FOURFOLD PATH

ETHICS AND ACCOUNTABILITY

VERNADETTE D. FLORES-GONZALES
OBJECTIVES

1. Explain the UNDP Paragon in 2001 about

Public Service, Ethics and Accountability;
2. Define each of the Fourfold Path;
3. Identify to which of the fourfold path the
participants belong to;
OBJECTIVES

4. Analyze the case studies given, and;

5. Explain what you each Path do per case study
THE FOURFOLD PATH
UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME 2001
FOURFOLD PATH
The Fourfold Path is based on the Training Module on
Public Service Ethics and Accountability developed by
United Nations Development Program Programme
(UNDP) Paragon in 2001

Headquartered in New York City,

UNDP advocates for change and connects
countries to knowledge, experience and
resources to help people build a better life
FOURFOLD PATH
It is intended to promote ethics, strengthen
accountability and prevent corruption.

The Fourfold Path was adapted from the

Native Americans who identified different
types of people by comparing them with the
features of the different directions of North,
East, West and South.
THE NORTH
• Represents hardship and sacrifice.
• The long winters demand that individuals be
tenacious, independent thinkers, and self-starters.
THE NORTH
• They are take charge people who see a problem
and go after the solution. They represent the
Warrior to the native peoples, those individuals
who live courageous lives and are willing to take
risks by initiating, saying their truths, and taking
charge when others would likely retreat.
THE NORTH
• For these reasons people with Northern
characteristics are often persuasive leaders and
motivators of others. The color of the North is white
for the snow and bitter cold.
 - The animal is buffalo,
known for its strength,
steadfastness, and
ability to survive even
in the harshest
conditions.

(Course)
 To native peoples, the
buffalo supplies all the
basic needs of the hunt
– shelter, food and
clothing

(Course)
THE EAST

• Represents the dawn of the new day, spring,

rebirth, and a period of new beginnings.
• It is a time of optimism and those representing
these strengths inevitably look upon the world as
a place of hope and opportunity.
 THE EAST
• They are creative, spontaneous, and able to see
possibilities when others are stuck in the status quo.
They are visionaries who love to plan and initiate
creative acts.
• The dawn, the rising sun, and spring all
offer inspiration and bring a sense of
the spiritual into the lives of these
individuals.
 They are like the eagle who soar
far above the rest and sees far
distances. Eastern people are
interested in the new, although
less reactive and opportunistic
than their Northern cousins.

Often their aim is to benefit

others with their creative gifts
and good energy.

(Course)
THE WEST
• Is opposite to the East, and the individual reflecting
characteristics of a sunset has qualities opposite
those of the East.
• Rather than being spontaneous and creative, the
West is conservative, methodical, and interested in
facts and data.
• They ponder consequences and analyze information
while attempting to bring order and understanding
to a rather predictable and sometimes chaotic world.
THE WEST
• They also represent the
setting sun and the fall of the
year, a time of wonder,
transition, and untimely
death.
• The tendency is for these
people to be more cerebral
and less oriented to people
than the East or South.
 They are represented by
the bear and are known to
the native peoples as
those who “look within”
and contemplate the
deeper meaning of life.
These rational, feet-on-
the-ground individuals look
for stability rather than
change.

(Course)
THE SOUTH
• Traveling round the Wheel
• Is for North Americans the home of the mouse,
the place of summer, warmth, friendship, and
hospitality.
• These are nurturers who are concerned with
making relationships work.
THE SOUTH
• The North is yang, the warrior, the South is yin, the person who
supports and cares for others and believes that when
individuals feel valued and trusting of each other, they will
have more energy for work, be more motivated, and be
willing not only to risk but to make sacrifices for each other.
• Thus, the South works through others by making the “process”
work.
• This is in contrast to the North, who is much more of a doer,
motivating through action.
 Unlike the eagle who
sees far distances, the
mouse is nearsighted,
focused on the nest, and
busy doing what has to
be done to maintain
harmony.

(Course)
QUESTIONS

1. Where do you think you belong among the

Fourfold Path?
2. What are the benefits you get from this style?
3. What are the specific behaviors that
characterize this style?
QUESTIONS

4. Perhaps in excess, which behaviors in your Path

seem particularly problematic or likely get you into
trouble?
5. Which of the other Paths do you think would be
the most difficult to deal with, or you think is the
most annoying?
CASE STUDIES
CASE # 1 - SCENARIO

• One of your colleagues has been in the office for

two decades. She gossips and influences other
personnel to engage in shady businesses like
“5/6” and multi-level marketing. She is often out
of office because she needs “racket” in order to
make ends meet.
CASE # 1 - SCENARIO

• That is the reason she never submit compliances

on time and complains that she is over-worked
and under paid. Later on, you found out that she
is living with a married man and her daughter’s
father left them. She is also hypoglycemic and
collapses often.
CASE # 1 - SCENARIO

• Your Division needs to comply with a requirement

but because of her, you weren’t able to submit
your compliances on time. Hence, all personnel at
your Division was not able to get Php 5,000.00
incentive from the Chief of Office.
CASE # 1 - SCENARIO

• Your Division needs to comply with a requirement

but because of her, you weren’t able to submit
your compliances on time. Hence, all personnel at
your Division was not able to get Php 5,000.00
incentive from the Chief of Office.
CASE # 1 - QUESTION

• How should your Division treat her afterwards?

You were given the option to re assign her to
another Division.
CASE # 2 - SCENARIO

• Linda is a new employee and Ismael thinks she is

a threat to his promotion. Ismael has been
working in TESDA for 10 years but Linda, who
has only been in service for barely two years,
instantly becomes the boss’s favorite.
CASE # 2 - SCENARIO

• Linda is hard-working and diligent. Everybody

likes her. Ismael, on the other hand, is bratty and
acts superior among the rest. He doesn’t share his
“institutional” knowledge and because of that, he
thinks he is better than everybody else.
CASE # 2 - SCENARIO

• The boss tasks the group to create a new

workflow on how to better the procedures in the
selection and promotion of TESDA personnel. You
notice how Ismael tells Linda to do all the
research and the draft workflow and Linda
happily obliges.
CASE # 2 - SCENARIO

• Come the day before the presentation, Ismael

tells Linda to explain the proposed workflow to
him. Linda does an excellent job in decreasing
the time allocation for each process. Linda’s ideas
would definitely unburden whole team with the
processing of a truckload of documents.
CASE # 2 - SCENARIO

• The following day, the boss asks Ismael to present

the draft workflow, which Ismael does amazingly
well. The boss is impressed and congratulates
Ismael, endorsing him for promotion to the next
higher rank.
CASE # 2 - QUESTIONS

• You know that Linda did all the work and Ismael
took all the credit for it. Would you tell the boss
about it? Explain your answer.
• If you were Ismael, would you have done
differently? Explain your answer.
CASE # 2 - QUESTIONS

• If you were Linda, what would you have done?

Explain your answer.
• If you were the boss and you know the attitude
of both Ismael and Linda (plus the words of the
grapevine), would you have easily endorsed
Ismael for promotion? Explain your answer.
PROCESSING