Cultural background Essay

1. How do cultures shape minds? The cultural ancestry of a certain individual often makes an impression on the individual itself. However, if the individual is more often exposed to a certain culture that is totally different from their ancestry, there is a greater chance of adapting to the said culture in order for them to â€Å"fit-in† with the population. 2. What cultures affect middle and high school students? The Hispanic/Mexican and Asian cultures have more effect on middle and high school students since they make sure that the next generation realize the importance of having their own distinct culture regardless of their ability to adapt to the cultural conditions of the country where they reside. 3. What literacies influence student’s thinking and behavior in and out of school? Literacy in the English language is the major influence followed by literacy in cultural heritage. 4. Where is our adolescent literacy crisis rooted? It lies in the ability of the adolescent to adjust to both the family and social environment in relation to their quest for knowledge during their formative years. 5. How can teachers respond to literacy and learning challenges in their content area classrooms? The teachers can set the learning pace that would put the students, regardless of intellect or cultural background, at ease in the classrooms making them eager to learn more.

West African Theater Essay

African theatre is influenced by African dramatic traditions and Western theatre. The influence of Western styles originates from European presence, European education , and the artists training outside of Africa. The magnitude of foreign influence varies from country to country. This influence slowed the development of African theatre in Zimbabwe. For example, productions continued to exemplify Western theatre. The Afrocentricity in West Africa in the 1960s was a reaction to the oppression of French Directors. They left a mark on production styles. Examples of such oppression can be seen in the Daniel Surano Theatre in Senegal. This is where the productions of Aimà © Cà ©saire can be seen. The productions of Bernard Dadià © reflect French comic traditions and Jean Pliya is one the many of playwrights focused on the European historical events. The writing of Western playwrights has resulted in a literary style that appeals to a sophisticated and rare audience to which dance and mu sic productions have a minor role in the theatrical arts. Village theatre in Africa is based on the tried and true traditions of music, song, dance, and drama. This produced a fertile foundation for the development of urban contemporary theatrics. Theatric entrepreneurs built upon the traditional village storytelling and borrowed production styles from the European productions performed in West African urban areas in the 20s and ’30s. Concert productions traveled in Togo and Ghana. During the 50s the Ghanaian â€Å"Trios† appeared with Bob Cole and his company performing for audiences in Accra with hilarious dramatizations of the local events. The first professional theatres in Nigeria were produced by the local  actor-managers. The three most successful were Kola Ogunmola, Duro Ladipa, and Hubert Ogunde. They were all Yoruba and started work as teachers by making plays based on the Bible stories in African churches. Ogunde’s first production was The Garden of Eden (1944) in the Church of the Lord. Then in 1945 he mad e a satire called Strike and Hunger. It was based on the clash between Nigerian workers and the European bosses. Ogunde’s success had allowed him to create the Ogunde concert party. It had a style similar to the British concert parties of the time. They performed domestic comedies and political satires between the opening and the closing with interjections of song and dance unrelated to the plot. The popularity Nigerian independence in 1960 brought an explosion of productions in the urban arts focused on new African forms and the disapproval of European influences. This resulted in an imaginative presence in literary and popular theatre that was to be influential throughout Africa. Yoruba Opera companies, also known as traveling theatres, had hit the road. Ladipo produced spectacular productions based on themes from Yoruba mythology and history. His series on the kingdom of Oyo was published in 1964 as Three Yoruba Productions (Oba Koso [â€Å"The King Did Not Hang†], Oba Moro [â€Å"The King of Ghosts†], and Oba Waja [â€Å"The King Is Dead†]), had the power and mythology similar to a traditional Greek tradegy. Kola Ogunmola created comedies portraying himself as the amazing actor and mime. He modified the techniques of Ogunde by replacing the saxophones with the Yoruba drum. He wrote strictly structured lines without destroying the gentility of the social satires. His most commonly seen production is Ife Owo (1950; Love of Money). His greatest success was with Omuti Apa Kini (1963). Although Ogunmola and Ladipo died in the 70s, their legacy lived on as decorated trucks transported Yoruba Opera companies to one-night performances in towns and villages. The Yoruba musical drama Obaluaye (1970) was composed by Akin Euba and it had an impact on the work of literary playwrights such as Ola Rotimi. and Wole Soyinka. Ola and Wole spent many years as university playwrights/directors and their ability to stage their own works led them to have a strong theatric skill set. Wole Soyinka was a brilliant critic and satirist who was the first African to win the Nobel Prize for Literature in 86 was regarded as Africa’s best writer. His art reflects the difficulties facing an African playwright writing in English. He moved from naturalistic treatment of his subjects to the Yoruba view of subjects. His early satires The Trials of Brother Jero (1960) and  Lion and the Jewel (1963) are popular with all English-speaking audiences. However the philosophical and verbal complexities in his later works are aimed at the select few. Death and the King’s Horseman (1975) and The Strong Breed (1963) are focused on the impact of cultural conflict. On the other hand, Soyinka’s political satires, such as Kongi’s Harvest (1965), are both raw and entertainment focused. A Dance of the Forests (1963) and The Road (1965) described the complicated dramatic paradoxes of African life through the Yoruba myths. Secondly, Soyinka criticized the myth of th e glorious African past by rejecting the African concept that the revival of African culture has to come from African cultural heritage to be made for and performed to celebrate the Nigerian independence of October 1960. His drama became pessimistic after the civil war in Nigeria. This can be seen in Madmen and Specialists (1970). He also used past historical events and new versions of old productions to create new productions. His rendition of the Bacchae of Euripides was observed by many in the National Theatre of London in 1973. The Opera Wonyosi was a version of The Beggar’s Opera that was seen in the University of Ife in 1977. Ola Rotimi created theatrical English imbedded with African proverbs and idioms. His style of directing made good use of active movement and resulted in enthusiastic responses from universities and popular audiences. Rotimi was best at historical tragedies such as Ovonramwen Nogbaisi (1971) and Kurunmi (1969) which dealt with the Yoruba wars. He also had a knack for satire. An example would be Our Husband Is Gone Mad Again (1966). In the field of directing, Soyinka and Rotimi both made imaginative use of dance and music. Intercultural exchange had strange results in Ghana. In the 60s Saka  Acquaye’s The Lost Fisherman is a musical based on the â€Å"highlife† and it was a popular success. Another success story was Efua Sutherland’s traveling theatre which produced productions based on the village storytelling and local village themes. Her productions in English used the Greek models. Ama Ata Aidoo was the most famous Ghanaian playwright in the post 60s period. The Dilemma of a Ghost (1964) showed the complicated cultural conflict occurring Ghanaian village when a young adult returned from his studies abroad and he brought his new African American wife along with him. Anowa (1970) is a play that deals with the role of Africa in the slave trade and the servant like treatment of women. Commonly, Hausa drama has a strong appeal and originates from the dramatic style of the old storytelling. It is centered on social problems. It is especially focused on the stories involving the Hausa family and its complications with polygamy. This idea has been contreversial in many productions such as Tabarmar Kunya (1969; â€Å"Matter of Shame†) by Dauda Kano and Adamu dan Gogo. Some productions satirize the uneducated people’s dependence on Muslim scholars. An example would be Umaru Balarme Ahmed’s Buleke (1970) and it shows characters who lead the hectic modern lifestyle and continued to hold onto the roots of the old country. The productions are commonly performed in schools and frequently broadcasted on television and radio. Kabbada is an important Ethiopian playwright who created the historically based production Hannibal and it was performed in Dakar, Senegal, in 1966. The most remarkable work of Mangistu LammÄ  is the play Yalaccha Gabbiccha (â€Å" Marriage of Unequals†) and it deals with social inequality. It was performed for the first time in the Addis Ababa in 1964. It is a production showing a family going through a transition from the ways of the old country to the soulless reality of city life. Somali theatre had been firmly grounded since the 50s and is very popular. Many have yet to be published to the mass public. Shabeelnagood (Leopard Among the Women) was written by Xasan Sheikh Mumin and it is a production about a heartless trickster who marries naà ¯ve and young women. It was originally published in Somali and translated to English in 1974. It had its first performance in Mogadishu in 1968 and it also had radio  serialization along with a successful tour. Somali theatre has been compared to the theatre of the Elizabethan era in England because of its unique combination of popular culture and sophisticated art and its capacity to generate interest for a large demographic section of the 20th century population. Personal Analysis Upon analyzing the information it is understood that the European empires injected their artistic theology into West African theater resulting in an entertaining composite style. In some ways this was a positive change for the artists in African theater; it was this change that created a modern African style with the ability to deliver traditional storytelling to a broader audience. Bibliography 1.Abiodun, Rowland, Henry John. Drewal, and John Pemberton. The Yoruba Artist: New Theoretical Perspectives on African Arts. Washington: Smithsonian Institution, 1994. 9 Sept. 2013. Web. 9 Dec. 2013. 2. Ann Wynne, Elizabeth Gunner, and Peggy Harper Jr. â€Å"African Theatre (art).† Encyclopedia Britannica Online. Encyclopedia Britannica, 2013. Web. 09 Dec. 2013. 3.Ogunba, Oyin, and Abiola Irele. Theatre in Africa. Ibadan, Nigeria: Ibadan UP, 1978. Web. 9 Dec. 2013.

Nathaniel Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown Essay - 1404 Words

Nathaniel Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown Nathaniel Hawthorne’s story â€Å"Young Goodman Brown† portrays the growth of Young Goodman Brown through vivid symbolic setting. â€Å"Young Goodman Brown† is an allegory in which the setting is very important to the theme of the story. Throughout the narration, detailed setting and emblematic characters surround Goodman Brown. Goodman Brown is an Everyman character, which could be any one of us, struggling with his Puritan heritage, more specifically his spiritual faith. The setting is first introduced during a conversation between Goodman and his wife â€Å"Faith† which is symbolic of his struggle with his spiritual faith throughout the story. Standing in the doorway of his own home he turns to†¦show more content†¦He is privileged to have a loving wife at home, a good Puritan upbringing, yet he still isn’t content that he should just follow this role without exploring beyond the known. â€Å"â€Å"Faith kept me back a while,† replied the young man, with a tremor in his voice, caused by the sudden appearance of his companion, though not wholly unexpected.†Ã¢â‚¬ (391) The elder man carries a staff, which â€Å"bore the likeness of a great black snake†. (392) Later in the story the staff turns to a snake, which is just another supernatural occurrence in the setting representing spiritual â€Å"faith†. In the Bible snakes represent evil and are often found around passages of sin. Other supernatural or biblical illustrations include blood, and the devil’s speed (from Boston to Salem). The setting is extremely important to this journey Young Goodman Brown is following because each element of setting has significant meaning to the theme and mood Hawthorne creates. Continuing to explore the many elements of his faith, he continues down the path, and encounters yet more elements of setting, which signify his discontent with the elders from his childhood. He gets a glimpse of his catechism teacher, a deacon of the church, and many other people of the congregation. Along the way the evil force, his tour guide, the older man, keeps reminding him that these people are here all the time, that all the people from his childhood come there, and that he has workedShow MoreRelatedNathaniel Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown1063 Words   |  5 PagesIt seems necessary to write down some lines about the author. Nathaniel Hawthorne was born in 1804 in Salem, Massachusetts. Because of the involvement of his ancestor in the Salem witch trials , Nathaniel later added a w to make his name Hawthorne in order to hide this relation. He entered Bowdoin College in 1821, and graduated in 1825. Hawthorne published his first work, Fanshawe, in 1828. He published several sh ort stories after that which he collected in 1837 as Twice-Told Tales. His masterpieceRead More Nathaniel Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown Essay1847 Words   |  8 PagesNathaniel Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  In Young Goodman Brown, Nathaniel Hawthorne tells the tale of a man and his discovery of evil. Hawthorne’s primary concern is with evil and how it affects Young Goodman Brown. Through the use of tone and setting, Hawthorne portrays the nature of evil and the psychological effects it can have on man. He shows how discovering the existence of evil brings Brown to view the world in a cynical way. Brown learns the nature of evil and, therefore, feelsRead MoreAllegory and Symbolism in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s â€Å"Young Goodman Brown†1203 Words   |  5 PagesNathaniel Hawthorne’s â€Å"Young Goodman Brown† is an excellent example of the use of allegories and symbolism as a form of satire on Puritan faith. According to Frank Preston Stearns, author of The Life and Genius of Nathaniel Hawthorne, â€Å"Hawthorne may have intended this story as an exposure of the inconsistency, and consequent hypocrisy, of Puritanism† (Stearns 181 ). Throughout the story of â€Å"Young Goodman Brown,† Hawthorne tries to infuse as many symbols and allegories as he can to enhance the overallRead MoreAnalysis of Nathaniel Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown a Story708 Words   |  3 Pagesï » ¿Young Goodman Brown (Order #A2103550) Christs death and resurrection can be considered only the beginning of his ministry for afterward he instructed his remaining apostles to go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. (Mt 28:16-20 [New King James Version]) Sixteen centuries later a group of Christians called Puritans would attempt to fulfill this Great Commission by spreading the good news of Christ andRead MoreSin in Nathaniel Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown Essay2433 Words   |  10 PagesAnd the young Puritan Goodman Brown accepted this principle, after his in-the-woods experience, as applying not only to the Salem village rank-and-file but even to his faultless wife Faith. Is this notion of sin correct? This essay seeks to compare this moral depravity doctrine of the Puritans as seen in â€Å"Young Goodman Brown† to the Catholic Church’s teaching on sin, a recognized standard. The influence of Puritan religion, culture and education is a common topic in Nathaniel Hawthornes worksRead MoreSymbolism in Nathaniel Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown Essay468 Words   |  2 PagesSymbolism in Nathaniel Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown Nathaniel Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown is full of symbolism throughout the story. Perhaps the most interesting examples of symbolism include the title character, Young Goodman Brown, as well as his wife, Faith, and the woods that Young Goodman Brown enters on his journey. Included are many allusions to Christianity and also to evil and sin. These references are expressed mainly through characters and settings in the story. TheRead More Symbolism in Nathaniel Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown Essay1278 Words   |  6 PagesSymbolism in Nathaniel Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nathaniel Hawthorne utilizes symbolism throughout his short story Young Goodman Brown to impact and clarify the theme of good people sometimes doing bad things. Hawthorne uses a variety of light and dark imagery, names, and people to illustrate irony and different translations. Young Goodman Brown is a story about a man who comes to terms with the reality that people are imperfect and flawed and then dies a bitter death from the enlightenmentRead MoreDisapproval of Puritanism in Nathaniel Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown1959 Words   |  8 PagesRunning Head: Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown Hawthornes Young Goodman Brown Critical Analysis Nathaniel Hawthorne has presented his disapproval of Puritanism in the form of Young Goodman Brown who has been presented as the living embodiment of Puritanical sect. Where the influence of Hawthornes background on his work is evident, he has managed to present evidences for his argument. In his short story, he portrays Young Goodman Brown as a character who, on the basis of his own staunch beliefsRead MoreEssay about Nathaniel Hawthorne’s Young Goodman Brown3241 Words   |  13 PagesNathaniel Hawthorne’s Young Goodman Brown   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Nathaniel Hawthorne’s â€Å"Young Goodman Brown† captivates the reader through a glimpse of the Puritan church. The story also shows the struggle of good versus evil in the main character Goodman Brown. The role of the Puritan church is crucial in shaping Goodman Brown’s personality and helping the reader understand why he was reluctant to continue his journey.   Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã‚  Ã¢â‚¬Å"Puritanism, movement arising within the Church of England in the latter part ofRead MoreEssay on Faith Role in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s â€Å"Young Goodman Brown600 Words   |  3 PagesFaith plays a major role in Nathaniel Hawthorne’s short story â€Å"Young Goodman Brown†. From the start of his journey to his arrival back home, Faith is always in the back of head, making him question his surroundings and own thoughts. It’s hard to determine when he’s speaking of his lovely wife Faith or his Faith in his God and religion. Through his many Young Goodman Brown’s journey begins with his departure from Faith, for he must â€Å"tarry away from thee.† (Nathaniel Hawthorne 1289) Could it be

The Benefits of Essay

The Benefits of Essay The best type of essay starts with the very best sort of topic, so take time to choose something which works for you. Regardless of what research paper outline you're considering, you will want to think about exactly how your research is going to be backed up. You don't need to research or argue. After reading the thesis, there ought to be no doubt precisely what the research will be about. You might also state what sort of approach it is that you will use in your paper for the whole discussion of your topic. The paper ought to be consistent from the start to the very end. Sooner or later, you are going to find that the whole research paper examples will allow you to start and get you moving in the proper direction for you to accomplish the very best possible mark you're able to. Since you are going to learn from looking through any fantastic research paper example, writing a terrific paper involves so far more than simply throwing a whole lot of text and citations into a word processor and hoping for the very best. Who Else Wants to Learn About Essay? Research Paper isn't a task for a single day. Even though the title is the shortest page of your report, it's often the toughest to write. The Introduction part is among the most essential ones. The Introduction and the entire text, for that matter, ought to be relatable. As the title of the writing implies you h ave to conduct the research in the certain region of knowledge. Rather than making broad statements about what you would like to do, provide certain examples from high school or extracurricular pursuits. Based on your subject, you are going to be expected to use different citation styles. The total style and tone of your research paper are contingent on the audience it is directed at. Don't forget that the chief goal of the research paper is to clearly show your abilities to work on your own and demonstrate the scope of your knowledge on several topics. The results part of your report needs to be neutral and you ought to avoid discussing your results or the way they differed from or compared with what was expected. You'll also wish to consider utilizing a literature overview. Explain where you're in the process, whether you're nearly finished or only halfway done. Choosing Essay Is Simple For those who haven't introduced any kind of solution in your essay, perhaps encourage other people to become more conscious of your topic. No matter whichever one that you opt to use, you have to be consistent throughout your essay. At times it just helps to observe how others have tackled essays before. Whether it's an argumentative or expository essay which you're writing, it is essential to develop a clear thesis statement and a crystal clear sound reasoning. Developing a good outline is vital in a more composing of your research paper. If you intend to write for a particular journal, an excellent advice is to look at the research paper outline of a few of the articles to have a better idea on how best to compose your article. All the ideal research paper examples begin with a great research paper outline. Ensure that your methodology to consequently it's simple to follow along with. Although, for research paper it is better to speak to your mentor to supply templates. Utilizing an outline template can assist the student organize the paper and eliminate the ideas that aren't related to the aim of the essay. A research paper on-line template is among the handy tool for writing a research topic. No matter the character of your research, if you're writing a paper an outline can help you to not just organize your thoughts, but in addition function as the template for your whole paper. Finding out how to compose a comprehensive outline for a research paper is a more elaborate procedure. An outline will help to learn the way a student will build other critical sections like Literature Review. An easy outline but it's vitally important to follow it. It's especially useful when it has to do with a huge research paper of some sort of academic essay that's big enough in proportion. Essay writing per se is no simple endeavor to do. The subject of your paper and the selected literature ought to be adjacent. Your primary theme and the chosen literature needs to be adjacent.

How Globalization is Changing World Governments Compared...

The way the government structure is organized has been changing ever since humans began to live in a polis. The ancient Greek philosopher Aristotle believed that humans were political animals, thus the reason for organizing ourselves into a political state. However the way governments are organized, and which political system works best has been the centrepiece for many violent conflicts in the past, and will continue to challenge the world into the future. Yet a new form of organization is taking place in the 21st century and has been given the term â€Å"globalization.† With the onset of globalization many of those in government have had to change their governing style in order to keep up with the pace of a shifting world that is becoming†¦show more content†¦As stated, Aristotle differed from his teacher Plato in many areas of philosophy. Aristotle was an observer of nature and the world around us. He derived his logic through the senses and sought to bring a unive rsal understanding of all things into his philosophy. His teacher Plato was more of an idealist and had his own thoughts on how the state should be, rather than how it should naturally occur. Some of the major areas where the two clash can be seen in Book II of Aristotle’s Politics where he openly criticises his teacher, Plato, on various elements of his work Republic. Some of these criticisms include property ownership, individual interests, the organization of government, and the nature of the family. Furthermore Aristotle includes areas of thought that Plato did not include in his writings, such as the concept of a constitution. Many of the elements that Aristotle includes in his work are still important values that many people hold in the political spectrum in the present day. One of the biggest differences between Aristotle and Plato was how each of them perceived the family unit or households of citizens. Since Aristotle was a firm believer in nature he believed that th e family was natural and that the household was the basis of the state. Aristotle writes, â€Å"The household is the partnership constituted by nature for [the needs of] daily life†¦ arising from [the

Twains Writing Styles free essay sample

Examines his use of different styles in four novels to entertain express views on morality, society, race. Any author=s style, or variety of styles, is informed by his purpose in telling the story and the thematic subtexts being conveyed. In the case of Mark Twain, the immediate purpose is to entertain with a well-told tale, while the usual sub purpose is satirize the objective world and the cultural conventions Twain disdained or despised. In his most famous short story, AThe Celebrated Jumping Frog of Calaveras [emailprotected], the object of the satire, according to James D. Wilson, is Athe confrontation of East and West, genteel and vernacular values, implicit in the story=s double frame [emailprotected] (171), while the subject of derision is the American tall tale. A man named Simon Wheeler tells the author a long and rambling three-part story about a gambler named Jim Smiley when the author is inquiring after the Rev. We will write a custom essay sample on Twains Writing Styles or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Leonidas W. Smiley. The story=s point is a discourse on Jim Smile..

NYS Office of Mental Health

Introduction NYS OMH operates more than 1300 psychiatric facilities in the State of New York and has its headquarters in Albany. The other facilities have field offices but major decisions are made at the headquarters (Nag Sengupta, 2007). NYS OMH is located in a 5,000 acres piece of land which comprises more than 33 million square feet.Advertising We will write a custom thesis sample on NYS Office of Mental Health specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More The major obligation of NYS OMH is â€Å"to protect its information assets and computer information systems collected or created as part of its ongoing business† (NYS OMH 2003a, p.1). This obligation is observed under the State and the Federal Statutory and regulatory requirements (NYS OMH, 2011). Therefore, given the functions of NYS OMH, IT security is required to ensure data and sensitive information belonging to different clients and patients is safeguarded. The purpose of th e paper is to carry for an analysis on IT security breach prevention with respect to NYS OMH. Foundation NYS OMH is a constituent of the Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc (UCLA Health Services Research Center, 2009). NYS OMH is a not-for-profit outfit whose responsibility is improve research and training, in addition to providing research assistance to the mental hygiene department in the state of New York. All the research programs in the NYS are administered and overseen by the organization. As part of the foundation, NYS OHM offers necessary assistance to ensure the mental wellbeing and welfare of New Yorkers are achieved as stipulated its mission statement. History In the nineteenth century, there emerged different mental health systems and facilities in New York Stat. Under the State Care Act, the facilities were established with the intention of ensuring better mental health welfare to New Yorkers. Due to the increased demand for mental retardation and mental health services, the State Department of Mental Hygiene was founded in 1927. In the 1950s, the mental health sector was faced with increased professionalization of staff, growth and institutionalization as the demand for effective and safe mental retardation and mental health services increased. The number of the State Mental Institutions offering better services to mentally challenged people continued to increase.Advertising Looking for thesis on it? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Between 1950s and 1960s, the New York State set an example by assuming the responsibility of taking care of the mentally challenged persons (Benjamin Brecher, 1988). In 1954, the State’s Community Mental Health Services Act was enacted to oversee services delivery to retarded and mentally disabled persons. The following years saw the formation of the New York State Department of Mental Health. The NYS OMH was founded as a corporation that would ov ersee the delivery of better services to the mentally challenged persons. The legislature has been offering an assistance of $ 3 million annually to NYS OMH as part of financial funding. Between 1982 and 1986, the beds offered to mentally challenged persons in NYS OMH were increased to 2,020 beds from 982 (Benjamin Brecher, 1988). This is an indication that the OMH has been expanding slowly and slowly. NYS OMH operates under a five year strategic plan which ensures that its set strategic goals as stipulated in the company’s mission statement and visions are achieved (Mangurian et al., 2010). The organization has experienced rapid expansion because it currently runs over 4,500 programs in the NYS. As a large city with a large population, NYS operates a comprehensive mental health system which serves an estimated 700,000 persons annually. In addition, NYS OMH certifies, regulates and oversees over 4,000 programs run by nonprofit agencies and the local government. Agency Affair s The affairs of the agency (NYS OMH) are operated and run from its headquarters. It operates different psychiatric facilities with headquarters in New York. However, field managers in different psychiatric facilities coordinate operations with the headquarters. In addition, the agency oversees, regulates and certifies an estimated 2,500 programs run by nonprofit agencies and local governments (UCLA Health Services Research Center, 2009). Also, an oversight committee oversees that all these programs have been facilitated and are run well.Advertising We will write a custom thesis sample on NYS Office of Mental Health specifically for you for only $16.05 $11/page Learn More Organizational Analysis The objective of NYS OMH is to promote the well being and mental health of New York residents. The mission of the organization as stated by Hogan (2010) is; ‘To facilitate recovery for young to older adults receiving treatment for serious mental illness, t o support children and families in their social and emotional development and early identification and treatment of serious emotional disturbances, and to improve the capacity of communities across New York to achieve these goals† (p.2). The values of New York State OMH are recovery, resilience, excellence, respect, disparities elimination, cultural competence, positive emotional, and social developments (Hogan, 2010). Like any other organization, NYS OMH has different stakeholders who are part of its daily operations. Some of its major stakeholders are patients, nongovernmental organizations, the New York State, nonprofit agencies, and local governments. All these stakeholders are provided with different programs and psychiatric services. The leadership style used by NYS OMH ensures that accountability and transparency are realized. The organizational leadership major focus is the promotion of mental health with the objective of reducing stigma and fear among the people (Hoga n, 2010). It also conducts mental health research with the aim of advancing prevention, treatment and recovery. Furthermore, it provides state operated inpatient and outpatient mental health support and services to New Yorkers. NYS OMH has a well set organizational chart which foresees the management of the organization. At the top of the organization is the office of the commissioner who chairs NYS OMH meetings.Advertising Looking for thesis on it? Let's see if we can help you! Get your first paper with 15% OFF Learn More Sitting on the board of the company are representatives from the office of counsel, division of financial management, office of medical director, public information, intergovernmental affairs, and consumer affairs. A well elaborated organizational chart of NYS OMH as adopted from the company’s website (http://www.omh.ny.gov/omhweb/orgchart/orgchart.htm) is presented below Figure 1: Organizational Chart of NYS OMH Source: NYS OMH (2012b) As shown in the organizational chart, NYS OMH has five major field offices (mental health regions) and they are the New York City, the Long Island, the Hudson River, the Central and the Western regions. All these regions are coordinated through the central NYS OMH office in Albany. The organizational structure of NYS OMH is simple and as a result it allows easy and effective running of operations. NYS OMH operates using the latest information technology. For instance, the company operates using Oracle database, and Spatial Ware server, GIS t echnology and internet and internet. In other words, NYS OMH has established a network that facilitates easy connection between the field offices and the headquarters. The IT system has been established in such as way that safety and health related issues are spotted quickly as they emerge. Moreover, the company has a well established emergency response system. The IT of the NYS OMH is headed by facility directors. Under each facility director is a security manager who controls all security operations in each of the NYS OMH run facilities. Under the Security Management Systems, it becomes easy to control any form of security breach in the company. SWOT Analysis SWOT analysis as an analytical tool gives an internal assessment of an organization by exploring the weakness and strengths experienced internally and opportunities and threats resulting from the outside environment. Strengths One of the major strengths of NYS OMH is the presence of a well established Security Management Syst em (SMS). Basically, the SMS is an application system which is web based. Both local and state facilities staff members use this application to have an access secured and sensitive web based applications such as PSYCKES Medicaid and Patient Characteristics Survey (PCS). As a result, the company is able to reduce security breach on its data and information. In addition, the SMS allows the security manager to expand the system network or reduce the number of persons accessing sensitive data. The SMS has replaced previous requests for access paper forms which were used to get access data. This has not only enhanced security but has also increased efficiency and confidentiality in NYS OMH. NYS OMH has adopted state-of-art technology to carry out its operations and services with clients and visiting persons. Less sensitive information is made available online on its website. Through the use internet privacy policy, the company is able to increase the confidence levels of businesses and i ndividuals. All the major components required are available on OMH website. Others information system tools and application established are such as authentication, encryption, auditing and monitoring tools which increase security levels in the organization. NYS OMH has put in place an emergence response system operated through Oracle database and Spatial Ware server based GIS technology which is accessible via OMH intranet (Nag Sengupta, 2007). This allows OMH system to analyse many â€Å"what if† scenarios. In addition, safety and health related issues can easily be spotted and addressed. Also, federally reimbursed costs are easily tracked once they are uploaded. It also becomes easier to track how such costs have been incurred thus increasing the levels of transparency. The company operates more than 2,500 psychiatric facilities and over 4,500 programs in New York State. This gives the company monopoly as it is the sole provider of data and information related to mental he alth in NYS. By cooperating with nonprofit agencies and local government, the company is able to offer netter services not only in NYS but in U.S. Weaknesses Numerous campaigns have been carried in the past to have the company closed because of mistrust. Basically, there has been a claim that funds channeled to mental health services have not been accountable for. In addition, the funds have been channeled to other functions instead of the stipulated functions. This has a high chance of damaging the reputation and the trust people have on the company. Given that the company is majorly funded through taxpayers’ money, funding may be cut down if the claims are found to be true. The company depends highly on information technology for data storage and processing. It also relies on the internet to carry out it transactions. Despite the fact that technology is important since it increase efficiency, it is prone to security related problems. Management of the networks is a major ch allenge that the company faces is managing a large network with specialized facilities (Nag Sengupta, 2007). This is because coordination is required between field managers and the headquarters administrators without any form security breach. The company depends highly on federal state funding. This implies that the company experiences budget cuts. It is not a fully independent body as it is part of the Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, Inc which means it cannot make all informed and corporate decisions without the foundation. Threats New York has the largest multi-faceted mental health system serving over 700,000 persons annually (NYS OMH, 2012). This means that it stores very sensitive information of almost all New Yorkers. With the latest advancement in technology and the presence of computer geeks, the information is prone to IT security breaches. This means that the information can be accessed by unauthorized party through hacking or be corrupted through computer viruses and software (Ammenwerth, Graber, Herrman, Burkle Konig, 2003). This can jeopardize the privacy and the confidentiality of the information stored in OMH database. NYS OMH database store diversified data types which threaten effective distribution of data and information. In addition, multitude computing platforms are required to keep the network linked and connected (Nag Sengupta, 2007. As a result, this threatens the welfare and the functionality of the OMH Security Management System. The system is prone to inside jobs which can lead to extraction and access of sensitive data and information by authorized personnel for malicious reasons. Unauthorized access by authorized personnel to sensitive data is an IT breach of security which jeopardizes personal information and data. Opportunities Advancement in technology and information gives OMH the opportunity to embrace the latest technology. This would help the company offer safe and innovative alternatives to healing and mental hea lth recovery. In addition, other than increasing treatment effectiveness, technology opens a window for adopting the latest technology for research on mental health related issues (Sinclair, 2001). With regard to the issue of IT security breach, the organization will invest in the latest data storage facilities. OMH can also improve on the security systems used by adopting more advanced security systems and protocols. Web based application in mobile phones, tablets, and androids Smartphone ensure that personal data and information is made accessible at anytime and from anywhere. This ensures that business and interested individuals can have access to information increase the level of corporation. Literature Review This section of the research study uses different materials with the objective of exploring IT security breach and measures which are undertaken to reduce its occurrence. Definition of IT Security Breach In simple terms, security breach is the violation of the set protocol s, procedures, and processes by a third party. It can also be termed as security violation after another organization or individual gets illegal access to secured data or information. Legally, security breach is a criminal offence and a liability to an organization. This is because it reduces the level of trust and operations of an organization. Either internally or externally, unauthorized access to information or data acts as an IT security breach (Appari Johnson, 2008; Fleming, 2009). The presence of hackers, malicious software, and viruses pose a threat to companies which really heavily to IT such as NYS OMH. With the advancement in technology, health agencies inclusive of NYS OMH use electronic applications and means to get, use, maintain, and store personal health data and information (Myers, Frieden, Bherwani Henning, 2008; Ko Dorantes, 2006). Although electronic data and information formats improve performance in running of health operations, they pose a potential threat to privacy. This is because data can be duplicated or transmitted easily through other information systems components to unauthorised parties. As a result, security breaches occur which threaten confidentiality and privacy of patients’ information. Security breach can be both electronic and physical (Myers et al. 2008). For example, it can be electronic if information is copied and transported through laptops or flash devices and made available through the use of wired networks from any location in the world. In addition, transfer of information and network access management are vulnerable to security breaches such as interception by hackers and infection by malicious software or virus. According to Myers et al. (2008), public health departments and agencies are prone to external and internal intruders who pose a great threat to IT security. If their security and electronic access to an organization database is not been revoked they stand out as the largest threat to security breach. Hackers and burglars may get access to sensitive information thus threatening the security levels of information. Hanover (2012) opine that in April this year, three high profile and high volume data breaches took place in the U. S where more than 1.3 million healthcare consumers were affected. The three counts of security breach were as a result of lost backup tapes, hacker activities, and inappropriate access and internal misconduct by an employee. Hanover (2012) adds that these breaches occurred in three weeks consecutive in the healthcare sector. As a result, the issue of security breach has raised a heated debate. Therefore, the three cases are an example of the need to adopt multi prolonged approach to ensure security to information and data available to healthcare organizations inclusive of NYS OMH. Consequently, there is need to consider and assess internal threats, physical security threats, intrusion and network security. Countermeasures to security breach The gov ernment has envisioned the adoption of electronic healthcare records by all HMOs (Appari Johnson, 2008). This will ultimately reduce the threat posed by IT security breach. Through the implementation and adoption of different countermeasures, security related risks on the healthcare sector can be curtailed (LaverdieÌ€re-Papineau, 2008). According to Kwon and Jonson (2012), majority of organization in the healthcare sector fail to curb IT security threats because they belief that security breach is only a technical issue. However, there has been a shift in viewing ways of reducing security breach issues achieved by adopting a social perspective framework of IT security. Education, policies, and organizational culture are some of measures which are used to support technical measures in curtailing security breach (Kwon Johnson, 2012). Strategic approaches have been adopted by different organization in the healthcare sector to mitigate security issues caused by the rapid change in technology. As a result, hospitals and healthcare agencies have been able to protect patients’ information. Once enacted in an organization, compliance policies and regulatory policies ensure that patients’ information is protected. Regulatory compliance is not only an internally implemented strategy but is also an external policy (Kwon , Johnson, 2012). The rationale behind the preceding statement is that organizations like hospitals share patients’ information with third parties who may lack compliance regulatory policies. Therefore, the implementation of regulatory compliance makes third parties liable to compliance security breach policies. As noted by Al-Hakim (2007), security countermeasures improve security by creating a more secure network. There are three major areas of countermeasures adopted by organization to prevent IT security breach. These are software, operational and management areas. Management countermeasures are concerned with preventative le vel (Al -Hakim, 2007). For example, policies are designed constituting breach and the resultant consequences in case security breach occurs (Asfaw, 2008). In operational countermeasures, detection and preventive controls are offered. Some of the detection and preventive measures are such as use of surveillance cameras, security guards, and biometrics systems, use of passwords, identification badges and logging as well as auditing attempted access with the objective of determining any unauthorized access. Technical countermeasures entail the use of hardware and software to offer protection to web application and networks. Some of the commonly applied tools are such as public-key infrastructure, firewalls, virtual private networks, encryption, intrusion-detection systems, authentication, upgrades and software patches and access point configurations (Al -Hakim, 2007). Given that most of the healthcare agencies use network configurations, these technical measures play an integral role i n security maintenance. In addition, these measures ensure that patients’ data and information is only accessible by authorized parties. Governments have regulations provided to healthcare providers which encourage maintenance of security and privacy of patients’ information when transmitting data and keeping patients recorded. For example, in U.S there is the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act while in Canada, theirs is PHIA (Asfaw, 2008). In Europe there are legal policies which make healthcare providers accountable for any breach of privacy in respect to patients’ data and information (Mennerat, 2002). These compliance requirements make it possible to maintain confidentiality and privacy of sensitive information. Myers et al. (2008) note that technical training is one of preventive measures adopted by healthcare agencies. This is because most security breaches occur internally and do not result from external hackers. As a result, educational initiatives are important in ensuring that a cultural change is incorporated in the healthcare sector. Preventive measures are embedded in organizational and electronic policies to reduce human error which can result to breach of security. This can be realized through preventive engineering via the adoption of recent technologies such as multifactor or single authentication (Myers et al., 2008). Some organizations have supported this with high level confidentiality policy to all personnel who have access to very sensitive information. Compare and contrast There are different software and programs used to reduce security breach not only in health sector but in other sectors. One of these is the WORM (Write Once, Read Many) program which according to Myers et al. (2008) and Null and Lobur (2010) has electronic and technology signatures. The benefit associated with this program is that it prevents tampering of data after the creation of the initial files. This means that the WORM has t he capacity to protect the duplication of health related data and information thus curtailing security breach (Richards Heathcote, 2001). The only limitation is that WORM is an expensive program but it is worthy every the implementation. Some organizations use virtual private network (VPN) to run networked transmissions. Just as described by Al –Hakim (2007), VPN is used to create an encrypted network and channels between the network and the user’s wireless device, hence hiding data and information transmission. It reduces cost and ensures network scalability (Mitchell, 2012; Shinder, 2001). This means that organizations with many branches can share costs through sharing of communication lines. The only limitation of VPN is that its reliability may be compromised if not well implemented (Shinder, 2001). Reliable and outstanding internet connection is necessary to ensure that communication is carried securely. Other programs are such as firewalls which prevent unauthor ized persons from having access to stored data and information. The only limitation is that some firewalls can be passed through by computer hackers. Firewalls allow only authorized persons have access to patient’s data and information (Al-Hakim, 2007). Virus which can harm or tamper with stored data or information can be prevented through use of computer software. For example, antivirus such as Norton and MacAfee can be used to prevent any malicious software or virus which may lead to security breach. Diagnosis of the Problem or Improvement The major problem experienced by NYS OMH is on the management of its large network of specialized facilities from its headquarters without security breach. Basically, a challenge is experienced while managing all these facilities and while transmitting data from the OMH intranet system. Statement of the Research Problem NYS OMH like any other large corporation which provides services to a wider range of clients is faced with challenges in managing its diverse networked facilities from its headquarters without experiencing security breach. Basically the field personnel and the office administrators of the OMH have to keep in conduct. Field managers who are obligated with serving specific clients have to carry their operations safely and effectively. The problem associated with the management of networked specialized facilities in NYS OHM is because the company deals with diversified data types. In addition, multitude computing platforms are required without experiencing security breach on its information systems (Nag Sengupta, 2007). Research Questions Broadly, the identified research questions for the study are: What are the strategies utilized by companies to foster IT security? How can IT security be improved in organizations like NYS OMH? Review of the Related Literature The review of the related literature will provide the foundation for a written strategy and implementation plan to address the identified are as of concern. Strategies applied to Foster IT Security Different organizations employ different strategies to foster IT security in their organizations. One of these strategies is the implementation of compliance regulatory policy. As noted by Kwon and Johnson (2012), compliance policies foster IT security as data or information cannot be accessed without facing the set penalties. This observation has been supported by Schiff (2009) who opine that data protection policy limits incidents associated security breach. A good protection policy limit access to sensitive information, puts into place response plan to handle security breach, uses strong encryption of storage devices, and considers privacy and confidentiality policies. In a study that was conducted by Kwon and Johnson (2012), the researchers concluded that compliance is highly applied as a security management tool against third party breaches and training. To complement compliance regulatory, organizations run security audit s as part of routine checks. In addition, practical guidelines and strategic goals are applied as part of the compliance regulatory (Andrà ©s Kenyon, 2004) As part of strategic planning, some organizations adopt confidentiality and privacy policies as part of enhancing security of patients’ information (Myers et al., 2008). However, it is only about a third of the public health facilities in US which have implemented this policy to foster IT security. Nonetheless, through the government, some acts such as HIPAA have been enacted which strengthen protection of healthcare information in the public sector. Despite the fact that most of the public health agencies are exempted from HPAA, the policy however requires privacy and confidentiality of patients’ information especially when it is transmitted electronically. An organization like Amazon uses access control policies which require authentication of users before logging into the system (AWS, 2012). This can be adopted by other organizations to promote security in the healthcare sector. Some organizations have gone to the extent of incorporating multifactor authentication as part of security check. According to AL-Hakim (2007), the use of biometric authentication system, people with access to sensitive would be countable in case of security. In addition, it becomes easy to monitor and control access to networks and sensitive areas. Lastly, secure networks are applied if an organization has a multi-faceted connection with other facilities. Ways to Improve IT Security IT security can be improved through the incorporation of non-routine disclosure protocols. For this strategy to be effective, some important confirmation should be made to avoid security breach. As opined by Myers et al. (2008), organizations should have the disclosure specify if it is authorized by law or policy, verify the integrity of the data being disclosed, determine the individual accessing the information, and ensure the infor mation is send in a secure manner. Organizations can set security policies as part of organizational culture to foster security check (Clark McGhee, 2008). For example, security policies would prohibit employees from looking at patients’ information, deny employees from having access to high sensitive or classified information, put into place internal security checks, and ensure that employees cannot have access to guest operating system. These protocols prohibit internal security breach which is considerably high compared to external breach (AWS, 2012). Educative programs and training can also be carried at organizational level to create awareness among employees on the importance of protecting patients’ information and data from unauthorized persons (Meyers et al., 2008). This would foster security improvement at organizational levels. One of practical ways of improving information security state is through frequent information security assessments. Vladimirov et al . (2010) opine that information security assessments should be carried on regular basis. This would eliminate any tangible security gaps thus improving security of information. This has been supported by Colling, York and Colling (2010) observation that security assessment acts a countermeasure as it determines security breach points. However, it should be noted that security assessment is carried at organizational level to determine and evaluate any possible security risks. This is supported by security audit which ensure that the system operates as required and no IT security alert is posed (Colling, York Colling, 2010). Other ways of improving IT security include regular audits, background checks on all personnel who have access or handle sensitive information, and hosting of patients’ sensitive information and data on ‘thin clients workstations’ (Myers et al. 2008). Hosting patients’ sensitive information on thin clients workstations ensure that infor mation is not easily transferred from main computer or database to secondary storage devices. Rules and regulation may be passed which prohibit access by every employee to data rooms containing highly classified patients’ information. This is achieved through the use of authentication measures such as biometric validation. Video surveillance on data storage rooms could also be an effective way of preventing security breach. Research Design/ Methodology Collis and Hussey (2007) describe methodology as an approach used in research to organize and plan the general approach in which the research goals and questions are addressed The research is descriptive in nature and qualitative research design has been adopted. Basically, since the research is more concerned with IT security breach, primary materials will be used to provide any relevant information and data which answers the stipulated research questions. For example, data and information will be collected from NYS OMH websit e and different publications for easy analysis. Owing to the nature of the study, it would be appropriate to use qualitative research design since no generalization is required in respect to the case study. As noted by Williams (2007), qualitative research methods allow the researcher to get data and information related to the specific phenomenon under study. The research is a case study based on the New York Office of Mental Health and the major focus will be on IT security breach. Given that NYS OMH is networked to other facilities all over NYS, the primary data collected will assist in determining the already available IT security strategies and define ways which can be applied to improve its security. Primary data collection has been chosen because it is cheap, saves time, most important information needed can be collected from the company’s website and it is cost effective (Runciman, 2002). The only drawback is that the information may be biased since the owner (NYS OMH) like any public interested party may be willing to foster a positive image. Presentation and Analysis of Data Based on the research findings, NYS OMH faces a major challenge in dealing with the management of its network of specialized facilities. The company has established and adopted internet privacy policy as a strategic measure against IT security breach (NYS OMH, 2012c). The policy draws its consistence from Personal Privacy Protection Law, the Freedom of Information Law, and the Internet Security and Privacy Act (NYS OMH, 2010). The company also operates under the Federal Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (HITECH) Act which is safeguarded under the HIPAA (NYS OMH, 2003; Brown Brown, 2011). This fosters information security in the company. Several changes have been made on the HIPAA rules such as increase in breach penalties, incorporation of accounting for disclosure, and enactment of security breach notifications (NYS OMH, 2010). All these impro vements have been adopted by NYS OMH and according to its commissioner; OHM is working towards the improvement of privacy policy. Since most of the operations of NYS OMH are based on Web Application, the company has adopted Security Management System which is based encryption (NYS OMH, 2012a). However, the company has not undertaken encryption protocols but it is on the verge of implementing EMR (electronic medical records) (NYS OMH, 2012a). Analysis Based on the research findings, it is evident that NYS OMH has adopted strategies which foster IT security on its network. For example, the company has adopted and continued to train its employees on HIPAA and HITECH Act with the objective of improving its security. As acknowledged by Myers et al. (2008), the HIPAA is necessary since it safeguards patients’ information by preventing security breach. Furthermore, HITECH Act has incorporated important clauses which encourage high penalties for persons of engage in security breach r anging from $50,000 to $1, 500,000 in a single year (NYS OMH, 2010). OMH has a well established Security Management Systems which foster security on patients’ information. This has made its network secure from any viable security breach. As advocated by Al-Hakim (2007) and Meyers et al. (2008) on employee training and training initiatives as part of awareness creation, OMH has been training its employees to understand the need and importance of privacy and confidentiality. This will be a milestone as it will prevent security breaches from inside the organization. In addition, the company is ensuring that its employees are acquainted with the requirements of HITECH Act and HIPAA as part of improving security (NYS OMH, 2010). NYS OMH has established SMS which is run through electronic authentication (NYS OMH, 2012c). Just like any other security fostering program, the SMS as a strategy will not only improve security in OMH but will also foster security. The adoption of EMR, SIE M and DLP is an indication that OMH has realized the essence of fostering IT security. It can be concluded that, despite the fact that OMH is on the verge of adopting multifactor authentication it has so far shown its ability in fostering and improving security by safeguarding patients’ information. Recommendations Based on the findings analysis, the following suggestions have been recommended which can be used to improve IT security in NYS OMH. Employees working in different NYS OMH facilities need to be trained on the importance of security maintenance. This will not only create awareness but will encourage employees to be champions in preventing security breaches. Security assessments can be carried from time to time to ensure that no security breach is being encountered. In addition, security assessments would ensure any form of security breach is noted and immediate action undertaken. Owning to the fact that most of the NYS OMH are run through networking, more secure use r protocols would be recommendable. This is because they assist in preventing any intrusion on the data being transmitted. NYS OMH can set up regulatory compliance policies which can be supported by the confidentiality and privacy policy. These policies would enhance the already existing protocols and security counter measures thus improving security in NYS OMH. Implementation Plan To improve the NYS OMH security, the following implementation processes outlined below are deemed viable. Definition, selection and identification of the most appropriate countermeasures for improving IT security in NYS OMH are the first steps in the implementation process (Jones Ashenden, 2005). It should be noted that the implementation plan should be achievable and supported by considerate timeframe like two years. The implementation manager with the help of an IT security consultant should then sign off each of the identified and selected countermeasures and security strategies. Consultation between the security risk managers, security managers and head of security in each facility should carried to ensure that the implementation process is not hampered. Upon approval and agreement, the implementation process can be initiated in the first phase. The table below represents different phases and activities which will be undertaken during the implementation process. Table 1: Implementation plan Phases/stages Activities Duration/time frame Remarks on the progress of the implementation 1 Initiation of the selected, identified and defined security strategy. Personnel involved in security should be involved in this phase to make them acquainted to the new security protocols 3 months 2 Review of the progress of the implementation process 1 month 3 Departmental installation of the agreed upon strategies 2 months 4 Cost benefits analysis to determine whether the strategies have more benefits or costs. This determines whether the implementation process will continue. 2 months 5 Monitoring and evaluation of selected countermeasure before full implementation 3 months 6 Final process and launch of the improved system to all other facilities 6 months 7 Full implementation, evaluation and monitoring Evaluation and monitoring are continuous processes and should not be stopped hence lack of specific time frame. Reference List Al-Hakim, L. (2007). Web mobile-based applications for healthcare management. Hershey, PA: IRM Press. Ammenwerth, E., Graber, S., Herrman, G., Burkle, T., Konig, J. (2003). 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