<p> </p><p>The main objective of this thesis is to understand why there is imbalance of exchange students of Sweden and Thailand. We have analyzed the interviewed data of Swedish students who had experience of studying at universities in Thailand. Our research has revealed the factors and issues behind the imbalance situation. After analyzing factors we have proposed some recommendations in order to improve the pedagogy to increase the number of Swedish students deciding to study at Universities in Thailand so that the exchange imbalance could be reduced. Furthermore, we have proposed a favor product package for Swedish students that can help them to decide to study in Thailand.</p><p> </p>

<p>Research Questions: Is the usage of existing IT/IS in SCM just a necessity or a key factor contributing to their success for Company BETA?</p><p>Purpose: The purpose of our thesis is to describe how a successful distributor like Company BETA manages their supply chain activities, then to analyze and discuss their performances as well as the IT support on their operations.</p><p>Method: We conducted qualitative research. Our main primary data came from the interviews with employees of Company BETA while our secondary data was collected from literature books, websites, and database. The data was gathered and analyzed in the light of our literature review.</p><p>Conclusion: Company BETA’s existing IT/IS is not the main factor contributing to their success. There are more possibilities in the markets nowadays and more importantly, Company BETA could have considered and leveraged their IT/IS better.</p>

<p><strong>Problem:</strong> How do the born global firms overcome challenges and sustain performance in international markets through their competences, routines, and corporate governance structure?</p><p><strong>Purpose:</strong> The purpose of this thesis is to explore the competences, routines, and corporate governance structure of born global companies, and understand their role in overcoming challenges of early internationalization and sustaining performance in international markets from early days.</p><p><strong>Method:</strong> This research is conducted as multi-disciplinary, consisting of literature from International Business and Strategic Management. Relevant data is collected through six in-depth interviews with executives of born global companies from Sweden and Norway. Qualitative analysis has been used at data analysis stage.</p><p><strong>Originality: </strong>This study contributes to literature by examining relatively neglected areas of born global companies; competences, routines, and corporate governance structure. It is also original in distilling a wide literature to explore challenges of born globals.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Our research reveals that despite their small size and limited resources, born global companies engage in competence building and leveraging activities, establish early international routines, and construct flexible governance structures to overcome challenges and achieve performance in the global arena.</p>

No description available.

<p>Background: During the past years the increasing internationalisation has not only affected companies but also universities. This development is due to the Bologna Declaration which prescribes a harmonisation of the higher education in Europe. The declaration implies a tougher competition, but also a higher degree of co-operation among European universities. </p><p>Purpose: The purpose of this thesis is to examine how LiU can make use of thenetwork approach in the process of internationalisation, in order to cope with the changes that the Bologna Declaration implies. </p><p>Realisation: We have carried out a total amount of 17 interviews. To complement these interviews, secondary data about the Bologna Process and LiU have been extracted from the internet and other information material. </p><p>Results: LiU should take advantage of the opportunities provided by the Bologna Process in order to further internationalise. The most favourable way of networking for LiU would be to be a part of relatively small and complementary networks. The promotion and facilitation of the communication between partners, but also within the university, is crucial. Use, and constantly develop, the competitive advantages in order to seek possible network partners and to attract students, teachers and researchers.</p>

<p>Syfte: Denna uppsats syftar till att göra en undersökning bland Länsförsäkringars kunder, vilket är intressant då försäkringsbranschen säljer en produkt som det inte går att ta på och som kunden betalar för trots att han eller hon troligtvis aldrig kommer att använda produkten och faktiskt helst inte ens vill utnyttja densamma.</p><p>Syftet med arbetet är att undersöka följande:</p><p>• Varför stannar Länsförsäkringars befintliga kunder kvar inom företaget?</p><p>• Varför väljer en person att bli kund hos Länsförsäkringar?</p><p>• Tycker kunderna att det är viktigt att ha bank, försäkring och liv inom samma bolag?</p><p>• Tycker kunderna att det är viktigt med en ”egen” personlig kontakt hos sitt bolag?</p><p>• Vad är det för likheter samt olikheter mellan Länsförsäkringars kunder i Gävle, Bollnäs och Söderhamn?</p><p>Metod: För att utföra studien har ett flertal olika tillvägagångssätt utnyttjats:</p><p>1. Litteraturstudie</p><p>2. Enkätundersökning</p><p>3. Statistisk bearbetning av enkätsvaren</p><p>Resultat & slutsats: De viktigaste slutsatserna som jag har kommit fram till är följande:</p><p>• Länsförsäkringars nya kunder värdesätter priset mest medan däremot de befintliga kunderna värdesätter personal och service mest.</p><p>• Länsförsäkringar måste marknadsföra fördelarna med konceptet bank, försäkring och liv inom samma bolag för att det ska kunna fungera som ett konkurrensmedel.</p><p>• För att Länsförsäkringar ska lyckas med att införa en ”egen” personlig kontakt måste fördelarna med detta marknadsföras till kunderna.</p><p>• Några väsentliga skillnader kan inte utläsas mellan orterna Gävle, Bollnäs och Söderhamn.</p><p>Förslag till fortsatt forskning:</p><p>• Att genomföra djupintervjuer eller en enkätundersökning bland de kunder som har lämnat Länsförsäkringar för att se varför de lämnade företaget.</p><p>• Att genomföra ytterligare studier på de 40 procent av de nya kunderna som valde Länsförsäkringar för prisets skull. Verkar de representera en grupp människor som ofta byter bolag för att få lägsta pris?</p><p>Uppsatsens bidrag: Uppsatsen ger dels Länsförsäkringar, men även andra som är intresserade, möjlighet att få en inblick i vilka av Länsförsäkringars konkurrensmedel som uppskattas av deras kunder.</p> / <p>Aim: This thesis aims to study customers of Länsförsäkringar. This study is interesting because insurance companies sale invisible products. Even the customer who pays for a product, is not probably going to use or want to use it.</p><p>The aim of my paper is to investigate the followings:</p><p>• Why do the existing customers of Länsförsäkringar stay with the company?</p><p>• Why does a person chose to become a customer at Länsförsäkringar?</p><p>• Do the customers find it important to have bank, insurance and life with the same company?</p><p>• Do the customers find it important with a personal contact of their own at their company?</p><p>• What similarities and differences are there between the customers of Länsförsäkringar in Gävle, Bollnäs and Söderhamn?</p><p>Method: To conduct this study I have made use of several different procedures:</p><p>1. Study of literature</p><p>2. Questionnaire survey</p><p>3. Statistical work on the questionnaire</p><p>Result & Conclusions: The most important conclusions that I have come to see are the following:</p><p>• The new customers of Länsförsäkringar seem to value price the most while the existing customers value staff and service the most.</p><p>• Länsförsäkringar has to market the benefits with the concept bank, insurance and life within the same company in order to make it work as a competitive advantage.</p><p>• To succeed with implementing a “personal contact” Länsförsäkringar has to market the benefits of it to the customers.</p><p>• No major differences can be found between the localities Gävle, Bollnäs and Söderhamn.</p><p>Suggestions for future research:</p><p>• To carry out more thorough interviews or a questionnaire survey among the customers who have left Länsförsäkringar in order to see why they left the company.</p><p>• To conduct further studies of the 40 percent of the new customers who choose Länsförsäkringar for the sake of the price. Do they seem to represent a group of people who often switch companies in order to get the lowest price?</p><p>Contribution of the thesis: The thesis gives not only Länsförsäkringar, but also others that are interested, an opportunity to get an insight in which of Länsförsäkringar competitive advantages that are appreciated by their costumers.</p>

<p>The world economy is in a transition period never experienced before, One of the main realising factors, boosting economy growth, is the catch up of many emerging countries. The emerging countries impose new competitive dimensions to the global economy, forcing well established multinational corporations into new competitive situations, brining both opportunities and threats.</p><p>The construction equipment industry has entered a condition of unprecedented growth. The total market demand has increased significantly and the demand development is prospected to continue for many more years. To keep up with the market demand and the sales opportunities, it is important to have machines available in the market. This impose that the logistic strategy is getting more important for companies in order to keep up with the prospected sales opportunities.</p><p>This Masters thesis is initiated by our case company, Volvo Construction Equipment International, currently suffering from an inefficient logistics strategy constraining international growth.</p><p>Based on our analysis and conclusion, Volvo Construction Equipment is recommended to move from transaction selling, spot market like international logistics strategy towards a relationship marketing based logistics strategy establishing in-depth collaborations with key account shipping suppliers. Furthermore, we recommend that Volvo CE should consider a logistics management function in order to facilitate the inter-organizational flow of logistics information.</p>

<p>The international environment today has been undergoing unprecedented change and many companies are seeking new ways to stand out from the competition by sustaining their competitive advantage. Internationalization and firms’ consolidation increase competition in the dynamic marketplace .Companies are no longer staying competitive simply through focusing on product quality and pricing as customers are becoming more high-demanding related to customer service offer. This issue directs the companies’ main focus today to address the customer needs in the ever-changing environment.In order to be the winners in the marketplace, timing and superior customer service are becoming the keys to attain competitive advantage for a company. Time-based competition is an important issue that many companies are facing currently as customers are becoming more time-sensitive and time-oriented in terms of better services, reliability and delivery. To keep up with the changes in demand from customers, it is important to satisfy customers’ objectives and needs in order to provide superior customer service, thus, establish good relationship with them. In the ever-changing and dynamic business environment company needs to adapt and exploit the changes in order to meet the new challenges in the marketplace. It is crucial for the company to respond to changing needs of existing customers and seeking to serve new customers externally. The ways to renew the customers’ services and how they are delivered are critical capabilities for many companies to acquire nowadays. This leads to increasing interaction between marketing and logistics where logistics is considered a platform for supporting new strategic moves on the market.This master thesis originates from a need to research the links between customer service improvement and Just-in-time distribution in order to sustain competitive advantage. We propose to extend the Just-In-Time concept to incorporate a customer perspective, which results in changes the warehousing, ordering and delivering routines. Subsequently, this creates timing ability as well as coordination of information and material flows through timely decisions, which are difficult for competitors to emulate. Based on our analysis and conclusion, companies are recommended to shift from the traditional production-oriented to market-oriented focuses through incorporation of customers' perspective into the value chain. To deploy this, companies should start from the customer end and understand customers' needs and establish mutual beneficial relationships with customers. Long-lasting business relationships ultimately determine the success of the company. Furthermore, we conclude that successful learning to change the routines requires time for the transformation of traditional delivery practice to perform direct deliveries activities. They are based on the common understanding of the tasks and rules as well as common codes of internal coordination processes.</p>

<p>Many firms are today established in China via intermediaries, such as distributors or agents. However this establishment is not valuable in a long-term perspective if the industry environment offers a possible higher return on investment by establishing on its own. Furthermore, when a firm establishes more committed in a foreign market, it gain control over the marketing activities and the sales channel. When entering new markets, problems occur in cases of cultural barriers, institutional distances and lack of contact with the customers within the market. The focus of this master thesis is the establishment of relationships in order to achieve competitive advantages through enhanced understanding of market specific factors and the adaptation towards the market.</p><p>The thesis is initiated by our interest for firms expanding in international markets. We have recognized the importance of the relationship establishment when entering China. Based upon the identified problem we build a theoretical framework and apply the empirical findings from our case company Dako A/S, which are about to establish in the Chinese market with more commitment.</p><p>We have for this master thesis collected data from our case company. We have, via semi-structured interviews, conducted the material within the division for the establishment in China. The purpose of the thesis is to introduce findings that will help Western firms to enhance their understanding of the importance of establishing, developing and maintaining customer relationships in China in order to gain a competitive advantage. The central phases of the thesis, is our theoretical framework, the findings from the case company and the establishment of competitive advantages through relationship and choosing the right entry mode.</p><p>Throughout our research and our seeking towards answering the above purpose we can draw the following main conclusion; it is crucial for a foreign firm to develop its capabilities in order to establish a competitive advantage. The organizational capabilities have to be addressed the market specific knowledge and the feedback towards the organization in order to exploit the competitive advantages. We summarize the findings in a conclusion, which can be applied for Western firms in different industries, in order to establish competitive advantages in China. Finally, we provide recommendations to our case company and their establishment in China, within the research area of this thesis.</p>

<p>Distance is of great influence when deciding whom to trade with. This thesis examines how the importance of distance in international trade has evolved. This is done using an extended generalized gravity model, which includes population, real exchange rate and a dummy variable for membership in the European Union. Using data for the EU27 and the four largest economies in the world outside of EU, this model estimates the effect of distance on trade from 1980 to 2005. This thesis shows that the impact of distance has evolved towards having a greater negative effect on trade during the observed years. The reason for this could be a development towards regional trade, at the expense of long-distance trade.</p>