The leaders should consistently engage in sharing the vision, reinstating it through various means. Training can be provided regularly, update ad sharing of vital information on new developments , all these have to be undertaken quite effectively to see desired results. Step # 4: Communicating the Vision through effective channels to the stakeholders Once the vision is identified, it should be clear communicated to the stakeholders of Weatherford International Ltd. The vision should be easily comprehendible even by ordinary person of understanding. It should be able to be broken down or give the clear direction for future action plan, the expectations of the outcome. Training can be provided regularly, update ad sharing of vital information on new developments , all these have to be undertaken quite effectively to see desired results. Ineffective communication channel or vague message would back fire the entire effort, and lead to huge wastage of resources. Step # 5: Remove Obstacles Obstacles are evident to emerge very often, no matter how well the change implementation process in designed to its core. Obstacles should always serve an opportunity to learn more about the challenges of the change process. It would that the organisation remain focused on the design, make appropriate changes to the action plans without losing the focus on the pre determined goals. A proper framework for addressing problems should be setup, each one participating in the system should clearly understand the hierarchy of authority , roles and responsibilities , so that , in the event of unexpected occurrence they should easily be able to resolve or approach the designated forum. Obstacles can be due to changes in the internal factors or external factors influencing the Weatherford International Ltds business operations and organisation. Step # 6: Create Short-term Wins In the change process management, there are objectives which are short term and long term. Weatherford International Ltd should indentify short term tasks, which can be achieved in a shorter duration. When undertaking a radical change process, it always advisable to create short term wins. The wins situation should be communicated with all the stakeholders the small victories would reinstate the faith of the stakeholders in the change system and motivate them in participating actively. This said the system should have a proper framework for to compensate and reward the participants who have actively got involved and have achieved the desired results to promote the change management in the direction. The change management along with proper implementation procedure would also require that employees are recognized within the organisation and accordingly rewarded. As a result, a good performance and sincere indulgence would be associated with personal benefits. Step # 6: Building on the Change Change is not a onetime process, but a continuous effort starting from the day the organisation mandates it until the environment surrounding the organisation is in a state of rest, which is impossible given the dynamics of the factors that influence Weatherford International Ltds business operations. Change process is a continuous effort, evaluate the short terms wins and leverage on it for the next level. Success got at the initial stage should not be considered as the final victory. Step # 6: Anchor the Changes in Corporate Culture In a long term, change management should be imbibed into the main stream organisational culture. In a long and continuous effort of change management, the process should eventually be observed into the main stream culture of the organisation. For changes to be a part and parcel of the organisational culture, the leaders should regularly alert and create awareness about the existence of the change management that is deeply rooted in every organisational activity. The perception of change management should become an inseparable part of the organisational culture in a long run; this in turn would create a platform and facilitate any major undertaking in the future. Expected Improvement after successful implementation of change If the Kotters change model is implemented successfully in the Weatherford International Ltd for the on-going change, there would be some long term benefits. The very first improvement would be in the overall business operations of Weatherford including operational efficiencies, service quality, supply chain management, reduction in wastages and cost of production and thus increase in profits. The other major improvement would be in changing companys strategic vision. The company would have clear long term vision and direction. This would boost the confidence of all stakeholders. The last but most important improvement after the change programme would be the cultural change within the organisation. Basic values and ethics in business operations shaped alongside throughout the change process would be absorbed into the organisational culture. It would serve as motivation and sense of purpose for the employees and other stakeholders to achieve and contribute to the organisational goals. Conclusion Because of the mergers, acquisitions, globalisation, revolutions in information technologies, the world is changing so rapidly. Hence in order to stay competitive, every organisation has to adapt some sort of on-going change programme. It can be concluded from this study that, because of the vibrant nature of todays businesses and world economies, it is imperative for every organisation to implement one of the change models discussed for on-going changes. If the Weatherford International, successfully implements the change programme through Kotters change model, company would receive far more long term benefits and competitive advantages over its competitors. There are some barriers to change such as resistance to change by the stakeholders, not having clear vision for change. So in order to make it happen, company needs to engage its stakeholders through stakeholder mapping process. Stakeholder engagement is a challenge and a complex and time consuming process. Working with and lear ning from other partners and stakeholders can only serve to maximise impact, reduce fatigue and reduce cost. The company would also use the various organisational development forms to make the change process even easier. Recommendations Leadership; Leadership style shows the way the organisation will be managed. The multinational corporation like Weatherford International Ltd, the company leadership should develop a strong vision and positive attitude and culture within the organisation. Empowerment and Delegation- This involves the giving of power to your team members. At Weatherford International teams needed to be empowered by letting them use their own initiatives at tackling tasks that have been awarded to them. This form an effective global structure as it causes all team members to feel very well a part of the decision making process. Effective communication As the company operations are spread over 100 countries, they should develop a strong communication system across whole organisation. Electronic communication and collaboration technology can affect both task and social dynamics positively and negatively. The company need to opt for the latest gadget on the market to enable its team and network perform to standard or above.

King Leopold and the Belgian Congo Essay -- African History Essays

King Leopold and the Belgian Congo It is widely debated why exactly King Leopold decided to conquer the Congo, but the general consensus seems to be that it was out of the belief that â€Å"the highlands of the Congo may be as rich in gold as the mountains of the western slope of the American Continent† (Stead). In the mid-1870s, the King hired Henry Stanley, who was familiar with many parts of Africa, to help him go about conquering. During the following years Stanley stayed in Africa, talking various tribes into signing over their lands and rights. After this was completed the King officially took over the Congo, renaming it the Congo Free State. This was especially ironic because all natives of the country were either forced to give up their way of life in exchange for virtual slavery in the ivory trade, agriculture, or the rubber traffic, or die trying to escape fate. Leopold was undeterred by the amount of suffering and death in the Congo, brought on by his rule. Belgian soldiers and officials were known f or their cruelty in their methods to make, and then keep, Congo natives wo...

Accounting Article Analysis :: Business Accounting Ethics

Accounting Article Analysis One of the foremost problems facing the accounting profession today is the loss of respect that faces accountants in light of recent accounting scandals. In order to regain lost respect in the accounting profession an accountant must have integrity and ethics that are above and beyond the norm. This fact is true whether the accountant works for a business entity or for a government entity. In either situation the accountant is responsible for remaining steadfast, not only in professional behavior, but in personal behavior as well. In recent years, accountants have come under fire by the general public for unethical decisions, a reputation that, although only a few individual accountants were guilty, the entire profession was found guilty of, in the court of public opinion. Now, the accounting profession must be far more diligent in governing themselves, and in assuring those dependent upon their decisions, that they are above reproach. This is especially true of those accountan ts responsible for government funds, which can be scrutinized by the public. The public seem to have set more rigorous standards than business investors, of what is proper use of the funds available. They will not tolerate waste or misappropriation of funds and demand complete accountability. Accountants must stand ready, willing, and able to answer any and all questions that may be put forth, and be able to prove that the decisions that have been made were correct and proper. This includes not only following the letter of the law, but avoiding any decisions that, while being legal, would not be totally ethical and above board. An accountant is trusted with confidential information which must remain confidential, unless it has led or could possibly lead to illegal activity, in which case, of course, the information, must be reported immediately to the proper authority.

Oliver Sackss The Man who Mistook his Wife for a Hat Essay -- Oliver

Oliver Sacks's The Man who Mistook his Wife for a Hat As a child, I watched Alfred Hitchcock Theater, The Twilight Zone and other science fiction or horror shows. Often times the storyline was based on a victim's mental problems or their skewed perception of the world. Looking back, I remember the fascination I felt when watching one specific episode of the Twillight Zone. In this particular episode, a man turned into a zombie by some type of poison. Essentially he was still alive, but he was dead to the world. In the end he was embalmed while he was completely conscious yet could not say anything to prevent it. Like this incident, every episode captivated me but when it was over I could sleep easy because there was no possibility of any of it happening. Oliver Sacks disrupts my childhood understanding of what is plausible and what is not in the real world. In his Book, The Man Who mistook his Wife for a Hat, Sacks compiles a group of stories that appeal to the curiosity and compassion of a young boy through his close look at human expe riences in the eyes of science, medicine and new technology. The chapters discussing 'Losses'; and 'Transports'; sparked my interest the most. The first story that caught my attention was about the sixty year old Madeline J. who was suffers from being 'congenitally blind'; and has 'cerebral palsy';(Sack 59). She was a very bright and intelligent woman that gained all her knowledge and learning from listening to books and from talking to people. She had never learned Braille because her hands were 'Useless godforsaken lumps of dough†¦'; Through simple tests, Sacks discovered that her hand recognized light touches, pain, and temperature. All basic sensations and perceptions were in tact. However, when objects were placed in her hands, she could not identify them. She did not try to search and explore the object; 'there were no active 'interogatory' movements of here hands. Sacks concluded that her hands were fine functionally; she did not know they were there. Madeline had to discover her hands and make the neural connection before she woul d be able to use them (Sacks 59-61). In an effort to get Madeline to use her hands, he asked her nurses to put her food slightly out of reach and leave the room on occasions. Sacks hope that due to the hunger, she would reach out for the food and use her hands. One day 'impatie... ...Bhagawhandi's tumor was found in the frontal lobe. DNT have many intracortical nodules that vary in size. Its cells resemble 'well-differentiated oligodendroglioma';. However the cells are often found in clusters and other intricate shapes. Because of the tumor the 'adjacent cerebral cortex often exhibits cortical dysphasia with disturbed lamination and disarray in architecture (Final). Oliver Sacks does an excellent job of writing about that appeals to all walks of life and a diverse set of cultures. He translates topics that would take a doctorate degree to understand and presents it in a way that is entertaining and a joy to read. In the story of the blind sculptress he gives us hope, feeds our curiosity with the phantom finger, and finally touches our heart in our trip with the Indian girl back home. Works Cited Carlson, Neil R. Foundations of Physiological Psychology. Allyn and Bacon. London. 1999. 'Case Eight - Dysembryoplastic Neuroepithelial Tumor';. http://www.uhrad.com/mriarc/mri008.htm 'Introduction to Cerebral Palsy';. http://www.islandnet.com/~aclemens/intro2.htm Sacks, Oliver. The Man who Mistook his Wife for a Hat. Touchstone Book. New York. 1985.

Trey Songs

trey songs November 29, 2009 Music The Petersburg, Virginia celebrity didn’t always have a musical career in mind. As a child, there were no voice or piano lessons. In fact, all through high school, Trey was doing what most kids his age were doing: playing basketball, throwing parties, and getting dragged to church by his grandmother, who sang in a gospel choir . â€Å"I wasn’t even paying attention to R&B at the time,† says Trey. I was listening to straight rap, like Biggie, Jay-Z, and Nas. †. â€Å"Although Trey Songz loved hip-hop while growing up, the only R&B he could get into was R. Kelly. When his friends heard his perfect tenor voice, however, they pushed him to drop rap and start crooning. Songz did just that, and after winning numerous talent shows in his native Petersburg, VA, the 15-year-old singer met Troy Taylor, who had worked behind the scenes with such artists as Patti LaBelle, SWV, and B2K.Taylor encouraged Trey to finish high school firs t, and then they could talk about a possible music career. Trey received his diploma and immediately moved to New Jersey to work with Taylor. Soon, the singer was appearing on Kevin Lyttle's debut album and Trick Daddy's Thug Matrimony as a sideman, as well as striking out on his own with â€Å"About the Game,† a solo cut from the Coach Carter soundtrack.As he was working on his debut album — not to mention several collaborations with Lil' Kim, Trina, and Snoop Dogg — Trey Songz released some street-level mixtapes under his alias, the Prince of Virginia. His proper debut, I Gotta Make It, was released by Atlantic Records in 2005, and the sophomore effort, Trey Day, charted at number 11 upon its release in 2007. In 2009 the single â€Å"I Need a Girl† announced the coming of his third album, Ready. David Jeffries, All music guide. Wikepidia/trey songz!

Movie Critique of Mean Girls

Developmental Psychology Film Critique Number Two I believe the main character in the film to be Cady Heron who is played by Lindsay Lohan and is a sixteen year old girl. She was homeschooled her entire life until now. I would place Cady in the Adolescence stage of Erikson’s theory of development. It is described that the basic conflict in this stage is identity vs. role confusion. In this stage teens need to develop a personal sense of self and personal identity. If one is able to succeed it will lead them with the ability to stay true to their self.Failure to do so leads the individual to role confusion and a weak sense of self. In the beginning of the film it shows Cady as a nice young shy and naive girl who is tries her best to fit in. She is nice to everyone around her and has a hard time finding someone who will accept her. She ends up meeting two other people who are like minded as herself. She is dared by one of her new friends to change in order to get back at a girl who she wants to get revenge on from the 8th grade.Cady does such a good job at changing who she is that she begins to lose her sense of self and her personal identity. She realizes one day that she ditched her real friends for her new fake ones and it reminds her that she has developed a weak sense of self. At the end of the movie she is able to regain her true self and become friends with her original friends again. Yes the character named Cady did experience changes in the social role they occupied over the course of the film. When she first came to the school she wasn’t really accepted and nobody paid any attention or respect to her.Once she sold out and joined the fake group of girls called the plastics she was only then able to gain popularity and respect from her classmates. When she became part of the plastics she lost her first and only true friends as well. Like I said earlier she did leave the plastics and became friends with her first friends again. I would place Cady in level 2: conventional mortality. Views of other people matter to the individual at this level. People at this level also try to avoid blame and seek approval.I would also put Cady at stage 3 of this level. In this stage people have good intentions. They want to behave in a way that is considered â€Å"good behavior†. Cady definitely cares about how other people view her and it really matters to her. She changes a lot in this film just so people accept her. She joins a group of people that gets attention. People really don’t like the group of girls she joins but they continue to look up and respect them. She lies to her old friends to avoid blame several times throughout the film.She also tries to get approval from her original friends for her to join the plastics but they do not approve. She leaves the group because she doesn’t have good intentions of being in it. The only reason why she joined the group was to help her friend get the inside on her in or der to get revenge. I would say that the easiest indication of identity issues within the main character comes from her level of self –esteem. She feels bad at first that she can’t find friends. She comes home from school on the first day and doesn’t even speak to her parents because she got picked on so bad.She also joined the plastics and became so popular but she knew it wasn’t her and she still had low self-esteem. It wasn’t until she left the plastics became friends again with her original ones was she able to gain her self-esteem back. She learned to accept everyone for who they were. I would say that in the end of the movie it does show that Cady experiences a sense of life satisfaction. She is able to find out who she truly is and is able to help others do the same as well. She destroys the prom queen tiara that she receives at the beginning of the school’s prom dance.She breaks it into pieces and gives it to all of the students tell ing them that they are all special. I think that this part of the movie really shows best the sense of life satisfaction of Cady and also her classmates. I believe that this film is more of a chick flick but it does have an impression that can be perceived by anyone who watches it. It shows real life events that go on everyday throughout the high schools across the world. Students are at a time in life where they need to decide who they are and what they want to become.I believe that it does portray the adolescence stage of Erikson’s very well in a positive way. I think it shines light on what it is really like for both the group of classmates who gets picked on and also the people who are doing the picking. It shows that people who used to not get along can learn how they can accept each other and live much happier lives. I think that the overall message the film sends about adolescence is that it isn’t an easy road to travel down and that it may take several attempts at trying new things to help someone truly find out who they really are.

Authority and Social Identity Essay

In “The new psychology of leadership” (2007), the authors offer a new perspective about leadership, based not only on authority but on sharing a social identity with the people. The new concept of leadership is the ability to attain success by having followers wanting to do it instead of enforcing or rewarding them. To accomplish their goals, leaders must be situated among their group, be part of it. When goals are shared by common circumstances, they matter to the group as a whole, thus leaders that are able to represent the group better, have more influence over them. It should be a primary responsibility for the leader to understand values and opinions of the group in order to communicate effectively about what the group stands for and how their values should be reflected in their actions. LeaderÂ’s behavior and character affinity to the group defines how much control and inspiration can be imparted. However, any trait that separates the leader will hinder the chance for effective leadership. Other factors that influence leadership effectiveness are:•Show fairness when making decisions and resolving disputes, although fairness may depend on the perception of the group being led, therefore it is important to consider what itÂ’s fair for the group. •Leadership must shape and define norms conforming the groupÂ’s identity, which is based on shared beliefs and values. •GroupÂ’s social identity must be aligned with reality, since there is no chance of success for unrealistic goals that will eventually disappoint the group. Leaders need to be in touch with reality, and when required, align the groupÂ’s identity with his own. Based on the authorsÂ’ psychological analysis, leaders and followers must have the same identity that will be used to outline future actions. Many times in history, leaders lost their position because their actions depicted  a different identity from their group, and in some cases, only their individual identity. Development and nurturing a shared identity among leaders and their groups is the key for an effective and creative leadership. In FocusJuly 31, 2007The New Psychology of LeadershipRecent research in psychology points to secrets of effective leadership that radically challenge conventional wisdomBy Stephen D. Reicher, Michael J. Platow and S. Alexander HaslamFrom the August 2007 issue of Scientific American Mind

How Lady Macbeth(TM)s language reveals changes in her role and mental condition Essay

Q: By close reference to the text, show how Lady Macbeth’s language reveals changes in her role and mental condition. In William Shakespeare’s Macbeth, the language of Lady Macbeth clearly reflects changes in her role and mental condition throughout the play. At the beginning, Lady Macbeth’s language is confident and controlled. However, by Act 5 Scene 1, she has undergone a complete transformation of character and is in a pitiful, pathetic condition. Shakespeare uses a variety of literary techniques such as iambic pentameter (or the lack of it), rhetorical devices, powerful imagery and varied sentence lengths to reveal Lady Macbeth’s disposition at different stages in the play. During Act 1, Lady Macbeth’s character is imposing and authoritative. This can clearly be seen by analysing her language and speech patterns. Shakespeare highlights the determination and control of her speech through the use of iambic pentameter. Iambic pentameter is a poetic device, wherein each line has 10 syllables with the emphasis on each even syllable. It is used to create a rhythmic quality and to reflect ordinary speech patterns. In addition, iambic pentameter is also a technique of indicating the control and dignity of a character. In the early part of the play, nearly all of Lady Macbeth’s lines are written in strict iambic pentameter. The lines: † (He that’s coming) Must be provided for, and you shall put This night’s great business into my dispatch, Which shall to all our nights and days to come Give solely sovereign sway and masterdom.†1 illustrate the fact that Lady Macbeth is a cunning, shrewd woman, who is in complete control of her mind. The iambic pentameter, coupled with what she actually says, establishes the fact that she is strong and capable character. Shakespeare leads the readers to come to the conclusion that she has the dominant role in the relationship, as she gracefully takes charge of all the decision-making. This is borne out by the content of the lines as well as the sophisticated vocabulary used. These distinctive character traits of Lady Macbeth may well have been inspired by Shakespeare’s contemporary Queen Elizabeth I, who was also a very commanding and influential entity. Shakespeare also makes use of rhetorical devices to establish Lady Macbeth’s domineering personality. Rhetorical questions, in particular, are heavily used. These are a speech technique used to persuade someone and sway their mentality. In Act 1 Scene 7, Lady Macbeth uses a ton of rhetorical questions to convince Macbeth to commit the regicide of Duncan. Questions such as: â€Å"Was the hope drunk/ Wherein you dressed yourself?†2, â€Å"Art thou afeard / To be the same in act and valour / As thou art in desire?†3, and â€Å"What cannot you and I perform upon / Th’unguarded Duncan?†4 are used to incite Macbeth and make him feel guilty. She is overly vituperative and malicious; accusing him of cowardice by saying things like he’s not a man, or that he doesn’t truly love her because he isn’t keeping his promise to her. The result is that she successfully manipulates Macbeth into doing something that she wants. This confirms the fact that she is an intelligent, influential woman. Another literary device that shows Lady Macbeth’s evil persona is the strong imagery used in her speech. Imagery is a technique used in literature to make the reader visualise a picture in their minds. The lines: â€Å"look like th’innocent flower/ But be the serpent under’t†5 creates a distinct image of trickery and deceit, and gives a clear reflection of Lady Macbeth’s character. Another piece of effective imagery is the lines: † I have given suck and know How tender ’tis to love the babe that milks me: I would, while it was smiling in my face, Have plucked my nipple from his boneless gums And dashed the brains out, had I so sworn.†6 The above lines form a rather disturbing image in our minds, and give us a terrifying indication of Lady Macbeth’s mental strength. It highlights the malevolence that is inherent in her personality, in addition to her determination and her willingness to make sacrifices. However, the nature of such a statement does provoke one to think seriously about Lady Macbeth’s sanity. No person in their right mind would kill a child with the brutality that was described, especially not the child’s own mother. The lines shown above are one of many subtle hints of flaws in Lady Macbeth’s character which Shakespeare intelligently incorporates. These serve as inklings towards the total collapse in her character and mental state that is about to follow. In Act 3 Scene 4, the rapid decline of Lady Macbeth begins to take shape. In contrast to the early scenes of the play, her sentences become very short and she seems emotionally exhausted. Earlier, she would make long, influential speeches, which boasted of control and supremacy. This is not the case any more, although she does regain some composure by continuing to speak in iambic pentameter. She is now content to let Macbeth do the bulk of the talking. This indicates a reversal of roles where Lady Macbeth is no longer the dominant partner in the relationship. She is excluded from decision-making, as shown by Macbeth’s killing of Banquo without even bothering to consult his â€Å"dearest partner of greatness.†7 This scene is quite a significant one, as it marks the turning point of the deterioration in Lady Macbeth’s role and mental state. By Act 5 Scene 1, the language of Lady Macbeth has completely disintegrated. She is ridden with guilt and remorse, and this clearly affects her conscience immensely. Her psychological weakness at this point is illustrated by the use of prose, as opposed to iambic pentameter. This implies that Lady Macbeth has thoroughly lost all control and power which was typical of her in the first few scenes of the play. Her speech, which now mainly consists of incoherent phrases like: â€Å"Out, damned spot! Out I say! One, two. Why then ’tis time to do’t. Hell is murky†8, lacks the equanimity that she possessed in Act 1. She also uses a lot of imperatives and exclamations like â€Å"O, O, O,†9 which show that she is uneasy and deeply distressed. She dwells over the murders committed by herself and Macbeth, making it obvious that these incidents have been haunting her and causing her much disquiet. All the stress that had been bottled up in her mind is released while she is sleepwalking, and by the end of the scene, she is in a dismal condition, muttering a whole lot of useless drivel. It is no surprise that she later decides to do away with herself, as her body and mind have both crumbled to bits. Lady Macbeth’s language visibly reflects her role and mental state at different parts of the play. At the start, she is shown to be powerful and domineering which is demonstrated by uses of iambic pentameter, rhetorical devices and strong imagery. She undergoes a steady deterioration and by the end, she is weak and depleted, as reflected by the breakdown of her language. The stark contrast between her mental state at the start and end of the play is clearly demonstrated by comparing two sentences spoken by her at these times: â€Å"A little water clears us of this deed†10 when her hands are covered in blood after the killing of King Duncan, and â€Å"Here is the smell of blood still, all the perfumes of Arabia will not sweeten this hand†11 while she is sleepwalking. The remarkable fall from grace of Lady Macbeth is wonderfully presented by Shakespeare, and plays a big part in the play as whole. Since it was Lady Macbeth’s ideas and persuasive techniques which led Macbeth to the throne, and set the foundations of his reign; her weakening, and subsequent death, is one of many indicators of Macbeth’s imminent downfall. Shakespeare’s use of various literary devices was excellent, and he is able to successfully draw attention to the decline of Lady Macbeth, and its overall significance. 1 Act 1 Scene 5 – lines 64-68 2 Act 1 Scene 7 – lines 35-36 3 Act 1 Scene 7 – lines 39-41 4 Act 1 Scene 7 – lines 69-70 5 Act 1 Scene 5 – lines 63-64 6 Act 1 Scene 7 – lines 54-59 7 Act 1 Scene 5 – lines 9-10 8 Act 5 Scene 1 – lines 30-31 9 Act 5 Scene 1 – line 43 10 Act 2 Scene 2 – line 70 11 Act 5 Scene 1 – lines 42-43

BHS 499 (Senior Capstone Project) Module 3 CBT Essay

BHS 499 (Senior Capstone Project) Module 3 CBT - Essay Example Fraud as defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary of Law is "any act, expression, omission, or concealment calculated to deceive another to his or her disadvantage; specifically: a misrepresentation or concealment with reference to some fact material to a transaction that is made with knowledge of its falsity or in reckless disregard of its truth..." The HIPAA or Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 defines it as ''a criminal conspiracy or a violation" to specific provisions indicated in the U.S. Code which pertains to conspiracy relating to a health care benefit program'' 18 U.S.C. x 24(a). Furthermore, fraud is basically considered as an act of misrepresentation or deception designed to acquire something of value held by some other; and the most common forms of fraud among nurses documented by CNO include: falsifying a record; collecting pay under false pretenses; misappropriating property or money through deceptive means; and providing false information to ones employer (Quality Practice, 2003; p 1). Below outlines the managerial, legal, ethical and financial implications brought about by fraudulent and financial abuse in the health care industry. The unnecessary patient treatments that are being ordered, limits the patient's coverage which may be subsequently met prematurely; later, patients may not be able to expend co-payments for gratuitous visits. In addition, false diagnoses for the purpose of up-coding may affect the patient's ability to obtain maintain insurance coverage since the information is available primarily to other potential insurers (Busch, 2007).According the National Health Care Anti-Fraud Association, around $56.7 to $170 billion is the estimated loss annually (Department of Health and Human Services, 2005). Centers for Medicaid & Medicare (2006) expressed that the dollars lost to reimbursement of Medicare and Medicaid as well as intentional improper billing could have been used to fund the health insurance of low-income persons; if they were not acquired or end up in the pockets of the unscrupulous health care suppliers and providers. The Provision 3.5 under the Code of Ethics calls upon that all nurses needs to take appropriate action about any instances of unethical, incompetent, illegal or impaired practice by members of the health care team or any action on the side of others by the health care system which places the best interest of the patient (American Nurses Association, 2001). Fletcher, Sorrell, and Silva (1998) have point out that nurses are frequently called upon to make sacrifices, in their personal as well as professional, ones they adhere strictly to Nurses' Code of Ethics. This code 3 requires nurses' accountability as professionals however fails to acknowledge that the reality is that in the health care system, many nurses have limited power within. Job security for fraud investigators and auditors remains strong. Over the years, it continues to attract the nurses who are ethically challenged. Health care fraud is oftentimes buried within the functions in critical business. In 2006, initiatives were made to implement the development of health information technology infrastructure, in order to improve the

Interest in Vanguard Accelerated Development Program Personal Statement

Interest in Vanguard Accelerated Development Program - Personal Statement Example only to get an understanding of Vanguard’s leadership philosophy but also to continue its pursuit of excellence within the financial services industry. Although I am relatively new to the Vanguard Investment Services, but I have had the opportunity to demonstrate my ability to learn, adapt, and communicate effectively with clients. At present, I am working as a Corporate Staff Accountant at Education Corporation of America (ECA) where some of my job responsibilities include performing account reconciliations, preparing monthly financial statements, and reviewing the accounting reports. I have also worked as a Human Resource Recruiter at Abae Personnel Services Inc. Both of these jobs have helped me gain valuable experience that I require to progress in my professional life. I want to have an excellent professional record, which could help me attain the heights of success in my life. I am willing to do whatever it takes to make it. An important point, which I want to mention, is that relocation is not an issue for me when it comes to advancing in my career. I am sending this statement of purpose to get an opportunity to join the Vanguard Accelerated Development Program and maximize my skill set, experiences and knowledge. I am hopeful of getting an interview

Pro-life and Prochoice campaigns and the ethical dilemmas within them Annotated Bibliography

Pro-life and Prochoice campaigns and the ethical dilemmas within them. - Annotated Bibliography Example For instance, most countries have been involved in many series of debates concerning the issue of abortion, euthanasia, corporate punishment, death punishment, and/or assisted suicide among many others. Lee claims that in more than one case, people end up failing to come to consensus, a situation that leads to lack of conclusive responses, which the whole issue a decision of an individual’s choice. The connotation â€Å"pro-life† that goes hand in hand with â€Å"pro-choice† are general episodes, which seeks to expound whether an individual is willing to carry out a certain agenda commonly, termed as an ethical dilemma. Since this expansion tends to involve the issue of ethics, it is very engulfing and poses serious challenges when it comes into making the final decision. This section talks about the Pro-Life spectrum, which is an issue that seeks to determine people’s thinking towards life especially when abortion is the subject. Under this spectrum, people engage themselves in a series of campaigns where they seek to publicize to everyone including the recently conceived human being has a right to equal live. As such, abortion should be condemned and termed as a crime of the highest order, as it is similar to committing murder (Lee 2).

Human-Digital Interaction Design Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Human-Digital Interaction Design - Essay Example This report will point out the main recommendations that are placed for the effective systems design and development. This system is developed basically for the enhancement of overall working power of the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency. This system will be used for the Vehicle Excise Duty [VED] calculation and management. The main aim behind this system development is to enhance the working power of the DVLA’s workforce. In this section I will talk about the user experience analysis regarding the DVLA system development and handling. This system is intended to enhance the overall working power of the DVLA’s Vehicle Excise Duty processing. I will talk about the main criteria regarding the better user support and working efficiency. In the next sections I will talk about the main corrective actions those we have taken regarding the effective system development. During this system development we have established that we will implement the overall system according to and on basic user requirements and specification. This system will be VED processing system that requires extensive user management and task handling. We have tried to incorporate the user centric design regarding the effective system development, in this way we will priorities the user requirements and the implementation of these requirements will rely on their interaction to the user, most frequently accessed section of the system are given more concentration and perfect touch by presenting more better user design. In this scenario we have tried to implement the overall user task in way so that their management of the user tasks can be handled in a sequence. Its mean the user task execution must be managed through incorporating effective user task flow analysis. This analysis has helped us regarding the implementation of the overall system functionalities in a better way. This will also ensure that the implementation of tasks are appropriate and

It has to be an international topic related to crime. ex prostitution Research Proposal

It has to be an international topic related to crime. ex prostitution in Thailand - Research Proposal Example In this research, I choose to focus on this specific aspect, with the intentions of finding a solution for the prevailing crime. Introduction The prostitution industry has been growing in Thailand for many years. The concentration for the industry has been on the city centers and in particular, the Bangkok and Pattaya (Van et al, 1993). The girls who have been directly involved in prostitution has been innumerable, and it is estimated that prostitution accounts for more than 3% of the total GDP in Thailand. A survey done in 2007and 2008 indicated that at least the industry yields in an annuals basis is 5 billion dollars (Elizabeth and Charlie, 2009). Another survey indicated that at least four thousand prostitutes are concentrated in Bangkok area alone. Clearly, the industry is huge, earning the country a lot of income. The girls have also benefited d from the business, which explains why they have continually increased in number every year. It is important to note that prostitution is illegal in Thailand. According to Bales, (1999) the criminalization of the act has been known to exist since 1960. It sis therefore puzzling to see the numbers growing every year, suggesting that the law is not being effected as it ought. Prostitution is always packaged with other related crimes, something that raises concerns in the global front. Many girls have been known to engage in human trafficking and child prostitution. Further, there are so many people within the population that have been recorded to be affected with HIV and AIDS. Whenever crime occurs, it is natural to turn to the policy makers for a solution. Therefore, it is possible that the issue of prostitution and related problems can be dealt with through effective policy by the government and its related bodies. The law making process and the people charged with the role of its implementation must concentrate on the subject of prostitution (Chambliss & Schutt, 2007). The law in Thailand bans prostitution but lea ves certain gaps that lead to serious consequences amongst its citizens. Further, the implementation process tends to be overlooked, which has led to more problems surrounding the issue This research concentrates on the gaps that have been left during the policy making process as pertains to the subject. The study further suggests change in policy by the concerned bodies to deal with the problem Literature review According to Hantrakul, (1984) prostitution does not occur in places where the government has made a lot of effort to develop the correct policy against the acts and the related crimes. However, in Thailand, n implementation of those policies has been ineffective. While prostitution is on hand said to be illegal, the government has passed bills that have left big gaps for it to thrive. The law implementation process is hindered mainly because of viewing the act as a national resource. Since the year 1960, the government has continued to pass bills that have been indicative that prostitution is illegal (Rhodes, 1999) However, many other bills have left big gaps for the business to continue being practiced in the region. For example, in the year 1966, a law was passed to allow for service provision to the American servicemen. The rest and recreation facilities were provided for the soldiers. This was a period when the Vietnamese war called for soldiers to be deployed in the region for protection and peace keeping. In 1996, a law was passe