Factors Effecting Literacy Development

Factors Effecting Literacy Development This essay looks at the development of Literacy from birth to school age including speaking, listening, viewing, reading and writing. It examines how hearing impairment relates to a childs overall Literacy development. Literacy is commonly considered the ability to read and write at a designated level of proficiency. But is more precisely defined as a technical capability to decode or reproduce written or printed signs, symbols, or letters combined into words. Traditionally, literacy has been closely associated with the alphabet and its role in written communication. However, it has become increasingly common to refer to different forms of literacy, such as computer, mathematical, or graphic literacy. Many experts believe that people need a combination of many different forms of literacy in order to meet the demands of modern day life. There are five developmental stages in a growing childs life. It all starts at birth, which is known as infancy, it lasts until age 2. Then there is early childhood which is from ages 2-6, and then comes middle childhood which is from 6-10 years old. Early adolescence is the next stage which spans from 10-14 years old and then late adolescence which is from 14-18 years old. The two stages that stand out most in development to me are middle childhood and late adolescence. From the earliest age in middle childhood to the oldest age in late adolescence, there is an eight year gap. There is so much growing done in between these two stages that the transition is truly remarkable. Emergent Literacy begins in the very early stages of childhood, and is the beginning of Literacy development, involving such activities as reading from pictures and writing with scribbles. Reading a book from memory while turning the pages of the book, develops a childs understanding of books and stories, as well as giving them a sense of accomplishment and pride, and is an important step towards becoming an independent reader. From the day children are born they require a form of communication in order to function adequately in society. A pre-speech baby will use gestures and expressions and babblings to interact with others. A toddler will participate in turn taking to satisfy a need or want. The more pre-schoolers participate in the world, the more they discover that language is useful. The First six years of childrens lives play a crucial part in their development. During this time, childrens brains develop at a astonishing rate. Parents and other family members play a key role i n early development, as their childrens first and most important teachers. Early Literacy development is not considered as teaching a child to read in a formal way, its about helping children to make sense of their world by developing strong oral language skills. Its about valuing home language and culture as building blocks, allowing children to explore the world of literacy. Its about providing lots of positive interactions between childrens older peers and parents. In addition to an environment which is rich in Literacy resources and models language and Literacy for young children to copy. The NWT Literacy council suggests it was generally considered that literacy development belonged mostly in schools, whilst children learnt to read and write. The formal teaching of writing and reading still happens at school, but Literacy doesnt begin when children start to learn the letters of the alphabet, or write their name, or go to school. The foundation for Literacy development begins much earlier- some people say it starts in the womb. The development is acquired thorough children interacting with adults and older children. Also through a childs play and experiences with Literacy resources such as stories, songs, rhymes, crayons, pens and paper. Children with a hearing impairment range from those with a mild hearing impairment to those who are profoundly deaf. They cover the whole ability range. Hearing impairment may be due to conductive or sensory-neural problems. Four categories are generally used: mild, moderate, severe and profound. In education, pupils are considered to have a hearing impairment if they need hearing aids, adaptations to the environment or particular teaching strategies in order to access the curriculum. Serious hearing lost occurs in about two per thousand of the population pg 1 (D, Goldstein) Briggle, S (2005, p.69) makes the point that literacy development for children who have hearing impairment is a multifaceted issue. Within Literacy development there any many parallels to hearing children, as well as some elements which are unique to children who are hearing impaired. It is well recognized that hearing is critical to speech and language development, communication, and learning. Children with listening difficulties due to hearing impairment or auditory processing problems continue to be an underidentified and underserved population. The earlier hearing impairment occurs in a childs life, the more serious the effects on the childs development. Similarly, the earlier the problem is identified and intervention begun, the less serious the ultimate impact. There are four major ways in which hearing impairment affects Literacy development in children. Firstly causing a delay in the development of receptive and expressive communication skills. Language deficit causes learning problems that often result in reduced academic achievement. Communication difficulties can often lead to social isolation, poor self-concept and may impact the childs ability to make choices. Vocabulary also develops more slowly in children who have a hearing impairment. Children with hearing impairment are able to learn concrete words like cat, jump, five, and red more easily than abstract words like before, after, equal to, and jealous. They also have difficulty with function words like the, an, are, and a. The gap between the vocabulary of children with normal hearing and those with hearing impairment widens with age. Children with hearing impairment are not able to catch up without appropriate early intervention. Children with hearing impairment also have difficulty understanding words with multiple meanings. It is common for children with hearing impairment to comprehend and produce shorter and simpler sentences than children with normal hearing. Children with hearing impairment often have difficulty understanding and writing complex sentences, such as those with relative clauses or passive voice. Children with hearing impairment often cannot hear word endings such as -s or -ed. This can lead to misunderstandings and misuse of verb tense, pluralisation and possessives. Children with hearing impairment often cannot hear quiet speech sounds such as s, sh, f, t, and k and therefore do not include them in their speech. Therefore, speech may be difficult to understand. Children with hearing impairment may not hear their own voices when they speak. They may speak too loudly or not loud enough. They may have a speaking pitch that is too high. They may sound like they are mumbling because of poor stress, poor inflection, or poor rate of speaking. Lastly, children with hearing impairment have difficulty with all areas of academic achievement, especially reading and mathematical concepts. Children with mild to moderate hearing impairments, on average, achieve one to four grade levels lower than their peers with normal hearing, unless appropriate management occurs. Children with severe to profound hearing impairment usually achieve skills no higher than Ks3/4, unless appropriate educational intervention occurs early. The gap in academic achievement between children with normal hearing and those with hearing impairment usually widens as they progress through school. The level of achievement is related to parental involvement and the quantity, quality, and timing of the support services children receive. By the age of three years the average normally hearing child has a vocabulary of approximately 1,000 words (Bond, D. 1981p.g 19) Children learn this language from what they hear and by the age of three master many grammatical elements of language. The hearing impaired child may not have the advantage of comforting and reassuring sounds within their environment, unless directly directed towards them. Even with the assistance of hearing aids and recent technology advances many hearing impaired children report listening unpleasant. Research into Childrens language acquisition in recent years has provided detailed information on the way in which sentence structures and grammatical systems develop within language. Language acquisition is essentially creative; that is, children deduce for themselves the rules which govern the production and comprehension of language Davison, M. Pg25 The second important factor is that all children learning English seem to follow a very similar pattern of development. In every child there are differences in the rate of acquisition and the precise order in which new structures are required, although there is a clear developmental trend in the way children develop and this can be used when assessing an individual childs language In order to support the development of literacy the government have implemented both initiatives and frameworks. The department for education have introduced and implemented the National Strategy; within this is the Primary Framework for Literacy. The framework is the guideline for all aspects of teaching and literacy development in schools. The National Strategy, which is now part of the Primary National Strategy, has been in place since 1998. In March 2006, Jim Rose released the Independent review of teaching of early reading. This report outlined the principles of high quality work within a language rich curriculum that gives rise to high standards of reading and writing. The Rose report outlined two obvious but linked procedures involved in teaching children to read, the ability to recognise words and the comprehension of language. The Rose review had a huge impact on the teaching of literacy, influencing positively both planning and teaching significantly.

Propaganda Theory Essay

All over the world, the wheel of propaganda keeps churning. Governments have launched propaganda blitzes to mold public opinion and further their political objectives. In certain instances, they have failed. In other cases, like global wars, they have caused mass deception and destruction. People employ numerous propaganda techniques for a variety of reasons. It may be to cushion the impact of a crisis, soften antagonistic sentiments of people governed, reinforce friendly relations between countries, or foil attempts to usurp power. Propaganda in recent years has been used in a derogatory sense, characterized by doublespeak, coupled with endorsements from individuals capable of influencing others, to win public support for an idea or doctrine. When employed by nations as an act of aggression, it can unleash a never-ending series of counterpropaganda measures, and become counterproductive. Learning about propaganda — how it works, and actual examples across cultures — provides many interrelated insights. Propaganda Theory I. The Meaning and Types of Propaganda Propaganda is defined in many ways. It is â€Å"a systematic effort to persuade a body of people to support or adopt a particular opinion, attitude or course of action† (Funk & Wagnalls Standard College Dictionary, 1963). Propaganda is something resorted to since ancient times, and has assumed many connotations through the years. It is commonly understood as the deliberate, systematic attempt to shape perceptions, manipulate cognitions, and direct behavior to achieve a response that furthers the desired intent of the propagandist. Propaganda is a term culled from the Latin word propagare which â€Å"means to propagate or to show† (Jowett and O’Donnell, 2006, p. 2). French philosopher and sociologist Jacques Ellul, who conducted a thorough study on propaganda, propounded that it is a â€Å"sociological phenomena, not as something made or produced by people of intentions† (Jowett and O’Donnell, 2006, p. 4). Ellul did not discount the fact, though, that while it may have negative impact, particularly in discouraging critical thought, people have a need for it. Propaganda is characterized by certain characteristics. It has to be total, seamless, with a target audience that is â€Å"self-acting and capable of screening out contrary messages for themselves (or) partial to the thrust of the message and willing to listen to it, and†¦ works best when it prepares symbols that the public will understand, and then manipulates those symbols to achieve a desired effect† (Thompson, 2004, pp. 6-8). Propaganda, as widely used today, connotes â€Å"a coordinated strategy to minimize negative information and present in a favorable light a story that can be damaging to self-interests† (Jowett and O’Donnell, 2006, p. 3). This is blatantly shown by many news organizations and governments today. In most cases, â€Å"propaganda themes are produced not because the relationship between the state and the media is antagonistic and incompatible but because they serve a common purpose† (Wilcox, 2005, p. 4). To achieve the propagandist’s intent, there are several types and techniques employed. In the corporate world, one type of propaganda is a simple testimonial. Testimonials may utilize celebrities and other people of prominence or credibility, or symbols like a flag or a respectable institution, in advertisements prodding and enticing people to purchase goods and services. Most advertisements that instill brand recall by being constantly aired on all forms of media are also a form of propaganda. Usually, the propagandist conceals his main agenda in a deliberate attempt to win public favor. Propaganda may be classified then as white, or â€Å"from a correctly identified source and is not intentionally deceptive† (Brahm, 2006, parag. 4) or black, which is the exact opposite. As for the techniques, propagandists employ age-old techniques to influence or win over people to their side, like name-calling, whereby the object is to make a person see an object, person or idea in a negative light without carefully assessing evidences; use of glittering generalities that uses abstract terms, especially ideals like freedom, justice, and truth to appeal to the listener’s emotions or valued principles; card stacking, which highlights only one view to an argument while downplaying or totally repressing the dissenting or contradictory opinions in order to manipulate the sentiments or change the mindset of the audience; transfer technique, in which case the propagandist uses an object or symbolism that is generally revered or respected to win over people; testimonials, which uses prominent, authoritative or famous people to appeal to listeners’ emotions or in some instances, both the emotions and logic; and bandwagon, which presupposes that since majority of people are doing or supporting something, then that general trend must have merits worth considering. The propagandist, in this case, expects the audience to conform to the general will and reap the benefits offered (â€Å"The Art of Propaganda,† n. d. ). II. Propaganda Through the Years Propaganda’s various meanings and connotations have evolved through the years. In the modern world, the most common conduit or mouthpiece of propaganda is the news media, whether print, television, radio or online. Many governments have used media as disseminator of propaganda, especially during crisis moments or to win major support for conflict intervention. Milestones that have been part and parcel of the history of propaganda go way back to 1622, when the Vatican, under Pope Gregory XV, â€Å"established the Sacra Congregatio de Propaganda Fide, meaning the sacred congregation, for propagating the faith of the Roman Catholic Church† (Jowett and O’Donnell, 2006, p. 2). Succeeding events led to the loss of impartiality in the term propaganda. In the present information age, some people who are well-read and aware of issues and news developments are able to discern whenever their government has set into motion a major information campaign to gain public support for an electoral campaign or even a war effort. There are also insidious ways individuals or governments use propaganda, like in the case of terrorist groups enlisting people to support their cause, or military leaders trying to outmart the enemy by overstating the size of one’s fleet or amplifying the sophisticated weaponry at their disposal. Propaganda has been used countless times for political warfare. History is replete with cases of governments swaying the populace to gain support for their cause or political ends. An example of 20th century propaganda are the anti-German propaganda materials widely disseminated by British agencies. Former US President George Bush’s propaganda machine emphasized an anti-terrorism stance. Ironically, he had denounced numerous propaganda tactics directed at the US which he thought to have vilified the country’s image in the global community. The US government employed similar propaganda techniques during the Gulf War and Kosovo Conflict in the 1990s. Many political rulers, like Joseph Stalin, used propaganda in a damaging sense. Another clear-cut illustration of 20th century propaganda is Adolf Hitler’s reign of terror. Everyone knows how the charismatic dictator won over people to his side not only with his eloquent speeches but with his military tactics and well-oiled propaganda machinery. Naxi propaganda bordered on censorship. Books and films that ran counter to the beliefs of the rulers were burned. In their stead, radio communications called â€Å"People’s Receiver† were offered at a cheap price. There were also organized rallies that succeeded in gaining the public’s loyalties. â€Å"In Nazi publications and German newspapers, newsreels, posters, ‘educational’ materials, etc), much use was made of cartoons from Julius Streicher–the Nazis’ vitriolic and foremost hate monger† (Thompson, 2004, parag. 11). On the other hand, there have also been countless examples of propaganda back in the 18th century. Propaganda was employed, to promote the cause of independence, through the dissemination of pamphlets during the American Revolution. In France and Europe, there was widespread criticisms for the ruling class by learned men. It was an age when anti-enlightenment ideas proliferated, and propaganda was at its peak. III. Propaganda in the Arab World Propaganda has found strong use in the Arab world. â€Å"The anti-Semitic literature published by the Arabs since World War II has been voluminous†¦Arab propagandists and sympathizers have persisted in the charge that Israel is a foreign outpost of Western civilization, the intruding offspring of Europe inhabited by European survivors of Nazi brutality† (Peters, n. d. ). Consumed by the overriding belief that Israel does not have the right to exist, most Arab and Muslim states engaged in propagandist tactics, including biased reporting and use of language that detracts from the true meaning. Propaganda was also applied through the use of official newspapers that tackled how Jews manage all the world’s governments. In similar manner, the US government has launched anti-Arab propaganda material, much to its own detriment and reputation in the international community. References Brahm, Eric. (2006). â€Å"Propaganda. † Beyond Intractability. Eds. Guy Burgess and Heidi Burgess. Retrieved May 31, 2009, from http://www. beyondintractability. org/essay/propaganda/ Funk & Wagnalls Standard College Dictionary. (1963). New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc. Jowett, Garth S. and Victoria O’Donnell. (2006). Propaganda and persuasion (4th ed. ). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications. Peters, Joan. (n. d. ). â€Å"From time immemorial – the origins of the Arab-Jewish conflict over Palestine. † Retrieved May 31, 2009, from http://gospelpedlar. com/articles/Church%20History/jews. html

Digital Signal Processing - 936 Words

With the advent of digitization in every field from communication to media, the need for methods to process digital signals is more important than ever. Now that I am on the threshold of embarking on a career that will encompass a major part of my adult life, I think it is natural that I veer towards Signal processing. As I look back, I feel that my natural inclination and excellence in mathematics from childhood has led me along this path. Digital Signal processing incorporates the use of mathematics to manipulate an information signal to modify or improve it in some way, fitting naturally into my area of strength and interest. I graduated from high school with 97% in Physics, Chemistry and Maths as a result of which I was admitted in SSN, ranked amongst the top engineering colleges in India. During my undergraduate study in Electronics and Communications Engineering I developed a liking for subjects like Digital Communication, Digital Image Processing, Digital Signal Processing.etc which provided me with a fundamental knowledge about digital signals and a thirst to explore more. My actual venture into DSP, started during fifth semester holidays when I attend a course on â€Å"DSP Applications† conducted by IIT Madras and Analog Devices. This gave me a great opportunity to work with several professors in IIT on projects like Noise Cancellation, Image Restoration using Kalman filter.etc. Intrigued by this experience, I devoted more time towards studying various fields inShow MoreRelatedDigital Signal Processing755 Words   |  3 PagesCHAPTER I INTRODUCTION On systems that perform real-time processing of data, performance is often limited by the processing capability of the system [1]. 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With the development of IT technology and voice processing technology, peopleRead MoreDelta Sigma Based Digital Signal Processing9726 Words   |  39 PagesThe proposed research focuses on Delta Sigma based Digital Signal Processing (DSP) circuits on Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) systems for low-power intelligent sensors -in particular on building systematic tools to study their design principles and fundamental performance limits of energy-efï ¬ cient low-complexity architectures and on the analysis of their practical advantages and limits. Integrated intelligent sensors have emerged in a wide range of applications including healthcare, surveillanceRead MoreDelta Sigma Based Digital Signal Processing9737 Words   |  39 PagesThe proposed research focuses on Delta Sigma based Digital Signal Processing (DSP) circuits on Very Large Scale Integration (VLSI) systems for low-power intelligent sensors -in particular on building systematic tools to study their design principles and fundamental performance limits of energy-efï ¬ cient low-complexity architectures and on the analysis of their practical advantages and limits. Integrated intelligent sensors has emerged in a wide range of applications including health care, surveil-Read MoreUsing Kalman Filter Is Digital Signal Processing Based Filter853 Words   |  4 PagesVIDEO DENOISING Nowadays digital cameras which is used to capture images and videos are storing it directly in digital form. But this digital data ie. images or videos are corrupted by various types of noises. It may cause due to some disturbances or may be impulse noise. To suppress noise and improve the image performances we use image processing schemes. In this paper they uses Kalman filter to remove the impulse noise. The Kalman filter is digital signal processing based filter. It estimatesRead MoreDigital Signal Processing Quiz1620 Words   |  7 Pages (DIGITAL SIGNAL PROCESSING) 1.What are the basic elements of digital signal processing. List the advantages of digital signal processing over Analog signal processing? 2. Give the classification of signals (a) Continuous time signals and discrete time signals. (b) Deterministic and Non-Deterministic signals (c) Periodic and Aperiodic signals (d) Even and Odd signals (e) Energy and Power signal 3.Determine whether theRead MoreDigital Time Signal Processing7459 Words   |  30 Pages8 1.6 1.4 1.2 1.0 0.8 0.6 0.4 0.3 0.2 0 0.1Ï€ 0.2Ï€ 0.4Ï€ 0.6Ï€ 0.8Ï€ w Ï€ Phase Response ∅ 0.4Ï€ 0.3Ï€ 0.2Ï€ 0.1Ï€ 0 –0.1Ï€ –0.2Ï€ –0.3Ï€ –0.4Ï€ w 0 0.2Ï€ 0.4Ï€ 0.6Ï€ 0.8Ï€ Ï€ Solution : (a) (ii) To find response : The frequency components present in the input signal x(n) are, w1 = Ï€ 2 Ï€ 4 and w2 = Ï€ 2 w2 = At ⎛ π⎞ M ( w) = 2 cos âŽÅ" 2 ⎟ = 2 cos (Ï€ ) = 2 ⎠ 2⎠  ⎛π⎞ φ = −2âŽÅ" ⎟ + Ï€ = 0 ⎠2⎠  DSP Help Line : 9987030881 www.guideforengineers.com B E EXTC At w2 = Ï€ 4 DTS P DEC- 2004 3 Ï€ ⎛ π⎞ M ( w) = 2 cos âŽÅ"

Marketing Planninb - 5737 Words

| HND Business | | Marketing Principles | | LCC20146213 | | Taslim Ahammad | | 20/03/2015 | Hyasmin Hyasmin Unit 4: Marketing Principles Task 1 1.1: Elements of the marketing process Marketing is the action of a business endorsing, promoting and selling products or services, including that of market research, surveys and advertising. It’s the method of which goods and services move from concept to the consumer. â€Å"Marketing is a human activity directed at satisfying human wants and needs† (Phillip Kotler). The marketing process involves four steps. These four steps are all accomplished with the goal of creating value for your target consumers. Some elements of the steps are performed†¦show more content†¦However Starbucks, are targeting to differentiate based on quality. They have decided to increase their product line where high quality and more costly items are presented: Starbucks is introducing coffee made using rare, luxurious coffee beans. Contrasting Costa Coffee, they are aiming to compete using a low-volume, high-margin sales method. Starbucks appears to be generating a more sustainable marketing strategy that will prove to b e more competitive in longer term. Competitors taking chance to reduce the price, announcing a competitor product, persistent growth of production to improve the market share. Starbucks substantial invention their products which also competitors will gradually keep up with. It is very difficult for Starbucks as a competitor to keep the fixed cost against the inconstant cost. The importance of customer satisfaction, customer care and relationship marketing; It is essential that the customer requirements are being met with suitable products and services, so than the customer will be satisfied and more likely to return so then the business is expected to survive longer and make more profits. Starbucks provides a homely environment and luxurious and personalised products, as well as the loyalty and rewards bonuses for their regular consumers, so they are already trying to fulfil and exceed customer expectations. Customer care or service is most essential in any

Hci / 510 Systems Life Cycle - 920 Words

TaSharon L. Collins HCI/510 Systems Life Cycle September 22, 2014 Professor Eric Everard Data security is used to prevent anything that is unauthorized, and it helps to protect all of the data from any corruption. Almost daily, media reports highlight the failure of health care organizations to safeguard the privacy and security of patient data, whether electronic or paper. Preventing data breaches has become more complex, and at the same time, the fines being levied against health care organizations for violating the Health Insurance, (Zamosky, 2014).# In this paper, I will discuss the security measures, how the security measures used and how well did the security measure work. In an article, I read about the†¦show more content†¦Many healthcare facilities now find themselves in an almost paradoxical predicament: inherently insecure and complex systems are required to be supported to maintain quality of healthcare, while security by mandate must be implemented and insured, (Mulch, 2004).# What were the security measures? The security measures include password p rotection, software updates, firewalls, malware protection and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). In order for protection of the information, it is important that the password is long with other required characteristics. Be sure to make the password strong enough so that the hacker will never be able to access our information. As for the software, it is crucial to keep computer updated. When pop-ups begin, that is a hint that the software needs an update. It is important that in the health care field, all of the systems must be protected by a firewall. A firewall either permits or blocks a requested network connection such as world wide web site, an email or a file transfer based on a set of policies determined by a network administrator or personal user, (Anonymous, 2014).# Keep the system updated at all times and watch out for malware. HIPAA is known to provide protection for the patients’ health information. Privacy is important, and it allows on ly the health care providers with the access. How are the security measures being used? In

Bribery Scandal @ Siemens Free Essays

Case Analysis by Steve Akana steve. akana@laverne. edu BUS 685 Global Business Management Case 1 – The Bribery Scandal at Siemens AG Overview The report will analyze the case study and discuss the bribery scandal at Siemens AG. We will write a custom essay sample on Bribery Scandal @ Siemens or any similar topic only for you Order Now The author of the case study paints a picture of a successful and arguably dominant multi-national firm, with a reputation for a war chest of competencies and innovative products. The obvious question, then, is why would a firm with this resume and list of global achievements become involved with corruption and criminal behavior? Therefore, the case study raised questions such as the accountability of senior managers to the rampant corruption occurring in global divisions. Summary On November 15, 2006, 30 offices and private homes were raided by 200 police officers, tax inspectors, and prosecutors in Munch and other cities in Germany to investigate suspected bribery, embezzlement of company funds, and tax evasion. Five Siemens employees were taken into custody in connection with the case. Swiss prosecutors were also involved in the raids because they had an independent investigation on three people connected to Siemens, which launched in 2005. As a result, there was â‚ ¬420M of questionable payments made over a sevenyear period from 1999 to 2006. Official Siemens records showed the payments as having gone to external consultants. It was determined, however, that the funds were actually paid to foreign purchasing officials and that the expenditures coincided with the procurement of â€Å"fixed-line line telecommunications business in various international markets,† including Italy, Puerto Rico, Greece, and the United States. Siemens acknowledged that certain company employees were engaged in fraud, and the damage to the company could be around â‚ ¬10-30M. Because of the fraud Siemen’s was burdened with an additional â‚ ¬168M in income tax charges since 1999. Their net profit was restated from â‚ ¬3. 106B to â‚ ¬3. 033B. By the spring of 2007, two former Siemens managers were convicted of embezzlement of company funds (â‚ ¬6M) for the purpose of bribing foreign officials to win a natural-gas turbine contract. The employees argued that their actions did not violate any laws, resulted in no personal gain, and were taken solely for the purpose of improving Siemens’ positioning. They argued that they worked only to secure a lucrative deal in which the payments were required by Enel management as part of the standard bid process. In fact, Siemens AG argued that the court order requiring forfeiture of earnings from the contract, prior to 2002 when the German government instituted a law prohibiting bribes to private officials abroad, specifically, had no basis in law. Analysis It took approximately 200 government officials, made up of police officers, tax inspectors, and prosecutors to indite five Siemens employees. The result was that the company was fined â‚ ¬30M, which was approximately 7% of the total â‚ ¬420M in bribes Siemens paid out. Combined, Siemens lost a total of â‚ ¬450M in 2006. Therefore, the company had to restate their net profits for 2006 from â‚ ¬3. 106B to â‚ ¬3. 033B. The adjustment was a mere 1. 4% of their total net profits in 2006. Two Siemens employees gave out bribes worth â‚ ¬6M in order to win contracts. The punishment for these briberies was a fine of â‚ ¬44M; however, the contract awarded to Siemens was worth â‚ ¬450M. Therefore, the company’s gain was a profit of â‚ ¬406M. The penalties Siemens paid were roughly 10% of the overall profit made from the contract. So was it worth it for Siemens to engage in criminal behavior? The punishment they received of paying fines varying up to 10 percent were only a drop in the bucket compared to the profits they gained. So from the viewpoint of a Siemens employee who is willing to break the law in order to gain large profits, it was definitely worth it. As a matter of fact, if a company anticipates the percentage of penalties that will be applied for breaking the law, they could actually build that figure into their contract award fee and then move on with the business as usual. Furthermore, in addition to the financial repercussions Siemens experienced, the case study also mentioned damages to their reputation. In the end, however, Siemens’ growing profits did not reveal any decreases due to a damaged reputation. By 2011, Siemens ended up making more money than they had in the last five years, since 2007. From 1999 to 2006, their combined net income was â‚ ¬26. 3B (over seven years), and from 2011 to 2007, their combined net income was â‚ ¬31. 95B (over five years). Discussion Questions 1. Is unethical behavior the cost of doing business? What exactly is the role of Senior Managers? 2. Was Siemens penalized enough? Should fines be used as a deterrent to bribery? Are these the effects of the absence of adequate laws or weak enforcement practices? 3. Relativism vs. Normativism (Co-Determination Law). Relativism is the idea that ethics and morals are based on the context of a situation; the people involved, and their beliefs. Normativism is the idea of universal law based on what is good for everyone alike. So in this situation, would it be more appropriate to view Siemens’ actions in the context that they were simply trying to make profits? Conversely, would it be more appropriate to view the situation as what might be good for one company is not good for others, creating an unfair playing field? Would you apply relativism or Normativism to this case study when examining the Co-Determination Law? 4. Can you discuss in your own words, what is the difference between lobbying and bribery? Recommendations 1. Executive Ethics Program – Mandate that anyone equal to or above a director level to undergo a specialized business ethics and regulations program for executives. We should hold the government responsible to provide this training. The program would be taught by people who enforce the law, such as litigation lawyers and prosecutors. Training the people in the company at the level where the bribes derive from is much more appropriate than mandating a company-wide training where only lower level employees will end up receiving this training. 2. Levy Stricter Fines – Any company caught giving bribes for any reason will not be allowed to keep the profits they made as a result from the contracts won. The fines the company will owe to the government will be the equivalent to the gains received or the potential value of the contract being awarded. If the company is found guilty, they must walk away from the contract, allowing other companies that did not break the law to rebid on the contract. 3. Two Years of Probation – companies that break the law will not be allowed to bid on any contracts in the industry in which the contract existed, i. . a contract with an Energy Company would prevent further bids on any contracts in the energy industry for two years. Lessons Learned 1. 2. 3. 4. A strong ethical culture is critical for effective corporate governance. Merely publicizing the need for integrity won’t bring it about. Senior executives need to know what is going on throughout the organization. Strong intern al control is more important in a widely dispersed and decentralized company. 5. A focus on â€Å"making the numbers† will never be successful in the long run. Questions still needing to be answered 1. How acceptable are bribes and kickbacks in industrialized countries? 2. Who will go to jail, and how much will the financial settlements cost Siemens? 3. What will be the effect of the scandal on Siemens’s strategic plans to acquire/dispose of business units? 4. Where were the internal and external auditors? 5. Can an outsider like new CEO Loscher really change an entrenched corporate culture? Reference Deresky, Helen. (2011). International Management: Managing Across Borders and Cultures (7th Edition ed. ). Upper Saddle River: Prentice Hall. How to cite Bribery Scandal @ Siemens, Papers

Split Second Essay Research Paper Foreign country free essay sample

Split Second Essay, Research Paper Foreign state. Alien scene. Unfamiliar feelings. All these ideas crowded my caput, as I walk through the room access to the edifice. Puting pes in an Italian dance nine, although a new topographic point, has the same temper as a nine in the U.S. On holiday in Florence, desiring to see new things, I ventured to a local discoth? que, to acquire a gustatory sensation of the night life. My senses come to life, as I creep across the dance floor detecting my milieus. Sweaty bodies dance to the round, invariably traveling, neer fillet, even to take a breath. One twosome, dancing closely in the corner, pull my attending, because of the intenseness of their actions toward one another. Battalions of males slither across the floor, as if looking for their following victim, chat uping with the nearest lady they can happen. Barely-there outfits, make a broad spectrum of colourss and forms on the dance floor, as organic structures move in and out, organizing a human jungle. We will write a custom essay sample on Split Second Essay Research Paper Foreign country or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page The strength of the stroboscope visible radiations hurt my eyes, as I strain to see across the room. The overpowering odors on the dance floor steep me as I make my manner through, trusting by opportunity to acknowledge person. An uneven olfactory property, a mix of perspiration and assorted aromas of aroma, hits me caput on, as I make my manner through the crowd of people in forepart of me. Every individual seems to be have oning a different aroma or Cologne and the commixture of all of them, gives me an instant concern. The malodor of combustion or long ago burned coffin nails fills the empty holes in the ambiance. As I look up, I realize there is a immense cloud of fume hovering over the room, created by the many coffin nails, and adding to the feeling of asphyxiation in the bantam infinite. I eventually see the saloon in the distance and do my manner over, hedging a crowd of raucous twenty-somethings. The adult male behind the saloon looks at me particularly, as I order a drink. The sting of tequila, skiding down my pharynx, is like a slap in the face. Having an unexpected explosion of energy, I move quickly to the dance floor, to do the most of my sudden watchfulness. The heat has turned humid, making a light movie on my tegument, from dancing. Lost in the crowd of frenetic people, I try my best to remain unsloped, for fright of being trampled if thrown to the floor. The sound of the throbing bass rings in my ears, making a rhythmic whipping in my caput. Peoples following the round, leaping up and down, and traveling side to side, creates a sea of terpsichoreans, all in sync. The sounds of peoples? shrieks, whether it is of inebriation or of pure joy, reverberation in my ears. One brainsick single runs around the room, fliping out Mardi Gras beads to each and everyone who screams. Desiring to follow suit and blend in, I? m sucked into the overzealous scene before me. The feeling of sweaty organic structures, forcing against me, generates a human wall around me. My organic structure, asleep from dancing, feels like it has been traveling for hours, but in world has merely been a disconnected second. The humid heat and my claustrophobic inclinations, makes the minute last a life-time. A feeling of pureness base on ballss through me as I continue to dance through the dark.