Nordic Perspectives - Your Nordic view on Asia

100 dager med krigen på Sri Lanka : en analyse av dekningen i Aftenposten, Dagens Nyheter og Daily Mirror / Ole Kåre Eide. - Oslo : Institutt for medier og kommunikasjon, Universitetet i Oslo, 2010. - 125 s. (Master's thesis) Hvordan dekker vi en krig som er langt borte og som tar lang tid? Hva er det som gjør den relevant for oss? I denne oppgaven ser jeg nærmere på dekningen av konflikten på Sri Lanka – i én norsk (Aftenposten), én svensk (Dagens Nyheter) og én srilankisk papiravis. Ved å anvende Johan Galtungs modell for fredsjournalistikk – i tillegg til å gjennomføre en kvantitativ innholdsanalyse – viser denne oppgaven at det er store forskjeller i dekningen. Mens Aftenposten på lederplass i stor grad er opptatt av at partene må finne en fredelig løsning, vil også Dagens Nyheter ha fred, men tar i mindre grad stilling til partene. Dekningen i Daily Mirror er derimot i stor grad krigsorientert. Oppgaven viser også at dekningen er mer omfattende i Aftenposten (ut i fra antall tekster, størrelsen på tekstene og forsidehenvisninger) enn i Dagens Nyheter. En stor del av dekningen i Aftenposten handler om tamilske demonstrasjoner i Norge. Til tross for at disse tekstene tar for seg hjemlige forhold, bidrar de til å gi oppmerksomhet til konflikten. Problemene oppstår i kortere tekster. Da usynliggjøres i stor grad konflikten og alle partene blir sjelden identifisert.
http://www.duo.uio.no/publ/mediekomm/2010/107691/masteroppgave-eide.pdf
Keywords: Conflicts. Terrorism, Ethnic conflict, Mass media, News. Media, Newspapers, Nordic Perspective, Norway, Publications, South Asia, Sri Lanka,

14 Challenges when shaping capabilities for research : Swedish support to bilateral research cooperation with Sri Lanka and Vietnam, 1976–2006, and a look ahead / Jan Annerstedt, Shantha Liyanage. - Stockholm : Sida, 2008. - 114 p. (Sida evaluation ; 2008:14) The study summarizes challenges, experiences and achievements during 30 years of bilateral research collaboration between Sweden and Sri Lanka and between Sweden and Vietnam, respectively. The two collaborations both started in 1976 and has since then been financed from Swedish international development cooperation resources. The study shows several types of long-term impacts of the collaboration. A number of suggestions are made on how to reorient and change focus of possible future research collaboration between Sweden and the two countries after the Swedish bilateral development cooperation has been phased out in 2011.
http://www2.sida.se/shared/jsp/download.jsp?f=Utv2008-14_SIDA44696en.pdf&a=39696
Keywords: Bilateral aid, Development, Development. Poverty, Education, Nordic Perspective, Publications, Research, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Sri Lanka, Sweden, Vietnam,

A bioeconomic analysis of Maldivian skipjack tuna fishery / Solah Mohamed. - Tromsø : Norwegian College of Fishery Science, University of Tromsø, 2007. - 47 p. (Master's thesis)
http://www.ub.uit.no/munin/bitstream/10037/1163/1/thesis.pdf
Keywords: Agriculture, Fisheries, Maldives, Nordic Perspective, Norway, Publications, South Asia,

A case study of HIV prevention in reform-era Shanghai : from a risk to an enabling environment / Jacinthe Dumont. - Lund : Lund University, 2008. - 58 p. (Working papers in contemporary Asian studies ; 26) The purpose of this study was to understand how the transformations taking place in reform-era Shanghai affected HIV/AIDS from a prevention perspective, both in terms of risks and opportunities. Three main questions were asked: what is the situation of HIV/AIDS in Shanghai, how are the transformations taking place in Shanghai during the reform era contributing to the creation of a risk environment, and how can an enabling environment emerge out of the reform-era context. Primary data was collected during an eleven-month fieldwork in Shanghai, and an environmental analytical framework was used to guide our analysis. We found that the rapid development of Shanghai since the 1990s was also accompanied by a serious increase in sexually transmitted infections and, more recently, HIV/AIDS. The greater influence of globalization processes in the open-door policy context combined with certain institutional changes would have contributed to the creation of a risk environment in Shanghai. On the other hand, we have argued that the emergence of new players and new tools in the reform era is promising from a prevention perspective, especially if current barriers to multi-sectoral participation and cooperation are removed.
http://www.niaslinc.dk/gateway_to_asia/nordic_webpublications/x506055271.pdf
Keywords: China, East Asia, Health, Nordic Perspective, Publications, Shanghai, Sweden,

A comparative analysis of business corruption in Russia and China / Denis Korobkov, Zhihua Liu, Mingshi Yue. - Uppsala : Uppsala University. Department of Business Studies, 2010. - 48 p. (Master's thesis)
http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:uu:diva-126896
Keywords: Business. Management, China, East Asia, Nordic Perspective, Publications, Sweden,

A comparison between Japan and Norway regarding ILO Convention No. 169 / Kanako Uzawa. - Tromsø : Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Tromsø, 2007. - 121 p. (Master's thesis) Who defines indigenous peoples, and in whose interests does the definition serve? If there is a definition that is regulated in relation to indigenous peoples, how much does it the protect rights of indigenous peoples? Considering these questions as my point of departure, I have chosen to do a comparative study on the Sami in Norway and the Ainu in Japan in the context of ILO Convention No. 169. There are great differences between the Sami and Ainu in terms of governmental policy, legal frameworks, institutional structures, levels of domestic and international movement, awareness of human rights, and social atmospheres, especially given the fact that Norway is the first country to ratify ILO Convention No. 169. A main focus of this thesis is to pursue understanding the causes of those differences as well as similarities focusing. Moreover, how ILO Convention No. 169 has or has not been implemented at the domestic and international level is another main focus in this thesis. The thesis relies on an interview method to clarify the facts, and draws upon different levels to illustrate the topic by using texts and by interviewing people who have various perspectives on the issue. For instance, I interviewed Sami representatives who have been involved with the process of ratification of the ILO Convention No. 169 at the international and domestic levels and the Ainu representatives who have dealt with the international and domestic issue. Also, the government officials and ILO representatives also provided a different perspective on this matter. Finally, the thesis concludes with description of the dilemma that has been created in the process of legal and political development of the Sami and Ainu, and it suggests possible solutions for these matters in the future. The thesis focuses mainly on the legal perspective; but also by using the author’s own subjective experience as a point of reference it brings into focus other dimensions of indigenous politics, knowledge, and reality.
http://www.ub.uit.no/munin/bitstream/10037/1261/2/thesis.pdf
Keywords: East Asia, Ethnic groups, Japan, Nordic Perspective, Norway, Population, Publications, Social conditions,

A comparison between students’ mental health in Sweden and Cambodia / Maria Nyman, Sofie Bjärntoft. - Gävle : , 2010. - 29 p. - Gävle : University of Gävle. Faculty of Health and Occupational Studies (Bachelor's thesis) Mental illness is seen as a public health problem around the world, especially among adolescents. Cambodia is one of Asia's poorest countries, and has one of the lowest health statuses. Only one in four children are able to go to school in Cambodia for economic reasons however in Sweden all children have the right to education but mental health is still a major problem. The aim of the present study is to make a comparison between the mental health of children in English schools in Sweden and in Cambodia, using a target group of fifteen-year-olds, and also to see if there are differences in the school staff's work in promoting children's mental health. This study used both a qualitative and a quantitative method involving sixty-six fifteen-year-old students. A questionnaire adapted from Antonovsky‟s Sense of Coherence (SOC) theory was used. Five qualitative interviews with teachers working with health were also carried out.The results showed that the Swedish students were satisfied with their life situation, and also had a higher SOC than the Cambodian participants. The students in Cambodia enjoyed school more than the Swedish students, but still, anxiety and worries were more common among students in Cambodia. The teachers in Cambodia and in Sweden had different ways of defining what health is.
http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:hig:diva-7066
Keywords: Cambodia, Health, Nordic Perspective, Publications, Southeast Asia, Sweden,

A comparison of the venture capitalists´ investment behavior pattern between China and America / Chang Liu. - Umeå : Umeå University. Umeå School of Business, 2010. - (Master's thesis) This paper conducts a comparison study between the America and China, to figure out the investment behavior pattern of the venture capitalists throughout the four investment stages: selecting, structure and monitoring, value-adding and exiting in the both countries and try to identify the differences in the end. The empirical findings are abundant, a lot of differences do exist between America and China and which is also consistent with parts of my hypothesis, especially in the aspects of decision making, contracts design and value-added performance. The practical implications could be very helpful to both investors and entrepreneurs who would have better understand of the venture capital market and the VCs’ behavior patterns in the two countries since then.
http://urn.kb.se/resolve?urn=urn:nbn:se:umu:diva-34287
Keywords: China, East Asia, Economic issues, Investment, Nordic Perspective, Publications, Sweden,

A comprehensive framework for the adoption of techno-relationship innovations : empirical evidence from eCRM in manufacturing SMEs / Kittipong Sophonthummapharn. - Umeå : Umeå University. Umeå School of Business, 2008. - 273 p. (Studies in business administration. Series B ; 65) Information Technology (IT) plays a significant role in today business competition. A prominent role is that it helps a firm to manage relationships with customers effectively. Adoption of appropriate technology can lead the firm to greater business competency, improve its business performance, and ensure it retains its competitive advantages. While there is a rich body of literature on IT innovation adoption and implementation, research on the adoption of IT innovation that is specifically intended to perform relationship marketing functions is scant. The problem in this research is to address the lack of a research framework for examining the factors influencing the adoption of techno-relationship innovations. The existing adoption models are insufficient in properly explaining which factors are involved in the adoption decision and which factors are more important, and are especially insufficient with regard to small and medium sized enterprises (SMEs). The aim of this study is to develop a comprehensive research framework used for exploring the factors affecting the adoption of techno-relationship innovations and to apply this framework for empirically investigating the adoption of electronic Customer Relationship Management (eCRM) applications in manufacturing SMEs. This study proposes the term ‘techno-relationship innovation’ and defines it as a technology-related idea, process, method, product, or service that is intended to perform relationship marketing tasks and which is perceived as new to an individual or a firm. The developed research framework contains 20 potential determinant factors covering four contexts: individual, technological, organizational, and environmental. This study was conducted through survey research and the sample was drawn by means of systematic sampling technique. The empirical data were collected by using self-administered questionnaires and the data analysis was based on 508 manufacturing SMEs in Thailand. The analysis was based on multivariate statistical techniques including t-test, factor analysis, deiscriminant analysis, and cluster analysis. The findings reveal interesting insights into understanding the adoption of eCRM applications by manufacturing SMEs. The Key Influential Factors (KIF) model is proposed summarizing the conclusions of the study. It indicates what factors in what contexts should be given more or less attention. From 20 factors, the analysis indicates that 12 factors are important factors that should be given high priority. They are Compatibility, Industry Pressure, Customer Pressure, Subjective Norm, Attitude, External Support, Perceived Advantage, Observability, Perceived Relationship Marketing Functionality, Technological Expertise, Perceived Easiness, and Financial Resources. Five factors have the capability to discriminate between eCRM adopters and non-adopters but their discriminant powers are weak so they receive second priority. They are Competitive Pressure, Innovativeness, Business Experience, Governmental Encouragement, and Internet Experience. The other three factors appear insignificant but they should not be completely ignored when encouraging the adoption of eCRM applications. Thus, these three factors receive third priority. They are Size, Trialability, and Self-efficacy. Furthermore, the eCRM adopters are classified into three groups: basic adopters, moderate adopters, and advanced adopters. The inference is that the basic eCRM adopters are uncertain whether eCRM applications are really needed for business success. In contrast, the moderate and advanced eCRM adopters require different attention which is related to maximizing the advantages of eCRM applications. This classification offers solid information for market segmentation purposes in the eCRM industry. Study implications are acknowledged. A comprehensive research framework is proposed suggesting 20 potential determinant factors involved in examining the adoption of techno-relationship innovations. This research framework provides a tool to marketing researchers in conducting further research. Empirical investigation leads to the KIF model that offers guidance to government and private agencies in properly encouraging the adoption of eCRM applications and their relevant components among manufacturing SMEs. Moreover, the study’s limitations and suggestions for further research are provided.
http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:142015/FULLTEXT01
Keywords: Business enterprises, Business. Management, In Focus, In Focus 2010, In Focus 2010 Week 23, Nordic Perspective, Publications, Small and medium size enterprises, Southeast Asia, Sweden, Thailand,

A critical view on CSR in different business environments : a comparison of CSR between Sandvik Sweden, and State Grid Corporation, China / Jieyi Lei, Hui Ou. - Gävle : University of Gävle. Department of Business Administration and Economics, 2009. - 43 p. (Master's thesis) Corporate social responsibility (CSR) has emerged as a global trend in different countries with diverse policy, culture, and CSR perspective and development level. Thus, we want to analysis CSR in different business environments and find out the gap they have. That is the original idea of our research. This research mainly locates in Sweden and China, by comparing the temporal CSR development in a Swedish and a Chinese company—Sandvik and State Grid Corporation of China, the former as the advanced pioneer, and the latter as the dynamic learner, to gain an insight of the adaptability and feasibility of CSR in different business environments and countries. The thesis is based on case study and interview, and literature review. The method content analysis is applied when processing the data into figures. Besides, the 3C-SR model and Responsible Competitiveness Index (RCI) are adopted as the analysis model. The findings show that CSR is adaptable and feasible in whatever countries and business environments. Also, its core value and regulate guidelines are not changed, but the focal point in each stage of implementation will vary. In fact, CSR is not the ultimate goal, it’s a formula for transforming Responsible Competitiveness to a soft competence, lending the company to achieve sustainability. After the study, some recommendations and further study questions are given.
http://www.diva-portal.org/smash/get/diva2:274678/FULLTEXT01
Keywords: Business. Management, China, Corporate social responsiblitity, East Asia, Nordic Perspective, Publications, Sweden,