http://www.asiaportal.info/ The 20 newest items in the Business. Management collection at the Asia Portal en-us Wed, 08 Sep 2010 00:00:00 +0200 http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/353ddf20-0450-4dec-bd2f-1bbdc55cd0f6 http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/353ddf20-0450-4dec-bd2f-1bbdc55cd0f6 Public Disclosure of Industrial Pollution: The PROPER Approach for Indonesia? / García López, Jorge; Sterner, Thomas; Afsah, Shakeb . - University of Gothenburg, 2010. - 23 p. (Working Papers in Economics ; 414) This paper evaluates the effectiveness of the Program for Pollution Control Evaluation and Rating (PROPER) in Indonesia. PROPER, the first major public disclosure program in the developing world, was launched in June 1995; though it collapsed in 1998 with the Asian financial crisis, it is currently being revived. There have been claims of success for this pioneering scheme, yet little formal analysis has been undertaken. We analyze changes in emissions concentrations (mg/L) using panel data techniques with plant-level data for participating firms and a control group. The results show that there was indeed a positive response to PROPER, especially among firms with poor environmental compliance records. The response was immediate, and firms pursued further emissions reductions in the following months. The total estimated reductions in biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) were approximately 32%. http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/99571d1b-5c7b-4ae4-8e4c-a388004451aa http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/99571d1b-5c7b-4ae4-8e4c-a388004451aa The road to India : the internationalization of Swedish SMEs / Gino Sablic, Monika Duggal. - Kristianstad University. School of Health and Society, 2010. - 83 p. (Bachelor's studies) Increasing globalization and decreasing trade barriers have created opportunities for Swedish companies to establish their activities in India. The aim with this dissertation is to explore if Swedish SMEs in the service sector follow the process suggested by the Uppsala Internationalization Model when establishing their activities in India. In order to find out if Swedish SMEs in the service sector follow the process suggested by the Uppsala Internationalization Model, a multiple case study was conducted, adopting a qualitative approach. Three Swedish SMEs in the IT industry, that have successfully established their activities on the Indian market, were interviewed. The results indicate that none of the companies in this study followed the internationalization process suggested by the Establishment Chain and the Psychic Distance. However, the examined companies in this study internationalized as suggested by the Basic Mechanism of Internationalization. There is limited research on the internationalization processes of Swedish SMEs in the service sector when entering the Indian market. Subsequently, this study has contributed theoretically to exploring what factors are of importance for Swedish SMEs in the service sector when entering India. Furthermore, it has possibly contributed to the initial step of further research within the field of SMEs internationalization processes, should further research be conducted involving various internationalization models. In addition, this study has contributed by strengthening the existing research regarding the Uppsala Internationalization Model. A suggestion to future research is to explore various existing internationalization models and to investigate what aspects of each model is applicable to Swedish SMEs. http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/eb9af30a-4b96-4d55-8f69-cb7510383763 http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/eb9af30a-4b96-4d55-8f69-cb7510383763 Women's impact on development in India / Vedrana Milosevic. - Växjö University. School of Management and Economics, 2010. - 31 p. (Bachelor's thesis) India is the world’s largest democracy where 1 186 200 000 people live and almost half of these are women. So how does women’s situation effect India’s development. This essay focuses on secondary education, female labor force participation and active population growth and measures their affect on Human Development Index (HDI). The literature shows a positive effect of all explanatory variables on HDI. In other an effective resource allocation towards words women might be the key for India to reach higher living standards. It is indeed a question of effective resource allocation because women in India don’t enjoy the same freedoms and rights as men which will clearly effect the countries resource allocation and the HDI. http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/03ccd48c-312c-4bde-90ba-a51b183da0a4 http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/03ccd48c-312c-4bde-90ba-a51b183da0a4 Internationalization of Swedish SMEs in Indian market through joint ventures : how to make the marriage work? / Babar Arshad, Muhammad Tayyeb Riaz. - Linnaeus University. Linnaeus School of Business and Economics, 2010. - 63 p. (Master's thesis) India as a fast growing economy provides great business opportunities. It is considered as one of the most attractive emerging markets. Due to globalization, international business expands and international market is continually converting into boundary less environment. These conditions also affect SMEs. The SMEs are traditionally considered as home based industry but their survival is no more possible with local business. Joint venture is a type of entry mode to foreign markets. This thesis is an attempt to investigate how to improve joint venture relationship between foreign Swedish SME and local Indian firms by identifying and investigating the effecting factors. Throughout our study, the experience of case company Amokael remains focal point. Indian government is still imposing restrictions on certain industries in which foreign firms have to establish business through joint venture. Joint ventures of Swedish SMEs with Indian partners on Indian soil are considered to be critical due to the cultural and societal differences. http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/aa1c72d1-bd64-41f3-84c8-154b5acfaf9b http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/aa1c72d1-bd64-41f3-84c8-154b5acfaf9b Performance evaluation and ratio analysis of Pharmaceutical Company in Bangladesh / Hossan Faruk, Ahsan Habib. - University West, Department of Economics and Informatics, 2010. - 63 p. (Master's thesis) The thesis applies performance evaluation of pharmaceutical company in Bangladesh. It means evaluate how well the company performs. The main aim is achieved through ratio analysis of two pharmaceutical (Beximco and Square pharmaceutical) companies in Bangladesh. The main data collection from the annual financial reports on Beximco and square pharmaceutical companies in 2007 to 2008.Different financial ratio are evaluated such liquidity ratios, asset management ratios, profitability ratios, market value ratios, debt management ratios and finally measure the best performance between two companies. The mathematical calculation was establish for ratio analysis between two companies from 2007-2008.It is most important factors for performance evaluation. The graphical analysis and comparisons are applies between two companies for measurement of all types of financial ratio analysis. Liquidity ratio is conveying the ability to repay short-term creditors and it total cash. It determines perform of short term creditor of both pharmaceutical companies under the three categories such as current ratio, quick ratio and cash ratio. Asset management ratio is measurement how to effectively a company to use and controls its assets. Its also quantify into seven categories for both pharmaceutical companies such as account receivable turnover, average collection period, inventory turnover, account payable turnover ,account payable turnover in days ,fixed asset turnover ,total asset turnover. Profitability ratio is evaluate how well a company is performing by analyzing and how profit was earned relative to sales, total assets and net worth for both pharmaceutical companies. Debt coverage ratio is performing that the property insufficient to collect their mortgage for both companies and market value is perform the stockholder to analysis their future market value of the stock market. Overall analyses are measurement the best one between Beximco and Square pharmaceutical companies. http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/b2125634-1a4d-4fd8-a457-ff1c983f4bf9 http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/b2125634-1a4d-4fd8-a457-ff1c983f4bf9 Cultural integration in M&A : a study of the acquisition of Andersen by KPMG in Vietnam / Vi Nguyen, Jing Chen. - Jönköping University. Jönköping International Business School, 2010. - 81 p. (Master's thesis) As one of the most important means of globalization for companies around the world, mergers and acquisitions (M&As) have been adopted as a core growth and expansion strategy. M&A integration involves combination in various areas, in which cultural integration has an important role. Nevertheless, the potential positive and negative impact of cultural dimensions on the success of M&A activity is somewhat less acknowledged in the business community. The purpose of this paper is to explore problematic cultural issues in order to get an understanding of the characteristics and outcome of cultural integration as influenced by both national culture and organizational culture in M&A. In order to fulfil the purpose a qualitative case study approach was chosen. Semi-structured phone interviews were made with the top managers who were responsible for the deal and employees that worked for both companies during the transition period. In addition, two survey were conducted among KPMG and Andesen members. It could be summarized that KPMG and Andersen deal result in a great loss of ex-Andersen employees, due to the resistence from employees to the new culture after integration. http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/f5be3aa9-3011-4ca3-8dbd-444c238bb25e http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/f5be3aa9-3011-4ca3-8dbd-444c238bb25e Green supply chain management in Thailand : an investigation of the use in the electrical and electronics industry / Joel Walerius, Markus Zakrisson. - Linköping University. Department of Management and Engineering, Environmental Technique and Management , 2010. - 112 p. (Master's thesis) The objective with this thesis is to clarify the advantages - both economic and environmental - that companies in the Thai electronic manufacturing industry can draw from managing their supply chain and adding a green aspect to it. This through investigations of the concept known as Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM). The research will assist companies with scarce knowledge of green supply chain management in making decisions and priorities in that area. Semi-structured interviews were performed on sight in Bangkok, Thailand and surrounding region. These provided insight and knowledge of the situation and today-state regarding environmental awareness and GSCM implementation within the Thai Electrical and Electronics Industries. Interviews were performed with representatives and experts from different sectors – from universities, industry and supporting agencies and serve as the foundation for the research. A model has been developed out of previous research and findings that could suit the Thai industry. This model can be seen as guidelines in the work towards becoming green and aims at continuous improvement of the organizations environmental performance. In Thailand today companies do not see the benefits of themselves review their organizations environmental impact or developing in this area. Environmental awareness among the public is low and the lack of demand for green products result in few drivers for companies to become green. Also the lack of proper legislation and compliance audits are part of the problem. Missing environmental education and knowledge are extensive and improvements needed. The concept of GSCM is not wide spread but popularity is increasing steadily. Some environmental initiatives are though performed in the industry but not under the name of the concept. Customer demands, legislation and education should be the main focus areas for developing the industry. From the today state at a very basic low much is to be done. Fear of large investments, cost and the lack of knowledge are obstacles to the development. This research shows that these concerns are to be avoided. And by following the model in this thesis companies can find proper knowledge in the area of GSCM. Concluded is that with understanding of the concept and proper implementation from the right knowledge Thai companies can gain great advantages in the future - both economical and environmental. http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/33535714-1265-4252-a6c3-b1adef464995 http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/33535714-1265-4252-a6c3-b1adef464995 Internal and external factors hampering SME growth : a qualitative case study of SMEs in Thailand / Leon Poblete, Elin Grimsholm, Gotland University. Institutionen för humaniora och samhällsvetenskap. -75 p. (Master's thesis) Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Thailand are very important to economic growth and considerably essential to generate employment as in many other developing countries. SMEs account for 99.5% of the overall enterprises in Thailand while their contribution to the overall employment account for around 76% of all jobs. However, SMEs growth rate is still at a low level. Hence, this is qualitative study of the external and internal factors hampering the growth of SMEs in Thailand. Regarding external factors, there are a number of obstacles constraining their growth such as access to finance, competition, corruption, barriers to trade and macroeconomic factors as amongst some of the most significant issues. In terms of internal factors, there are also important constrains hindering their growth, for instance, poor management competences, lack of skilled labour, deficiencies in marketing strategies, little efforts on R&D, lack of new technology and low awareness concerning CSR are identified as some of the most important obstacles. http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/7527048f-b9c5-4326-9c8f-02dd3efd88c0 http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/7527048f-b9c5-4326-9c8f-02dd3efd88c0 Multi level marketing products in Thailand / Visut Charoenrungsiri, Umaporn Oonsuphab. - Mälardalen University. School of Sustainable Development of Society and Technology, 2010. - 56 p. - (Master's thesis) The aim of this research is to study what are current successful MLM products in Thai market and analyze their characteristics. Further, the research would recommend suitable products in form of specific characteristics for MLM companies to select products for newly launch in Thai market. http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/5cb47596-6ec0-448d-a6cc-df54776e5f25 http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/5cb47596-6ec0-448d-a6cc-df54776e5f25 Finns den internationella ledaren? Eller kan denne skapas? : en studie av svenska företagsledare i Singapore / Charlotte Tham. - Gävle : University of Gävle. Department of Business Administration and Economics. - 51 p. (Bachelor's thesis) Syfte: Studien avser ta reda på: Om det finns ett internationellt gångbart ledarskap Eller om det krävs nationella anpassningar Vad eventuella anpassningar beror på Vad som kännetecknar en respekterad internationell ledare Metod: Studien är baserad på sju kvalitativa djupintervjuer, som analyserats med hjälp av kulturdimensions- och ledarskapsteorier. Intervjuerna har sammanställts i en matris, för att bli överskådligare. Nyckelord och samband har därefter markerats för att hitta gemensamma teman. Resultat & slutsats: Fyra huvudresultat har framkommit: Det internationella ledarskapet finns Dock krävs vissa kulturella anpassningar De mest utmärkande skillnaderna mellan Sverige och Singapore är, hur personer motiveras, hur man kommunicerar effektivast och hur problem löses och arbetet struktureras Den effektiva ledaren är bl a målfokuserad, en bra kommunikatör och lyhörd Förslag till fortsatt forskning: Utöka studien med att innefatta enkäter, fler djupintervjuer eller observationer, för att få ett bättre statistiskt underlag Studien kan göras på fler länder Studera flera stora internationella ledares egenskaper Intervjua ledarnas medarbetare för att få ett bredare material i ämnet Uppsatsens bidrag: Uppsatsen visar på att nationella anpassningar behöver göras, för att bli en framgångsrik internationell ledare. Den visar på vilka anpassningar som behöver göras i Singapore, men för övriga länder krävs att kunskap inhämtas. Studien bör därmed kunna användas som diskussionsunderlag för svenska företag som ska skicka ledare utomlands. http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/afc00ae3-8612-49b1-9926-c1c6b002a83d http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/afc00ae3-8612-49b1-9926-c1c6b002a83d Svensk och japansk interaktion - harmoni eller dissonans? : en studie om relationer mellan olika kulturer i affärssammanhang / Fredrik Lundberg, Kristina Thomsen-Hall. - Södertörn : Södertörn University College, School of Business Studies, 2010. - 57 p. (Bachelor's thesis) Allt fler utländska företag har under de senaste åren valt att etablera sig på den svenska marknaden. Globaliseringen har resulterat i att olika kulturer allt mer möts inom det svenska näringslivet. Olika kulturer medför olika syn på exempelvis ledarskap och auktoritet som i ett samarbete kan skapa kulturkrockar. Syftet med denna uppsats har varit att undersöka hur ledare från olika kulturer uppfattar de relationer som uppstår då olika kulturer interagerar i affärssammanhang, samt att diskutera om detta kan påverka ledarnas ledarskapsstil. Detta med utgångspunkt i mötet mellan svenska och japanska företag. Uppsatsen har bland annat tittat på vad det är för kulturkrockar som kan uppstå när olika kulturer möts, hur svenskar och japaner uppfattar kommunikationen med varandra samt vad det är för skillnader på beslutsfattande och delegering svenskar och japaner emellan. Studien har genomförts som en kvalitativ studie med fem svenska och fyra japanska respondenter. De teorier som använts är teorin om Schein's olika kulturnivåer, Lewis kulturella grupper samt en av Yukl's teorier om ledarskapsstilar. Efter genomförda intervjuer dras slutsatsen att både de svenska och de japanska respondenterna uppfattar relationerna mellan de båda kulturerna som fungerande, men att det ibland uppstår kulturkrockar. Uppfattningen om vilka kulturkrockar som uppstår skiljer sig dock kulturerna emellan. De svenska respondenterna upplever att kulturkrockar uppstår i kommunikationen med japanerna i och med att uppfattningen av produkter, kostnader och kunden skiljer sig åt. Japanernas uppfattning om kulturkrockar som uppstår handlar istället om att synen på fritid och arbetsliv skiljer sig åt mellan kulturerna. En slutsats som kan dras från analysen av materialet är att de som är mest mottagliga för andra kulturella händelser ofta är de som på något sätt tidigare i sin yrkeskarriär kommit i kontakt med andra kulturer och ledarskapsstilar. De respondenter som har haft stor erfarenhet av relationer med andra kulturer i affärssammanhang har lättare för att förstå och interagera med personer från andra kulturer. De svenskar och japaner som har erfarenhet från möten med andra kulturer har större möjlighet att anpassa sig till gällande situation och på så sätt undvika kommunikativa konflikter. http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/96100933-3a96-4af7-bf0f-f67b7ed037e3 http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/96100933-3a96-4af7-bf0f-f67b7ed037e3 Networking challenges : a case study of Swedish firms acting on the Japanese market / Jonas Ivarsson, Erik Pira, Ulf Stomberg. - Linnaeus University. Linnaeus School of Business and Economics, 2010. - 77 p. - (Bachelor's thesis) This thesis aims to describe how Swedish firms have established themselves on the Japanese market with help from their business network. This research has been conducted in the light of the economic recession and the complicated Japanese business networks. We have chosen to use a qualitative approach and by doing so we received the three respondents’ views of doing business on the Japanese market. We have focused this thesis on the importance of networks and relationships and have chosen to use new theories regarding business networks and business relationships for the base of our research and to link them with our empirical findings. The interviews conducted have been focused on three respondents who all have broad experience of the Japanese market. These three interviews have been compared to each other in our analysis and through this we have drawn our conclusions. We also give recommendations for Swedish firms who aim to establish themselves on this market. http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/c72f321a-042e-4218-af0e-238de4a6ef78 http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/c72f321a-042e-4218-af0e-238de4a6ef78 Transformation of Chinese OEM : case study / Ming Yang, Xinjing Chen. - Halmstad : Halmstad University, School of Business and Engineering, 2010. - 57 p. - (Master's thesis) Due to the globalization trend, the transformation of Chinese OEM has become a hot topic in the last decades. Although the previous literature suggested that there were many different determinants influencing firms to be successful companies, there is a lack of combination in the context of Chinese OEM. Thus, the purpose of this research study is to find out the approach of Chinese OEMs to successfully launch their own products based on three perspectives - organizational structure, processes and culture.Applying a qualitative approach, the data was gathered through semi-structured telephone interviews with the senior personnel of one Chinese OEM company (Damekiss), complemented with secondary data collected from the company’s and public websites.The results of analysis showed different views of how organizational structure, process and culture influencing on the transformation of Chinese OEM. We found that four functions (i.e. manufacturing, distribution, new product development and human resource management) influenced the transformation of Chinese OEM in organizational structure perspective. Among these functions, human resource management and distribution are extremely weak in the organizational structure of Chinese OEM. Regarding to the process of formulating these functions, the deep understanding of the customers’ preferences and collaboration partners that influenced building distribution were figured out. In the case company, it showed a relative poor ability on distribution which would be the barriers for further developing. Building HRM process was raised as another issue of the transformation of Chinese OEMs. According to the case company, HRM was poorly organized. The recruitment did not get enough attention; the training programs stayed at a lower level. The last not least, the corporate culture was also proven to be playing an important role in the transformation of Chinese OEMs. Awareness of corporate culture as one of significant aspects influencing the entire company was found in the case company. Slogan, company heroes and rituals as an internal culture were properly used to motivate employees. http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/4fcb33e4-cc5f-4058-8f6e-b4e36d4d0f21 http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/4fcb33e4-cc5f-4058-8f6e-b4e36d4d0f21 Fair leadership and sustainable economies : the comparison of CSR between China and Thailand / Wangpo Xu, Paramet Cholahan. - Linnaeus University. Linnaeus School of Business and Economics. - 83 p. (Master's thesis) The main aim of this thesis is to analyze the awareness and application of CSR within Chinese and Thai companies. The thesis collects the academic and empirical achievements which have been done by the Chinese and Thai scholars as the theoretical framework. Further, the authors devised a piece of survey based on Carroll’s Three Dimensional Corporate Performance Model and Corporate Social Responsibility Pyramid Model and sent it to Chinese and Thai companies. Analysis and comparisons are carried out based on the result of survey with the help of theoretical framework. Moreover, the authors try to give some explanations towards the situations in the result of survey, hoping to help enhance the level of CSR in China and Thailand with some thoughtful suggestions. http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/7afd8703-103d-436f-abab-12d0fc415a56 http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/7afd8703-103d-436f-abab-12d0fc415a56 Exploring the transfer of R&D to China / Peder Veng Søberg, Niklas Åkerman. - Kalmar : University of Kalmar. Baltic Business School, 2010. - 176 p. (master's thesis) This master thesis explores the transfer of R&D activities from Western MNC’s to their Chinese subsidiaries and how companies can leverage key enablers to address main barriers in this process. The research project is conducted as a multiple-case study consisting of three case companies: the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, the Swiss/Swedish power and automation company ABB and the global food and beverage company Nestlé. The main rationale for conducting this study is that a significantly increasing level of foreign invested R&D is conducted in the Chinese environment with its increasingly important market. In order to preserve competitive advantages and secure global market penetration it could be necessary for other companies as well to undertake a similar process of transferring R&D. The main barriers identified are the difficulty to find qualified employees in China, to train and retain the recruited employees and the language gaps that are present between the Western and the Chinese units. One key enabler applied to address these barriers is to organize activities at selected Chinese universities in order to attract skilled graduates. Utilizing expatriates and short-term traveling increases personal interaction between otherwise geographically distant employees together with providing training of increasing complexity are key enablers addressed to develop the Chinese employee’s knowledge. Language courses is the key enabler applied in order to decrease the language gaps, both Chinese courses for Westerners and English courses for Chinese. In addition to identifying barriers and enablers and investigating their interrelatedness we propose a conceptual model for R&D transfer consisting of four elements to transfer together with implementation of the transferred knowledge at the receiving unit. In our view, the elements to transfer are physical objects, individual explicit knowledge, individual tacit knowledge and collective knowledge. http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/a479bde8-c391-4bb6-9758-8802f27c252c http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/a479bde8-c391-4bb6-9758-8802f27c252c Utredning av en ny logistikstruktur i Kina för ett svenskt företag / Mikael Pettersson, Patrik Hellquist. - Jönköping : Jönköping University. JTH, Industrial Engineering and Management, 2010. - 80 p. (thesis) Syftet med detta examensarbete är att för ett svenskt företags räkning analysera hur deras logistikstruktur för import av produkter från Kina till Sverige kan effektiviseras. Vi fick i uppdrag att analysera hur upprättandet av en eller flera hubbar och lager i Kina skulle påverka Företagets logistikstruktur ur ett ekonomiskt perspektiv. Företa-get kommer att vara anonymt i denna rapport på grund av konkurrensskäl och istället kallas för "Företaget". Vi utgår ifrån följande frågeställningar: Med hur mycket kan Företaget minska sin totala logistikkostnad för Företagets produkter från trading leverantörer genom att upprätta en eller flera hubbar i Kina? Hur mycket skulle logistikkostnaderna i Kina öka genom upprättandet av en eller flera hubbar? Med hur mycket kan Företaget minska sin lagerhållningskostnad i centrallag-ret i Tibro genom att upprätta en eller flera hubbar i Kina? Hur skulle de totala logistikkostnaderna påverkas om Företaget förlade delar av lagret i Kina? Rapporten är av undersökande karaktär där tyngdpunkten i rapporten ligger på hur nuläget ser ut genom insamlandet av data från både Företaget och dess leverantörer och samarbetspartners. Dessa data har analyserats med hjälp av en omfattande teori-del. I resultatet har två olika förbättringsalternativ tagits fram med olika karaktär. Alterna-tiv I - lager vid avgångshamnar bygger på att två lager upprättas i Kina. Alternativ II - hubbar med mjölkrundor bygger på att två terminaler/hubbar upprättas och att så kal-lade mjölkrundor börjar användas i Kina. Båda alternativen ger slutsatsen att besparingar kan göras om Företaget ändrar sin nuvarande logistikstruktur genom upprättandet av hubbar alternativt med lager. Alter-nativ I ger den största besparingen genom minskade lagerkostnader i Sverige samt minskade transportkostnader. Alternativ II skulle också leda till besparingar men är av bland annat kostnads- och kulturella skäl mindre trolig att genomföra. http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/ec6ba3ca-afc9-4680-9b2d-cdf92d4eaead http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/ec6ba3ca-afc9-4680-9b2d-cdf92d4eaead Development of the private and state-owned logistics enterprises in China: case study in GREE and CHINATRANS / Tianhua Pang, Shiqiong Huang. - Gävle : University of Gävle. Department of Industrial Development, IT and Land Management, 2010. - 42 p. ( Master's thesis) The purpose of this thesis is to examine the current status and development of the private and state-owned Third-party Logistics (3PL) companies. In China, there are mainly two common kinds of ownerships, one is state ownership, and the other is private ownership. These two forms of ownerships have enormous influence in various industries. The state-owned company GREE and private company CHINATRANS are taken as the case study in this thesis. The management systems of these two companies are analyzed by interviewing their managers. Furthermore, an innovation assessment tool is used to examine the innovative performance for these two companies. The return on investment model is also used to compare on the financial problem. Based on the analysis of management, cost and innovation aspect in GREE and CHINATRANS, the pattern of different ownerships affecting 3PL companies is identified. The conclusions of this thesis are: The private Third-party Logistics companies have a more flexible management system than the state-owned Third-party Logistics companies. Moreover, the private Third-party Logistics companies have a good performance on cost management and human resource. The core-competitiveness for them shows in the grasp of the market. The state-owned Third-party Logistics companies have a strict management system; they have advantage of innovation management, especially for new technology development. Excellent service is their core competence. Nowadays, Chinese third-party logistics industry has a low ROI, but still has a large space for 3PL to improve. Through the case study of GREE and CHINATRANS, value-added services and low cost operation are effective approaches to increase ROI. http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/e61b41d5-c8f9-4bd0-a739-db0451b40ed7 http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/e61b41d5-c8f9-4bd0-a739-db0451b40ed7 Using Chinese universities as a source of technology scouting in China / Alexandra Matschy, Liu Meng. - Linnaeus University. Linnaeus School of Business and Economics, 2010. - (Master's thesis) Over the last few decades trends such as globalization have sharpened up competition on the worldwide open market and in order to meet customers demand high level of technological and competitive uncertainties have increased the pressure of reducing R&D budgets, reduce innovation cycles and shorter time to market as a consequence of the rising competition and as a result, forced companies to source external knowledge. One way of doing this is by tapping external information and knowledge from universities.China is a country with a steady rapid growth on science and technology, but also with a progressively increasing R&D. Today they have the highest input level in the history and this is an opportunity for Western MNCs to establish collaborations in order to gain competitive advantages and create new technology. This study focuses on Industry-University collaborations in China for high technological companies and the process of finding knowledge and establishes networks at Chinese universities with the aim of establish Industry-University collaboration. Based on literature review and a qualitative study of Chinese universities, this thesis explores how a MNC can build a network of local universities connection in a fast growing market and use this network as a source of technology scouting.Over the last few decades trends such as globalization have sharpened up competition on the worldwide open market and in order to meet customers demand high level of technological and competitive uncertainties have increased the pressure of reducing R&D budgets, reduce innovation cycles and shorter time to market as a consequence of the rising competition and as a result, forced companies to source external knowledge. One way of doing this is by tapping external information and knowledge from universities.China is a country with a steady rapid growth on science and technology, but also with a progressively increasing R&D. Today they have the highest input level in the history and this is an opportunity for Western MNCs to establish collaborations in order to gain competitive advantages and create new technology. This study focuses on Industry-University collaborations in China for high technological companies and the process of finding knowledge and establishes networks at Chinese universities with the aim of establish Industry-University collaboration. Based on literature review and a qualitative study of Chinese universities, this thesis explores how a MNC can build a network of local universities connection in a fast growing market and use this network as a source of technology scouting. http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/b8734e26-def7-4f89-aba5-a287fdb98177 http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/b8734e26-def7-4f89-aba5-a287fdb98177 Motivationsstrategier: hur svenska SME:s arbetar med att motivera sin personal i Sverige och Kina / Veronika Lindblad, Madeleine Pontusson. - Linnaeus University. Linnaeus School of Business and Economics. - 76 s. (Bachelor's thesis) Som en följd av den globalisering som sker av samhället har många företag etablerat sig utomlands. Detta medför att organisationerna kommer i kontakt med främmande kulturer som innebär nya utmaningar. Det är därmed av vikt att undersöka vad som motiverar människor i olika länder för att företagen skall kunna överväga en anpassning av sina motivationsstrategier. Uppsatsens syfte är att undersöka hur svenska företag med kontor i såväl Sverige som Kina använder sig utav motivationsstrategier för att motivera sin personal. Vidare vill vi undersöka skillnaderna mellan vad som motiverar en svensk respektive en kinesisk anställd och hur ledningen anpassar och arbetar med motivationsstrategier som styrmedel. Arbetet har framställts, bearbetats och analyserats genom en kvalitativ forskningsmetod. Empiriskt material har samlats in genom djupintervjuer med fyra internationellt inriktade svenska företag. Förtagen är aktiva på såväl den svenska som den kinesiska marknaden och faller under benämningen Small and Medium Size Entrerprices. Insamlad data har sen analyserats med hjälp av framtagna teorier för att kunna besvara syfte och frågeställningar. De intervjuade företagen har valt att implementera den svenska organisationskulturen till Kina. Vi har kommit fram till att de aktiviteter som företagen genomför är av olika vikt för en kines och en svensk. På grund av det kan de förutsättningar som företagen skapar genom sina aktiviteter få olika effekt beroende på vad som prioriteras av den anställde. Det har även framkommit att företagen inte har anpassat sina motivationsstrategier i någon större utsträckning. Detta även då det svenska sättet att arbeta har visat sig kunna verka i motsatt riktning än vad det var ämnat att göra. http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/89c8be21-0673-41de-8106-f8f321dd1586 http://www.asiaportal.info/purl/89c8be21-0673-41de-8106-f8f321dd1586 The competitive advantage of IKEA and IKEA in China / Zhi Li. - Gävle : University of Gävle. Department of Technology and Built Environment, 2010. - 34 p . (Master's thesis) Purpose: The main purpose of this master thesis is to describe the IKEA concept and discuss the application in China. After research the history of IKEA, interview with the manager of IKEA store, and find the information from the web and thesis, use the theory of competitive advantage to describe the IKEA concept and the competitive advantage which is the way that IKEA used to get the success. Secondly, discuss the application in China and give IKEA the suggestions to develop the competitive advantage in China market. Methods: Because IKEA is not a public company, I cannot get too much data. I browsed the official website of IKEA to get much information about the introduction of IKEA’ corporate culture, strategies, copartner, history and the data of IKEA financial and work group. I find some English and Chinese books, thesis and reports try to find more data and more good ideas of Chinese scholars. Visit and observe the IKEA store and note my questions. I tried to have an interview with IKEA store in china, but failed. Fortunately, I got an interview with Hans Karlsson which is the logics manager of IKEA store in Gavle. He explained the competitive strategy of logistics, the competitive advantage about IKEA and the next step IKEA may do in china. Try to analysis the different culture and other problem that IKEA have to face. Analyze all the data and the idea I have got and use the theory of Michael Porter to finish this thesis. Conclusions: IKEA should have many innovations to adapt to the China market. “At IKEA our vision is to create a better everyday life for the many people. Our business idea supports this vision by offering a wide range of well-designed, functional home furnishing products at prices so low that as many people as possible will be able to afford them.”(Our vision and business idea, http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_US/about_ikea/the_ikea_way/our_business_idea/index.html) It seems not achieved in China market yet. Firstly, IKEA should have greater cooperation with local suppliers to get more competitive advantage of cost leadership. Secondly, according to the specialty of China market, IKEA should have some more adjustment to satisfy so many China picky customers. Thirdly, IKEA should intensify propaganda work to let more customers understand and accommodate the IKEA model. As an outcomer, there is a long way to be the winner in this huge and potential market. After a long time to research the China market, IKEA already understand the China market more than before. With accelerating the speed of expand, the success of IKEA in China market is only the problem of time.