...How do Global Retail Companies utilize Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)? “A Comparative Study using Hennes & Mauritz (Sweden) and UNIQLO (Japan)” Authors: Greg Jogie Ayaz Shukat Master thesis – FE2413 Spring 2010 Supervisor: Eva Wittbom How do Global Retail Companies utilize Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR)? Abstract Abstract Corporations around the world are today acknowledging more and more the need of long-term sustainability strategies integrated into their core businesses. This has led to the use of the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) framework. H&M and UNIQLO are no different. They are established global retailing companies and heavily affected by the consumers demand of a sustainable work process. The demands are often heard when news hits of problems in the supply-chain. This can be issues like unsatisfactory working conditions in factories, environmental issues caused by production and general imbalance of labor policies. Such problems have put pressure on the companies to enact a proper reporting framework for their sustainability efforts and that is the focus of this thesis. The objective is to understand how well the organizations‘ have been using CSR and the goal is to look at their behavior within their supply chain processes and their environmental focus. We will then benchmark them according to the sustainability measurement framework called Global Reporting Initiative (GRI). GRI is a framework widely used by the top global companies...
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...HOW DOES A MUSIC PROGRAM AFFECT THE READING FLUENCY OF SECOND GRADE ESL STUDENTS? by Candace Rose Cooper A Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Master of Arts degree in English as a Second Language Hamline University St. Paul, Minnesota April, 2011 Committee: Ann Mabbott-Primary Advisor Cynthia Lundgren-Secondary Advisor Kristin Weidlein-Peer Reader To my aunt, Mary Lou Merdan, Ph.D., who dedicated her career to reading literacy through the education of children and teachers. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter One: Introduction……………………………………………………………….1 Folk Songs………………………………………………………………………...1 Background of the Research………………………………………………………3 Benefits of Music Education……………………………………………………...4 Conclusion………………………………………………………………………...5 Chapter Two: Literature Review…………………………………………………………7 Music, Motivation, Language, and Reading Fluency……………………………..7 Music and Language…………………………………………………………..…..8 Music and Motivation……………………………………………………………10 Oral Language……………………………………………………………………15 Reading Fluency…………………………………………………………………17 Strategies for Enhancing Reading Fluency………………………………………21 Fluency and ELLs…………………………………………………...…………...24 Fluency Assessment……………………………………………………………...25 Conclusion……………………………………………………………………….29 Chapter Three: Methodology…………………………………………….……………...31 Participants and Research Design………………………………………………..31 Research Paradigm…………………………………………….………………....31 Setting………………………….………………………………………………...32 iii Participants………………………………………………………………………...
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...case studies, the term “welfare state” must be defined in order to provide a baseline understanding of the institution being discussed. In the context of this paper, welfare state can be defined as “a concept of government in which the state plays a key role in protecting and promoting the economic and social well being of its citizens.” Under the welfare state model, equal opportunity, equal distribution of wealth and mutual responsibility are firmly sought after goals that are reinforced by social insurance programs and universal provision of education, healthcare and housing. The degree to which such benefits are provided varies between...
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...Introduction Sweden has accomplished a desirable standard of living under a mixed system of high-tech capitalism. They have excellent internal and external communications and a highly skilled labor forces. Compared to Finland, which has a highly industrialized, largely free-market economy and is one of the best performing economies within the European Union. They were able to avoid the worst global financial crisis in 2009 (The World Factbook, 2015). Both Sweden and Finland are part of Nordic Europe on GLOBE society/culture cluster. Although they shared the same region with dynamic and energetic culture, there are many differences between the two countries that make each individual country unique. The GLOBE scores on society level, culture and leadership style on each dimension shows many similarities yet many differences as well. Assertiveness Sweden scored 3.38 and ranked 61st globally. This demonstrates Swedish society does not emphasize on rewarding performances. Compared to Finland, they scored 3.81 and ranked 47th globally. This demonstrates the Finnish are neither dominant nor aggressive in their social relationships. Many countries characterized Finland as a “cultural lone wolf” (Chhokar, J., Brodbeck, F., House, R., 2007) Future Orientation Sweden scored 4.39 and ranked 9th globally. Sweden’s society encourages and rewards future-oriented behaviors. For instance, Sweden prefers its society to plan and invest in the future, and delay gratification. They are more concern...
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...Halmstad School of Business and Engineering Rufei He & Jianchao Liu (2010) Barriers of Cross Cultural Communication in Multinational Firms --- A Case Study of Swedish Company and its Subsidiary in China Abstract In times of rapid growth, both in terms of economic development and globalization, an increasing number of firms extend their businesses abroad. A subsequent challenge of this development is the managerial implications of cross-cultural management. This study employs a qualitative approach in a single case study of Swedish company and its subsidiary in China. After reviewing the previous studies, the authors summarize the differences of management style, staff behaviors and communication system in different culture context and find the barriers of cross cultural communication in multinational firms. The findings of this study indicate that the barriers of communication come from the national culture’s influence on the work place and behaviors of people with different identity. Moreover, culture also influences people’s way of thinking and behaving and result in different understandings toward vision and purposes of firms. Key words: cross cultural, communication, multinational firms, management style, staff behavior Prelude It is 9:00 a.m. on Monday in Sweden. The Technical product manager of company X sent an email about the new design of the product to its subsidiary company in China. He would like to have a production ready model of the new design by...
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...contributes. I wanted to observe the cycle that results with the media’s portrayal of women and how that affects the number of women in office, therefore only reinforcing the stereotype. In order to understand where the United States stands on this matter, I am going to analyze the nation of Sweden’s gender depiction in media and other realms and how that correlates to women in office. Observing Sweden’s approach to these societal aspects will help understand how they have a more egalitarian government than most. The nation of Sweden constantly ranks in the top five nations when it comes to presence of women in high governmental positions. In 2002, women occupied over 45 % of their seats in their national parliament (Hepburn & Simon, 100). Even though Sweden surpasses the United with their strong presence of women in politics, they continuously face challenge that they must address to inflict a positive portrayal of women in their nation. Just like the United States, Sweden has various sources of media outlets that could affect the amount of women in parliamentary offices, but their methods of preventing misogyny overpower the United State’s...
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...Department of General Practice, Nursing Home Medicine and Social Medicine, Medical Faculty, Vrije Universiteit, Van der Boechorststraat 7, 1081 BT Amsterdam, The Netherlands 'Stockholm, Sweden, 2Hackensack, NJ, USA, 3Prague, Czech Republic, ^Research Triangle Park, NC, USA, 5 Tokyo, Japan, 6Paris, France and Reykjavik, Iceland Abstract Aim: to illustrate demographic differences and recent trends in the provision and structure of long-term care systems in the 10 countries participating in the Resident Assessment Instrument studies (Denmark, France, Iceland, Italy, Japan, The Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the UK and the USA). Method: data were assembled from government documents, statistical yearbooks and articles from journals; supplemental data on long-term care and nursing homes were solicited from colleagues. Results: All 10 countries are developed nations with high life-expectancies. Sweden has the oldest and Iceland the youngest population in this study, with Japan showing the highest ageing rates over the next three decades. Between 2 and 5% of elderly people reside in nursing homes. Interestingly, Iceland, as the youngest country' in this study, has the highest rate of institutionalization (living in residential or nursing homes), while the 'oldest country' (Sweden) has a low rate of institutionalization. In all countries the support ratio (number of elderly people per 100 younger adults) is high and increasing rapidly. Conclusions: no relation appears...
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...ing3/24/2014 A Marketing Case Study on Axis Communications A MARKETING CASE STUDY ON AXIS COMMUNICATIONS BY JOHN OLUGBENGA ADEGBOYE 08032004784 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………………………………………….3 2. SITUATION ANALYSIS………………………………………………………………………………………………..4 3.1 External Analysis.....................................................................................................4 3.2 Internal Analysis......................................................................................................8 3.3 SWOT Analysis.........................................................................................................9 3. 3.1 The New Product...................................................................................................12 3.2 Marketing Objectives.............................................................................................12 4. MARKETING PLAN........................................................................................................14 4.1 Market Segmentation.............................................................................................14 4.2 Target Market.........................................................................................................17 4.3 Positioning and Differentiation..............................................................................17 4.4 Marketing Mix...................................................................................................
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...over fairness, in contrast to the United States. Their Individualism is demonstrated by their great self-reliance and prevention of lasting relations outside the family. They also traditionally had the characteristics of practicality and rationality. When practicality conflicts with other values, practicality usually wins. “We the Swedes love and are interested in nature, not people” Jenkins, 1968 page 149. In Sweden the government provides a substantial amount of programs to make job availability. It also offers pension for the elderly, sick benefits for all workers housing allowance, free education even for universities. Sweden also offers free medical care and part-free dental care. In Hofstede’s 53-nation study of cultural values, Sweden is one of the 53 nations that Highlight individualism. Swedish and American Individualism differ. Swedish individualism is to facilitate personal development (horizontal Individualism). American Individualism is more competitive in Nature (Vertical Individualism). Both Hofstede’s 2001 study and the GLOBE study 2004 have recognized Scandinavian nations as a separate group of egalitarian national cultures that are the most extreme type of...
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...According to “The History of Sweden” (2015), the area now known as Sweden started to become widely populated around 8,000 B.C., but it wasn’t founded as a kingdom until 1280 by King Magnus Ladulas. Sweden was ruled solely by a monarchy until 1718 when the country was defeated in the Great Northern War. At this time, the Swedish parliament—Riksdag—had enough power to pass a new constitution that got rid of royal absolutism and instead gave all of the control to the Riksdag. This was changed in 1974 when the current constitution was passed. This new constitution gave the power to the people, allowing them to be able to vote of members of parliament in free elections. Although the monarch is still the head of the state, it is in name only (“History...
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...Abstract preview Global Sourcing Development at IKEA – a Case Study Paper prepared for the 25th IMP conference Jens Hultman1, Susanne Hertz1, Rhona Johnsen2, Thomas Johnsen2 1: Jönköping International Business School, P.O Box 1026, SE-551 11 SWEDEN E-mail: jens.hultman@ihh.hj.se, susanne.hertz@ihh.hj.se Tel: +46 0(36) 10 10 00 2: Audencia Nantes School of Management, 8 Route de la Joneliere, BP 31222 – 44312 Nantes Cedex 3, France. E-mail: tjohnsen@audencia.com; rjohnsen@audencia.com Tel: + 33 (0)240 37 46 25 Abstract This study explores the dynamic process of global sourcing development through a case study of the Swedish home furnishing giant IKEA and its supply network concerning the PAX wardrobe system. The paper provides a synthesis of the existing global sourcing literature by dividing this growing body of research into three major themes: globalization processes and stages, motives/drivers, and organizational design and management. Moreover, the paper integrates the global sourcing literature with the established literature on the internationalization process of firms. Comparing the existing research on global sourcing and internationalization, we propose two research questions focused on: (1) the ways in which the IKEA global sourcing and supply chain development process resembles a linear stages process, and (2) the principal drivers of the development of global sourcing within IKEA. Relating the findings of the global sourcing process in the case of IKEA, the paper...
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...ANALYSIS OF BUSINESS ENVIRONMENT IN SWEDEN Supervisor: Alcina Nunes Students: Ruta Rudokaite and Aiste Sankauskaite Bragança, 2013 Contents Demography and geography 3 Geography 3 Population 4 Language 5 Religion 5 Political, social and legal environment conditions 6 Political Conditions 6 Social conditions 7 Legal environment 8 Economic environment 9 Economic conditions 9 Entrepreneurship conditions 12 Competitiveness indicators 14 Conclusion 17 REFERENCES: 18 Demography and geography Geography Sweden is a northern European country located on the Scandinavian Peninsula, as we can see in Figure 1, bordering the Baltic Sea, Gulf of Bothnia, Kattegat, and Skagerrak, between Finland and Norway. Its topography consists mostly of flat or gently rolling lowlands but there are mountains in its western areas near Norway. Figure 1 : Map of Sweden Figure 1 : Map of Sweden As we can see from Table 1 Sweden is really a large country and is the 5th largest in Europe. Sweden also has natural resources (Sweden is currently one of the EU’s leading producers of ores and metals) that makes her stronger compared to other European countries. Rich bowel of land is very important to each country’s economy as well as the whole world economy. Minerals owning countries can increase their exports, economy level and can improve the social status of residents. Of course we have to mention the fact that Sweden has a really big coastline that allows...
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...Alcohol- The Alcohol policy in Sweden differs from other EU States. How got it around to it? Is it a model for the future or will it change due to the European policy? Written by: Linda Meier zu Heringen, Supervisor: Ingemar Ottosson Due: 17th May, 2013 1. Introduction While reading various travel guides for the preparation of a stay in Sweden the section of the alcoholic drinks in food and beverage has drawn special attention. It says that the tax for alcohol is quite high and the drinks can only be bought, when above an alcohol percentage of 3.5%, at the government owned stores – the Systembolaged. In this Essay the reasons for the alcohol policy in Sweden will be defined with a sort insight in the history of the alcohol policy in Sweden and the problems with it. Subsequently the rules and regulations from today will be pointed out as well as alcohol consumption nowadays. Further the problems with the EU will be descript and a possible solution given 2. The History of Alcohol in Sweden Sweden is located in the vodka belt from the countries of Europe and Asia, where a great deal of vodka is produced and consumed. The vodka countries have a long tradition of the production of a large share of vodka consumed in the world, as Sweden is famous for their brand Absolut. Also 70% of the produced vodka is used by these countries. The use of Alcohol in Sweden dates back to at least the Viking Age. The reason for the people to drink at that time might be the long cold...
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...Svedberg & Svensson (2014); Eat the food, drink the booze and settle the deal! Bachelor Thesis Eat the food, drink the booze and settle the deal! A study of intercultural differences in China from a Swedish B2B perspective Authors: Nathalie Svedberg Tim Svensson Subject: Bachelor thesis Business administration Supervisor: Examiner: Level: Richard Owusu Soniya Billore Bachelor degree 27th May, 2014 1 Course code: 2FE50E Date: Svedberg & Svensson (2014); Eat the food, drink the booze and settle the deal! Abstract Background: China is today regarded as Sweden’s most important business partner in Asia. Even if there are cultural differences between Sweden and China the intercultural distance has successively decreased. One of the reasons is the globalisation. Another reason is the consecutive development of Swedish-Chinese relations. The interpretation from common understanding has increased the level of trade between the nations. There is an on-going development of business co-operation between Sweden and China. The Purpose: This Bachelor Thesis will examine the differences between the SwedishChinese business culture and how the cultural differences affect the Swedish B2B in China. The purpose is formulated by the basis of our main research questions; “How do Swedish B2B companies perceive the cultural differences between the Swedish and Chinese way of doing business?“ and “how do Swedish companies operating in China deal with business cultural...
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...Standardized marketing strategies in retailing? IKEA’s marketing strategies in China, Sweden and the UK Steve Burt University of Stirling Department of Marketing, Institute for Retail Studies STIRLING FK9 4LA, Scotland, the UK. Ulf Johansson* *Contact author Department of Business Administration Lund University P. O. Box 7080 SE-220 07 Lund, Sweden e-mail:ulf.johansson@fek.lu.se Åsa Thelander Department of Communication Studies Lund Universitety, Campus Helsingborg, P O Box 882 SE-251 08 Helsingborg, Sweden Paper accepted for presentation at the 1st Nordic Retail and Wholesale Conference in Stockholm (Norrtälje), 6-7/11, 2008 Abstract IKEA is rumored to be a very standardized retailer, i.e., a certain set of marketing strategies is used that are the same around the world. This indeed sets IKEA, operating on markets in Europe, US as well as Asia and Australia, apart among international retailers. Often the theoretical conclusions in international marketing literature, as well as empirical evidence, argue convincingly for the more adaptation (to different markets) in different national markets. But is IKEA so standardized in marketing strategies? So far there are quite few, and very dated, empirical studies of IKEA marketing strategies (yet many refer to IKEA as having a standardized marketing strategy). Here marketing activites are conceptualized to concern: Merchandise - putting together an assortment of products (e.g., national and retailer brands, pricing and pricing...
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