<p>Background: There are different types of firms in the world. Those that lead change and those who follow change. In this thesis, the authors have chosen to see if a dynamic industry in a developing nation can be the leaders of change, or if they are stuck as the ones following developments in the west.</p><p>Sri Lanka is a developing nation with a rapidly growing software industry. Like its neighbour, India, the country and region has been known for its cheap, yet highly skilled labour. This study thus aimed at seeing if something other than price, namely entrepreneurial strategy can play a meaningful role in explaining growth.</p><p>Purpose: To study the importance of the relationships between resources, entrepre-neurial orientation, the perceived environment and growth in a developing nation perspective.</p><p>Theoretical framework: Theory based on the Resource Based View, arguing that unique combinations of resources and capabilities are the creators of strategy and competitive advantage, together with theory on the Entrepreneurial Orien-tation of firms looking at innovativeness, proactiveness, risk-taking auton-omy of firms, was used to build a framework for analysing what drives growth in a dynamic market.</p><p>Method: In order to fulfil the purpose of the thesis, a quantitative study was con-ducted. A web survey was sent out to 73 firms, while 41 responded. A smaller qualitative study was also conducted in order to exemplify and pro-vide deeper knowledge on the findings from the quantitative part.</p><p>Conclusion: Several important knowledge-based resources and the EO components of proactiveness and autonomy showed significant relations to growth. Also, the findings indicated that certain resources contributed significantly to the EO of firms. However, it was proved that Sri Lanka’s software industry is not driven by innovation, but rather other factors.</p>

<p>During November and December 2007 a Minor Field Study was conducted in the southwest</p><p>of Sri Lanka with the aim of exploring the aspirations and perceptions of freedom and</p><p>possibilities among a sample of Sri Lankan youth and also how their situation is viewed upon</p><p>by people in their close surroundings. The aim was also try to discern the main concerns and</p><p>indicators of unfreedom that in the eye of the informants are viewed as obstacles to</p><p>development, to personal human development as well as to the development of Sri Lanka as a</p><p>nation. The theoretical framework that was used as inspirational ground and basis for the</p><p>formulation of the project, was Amartya Sen’s concept of “development as freedom” and his</p><p>“capability approach” which focuses on the human potential and what freedom an individual</p><p>enjoys to convert capabilities into desired functionings or the realization of aspirations. This</p><p>modern economic theory was tested in this context to find out if it is applicable and relevant</p><p>in ethnographic development studies. Despite its lack of numerical metrics, the “capability</p><p>approach” seems very relevant to describe the reality of at least the Lankese youth in this</p><p>study. As methodology for the qualitative field work, Hadley Cantril’s “aspiration-model”</p><p>and his “self-anchoring striving scale” was used which provides a simple, easily applicable</p><p>interview technique for exploring the unique reality of an individual and what it shares or</p><p>don’t shares with that of others. The results show that there are many strong aspirations</p><p>among the Sri Lankan youth; aspirations of being a good person that achieve something in</p><p>life, aspirations of being able to take the best care of the family, to go through a qualitative</p><p>education and to get a good job with a good salary. Many youth want to go abroad. Of course</p><p>there are aspirations of peace in the war-torn country. There are concerns and feelings of</p><p>unfreedom that relate to the unemployment situation, a very difficult economic situation in the</p><p>country, underdevelopment and inadequate facilities, the ongoing war, and political</p><p>unfreedom.</p>

Univ., Diss.--Göteborg, 2005.

Doctoral dissertation. / Format: PDF. Bibl.

Masteropgave. / Format: PDF. Bibl.

Masteropgave. / Format: PDF. Bibl.

Masteropgave. / Format: PDF. Bibl.

Masteropgave. / Format: PDF. Bibl.

Bottom sediment is an archive of the historical changes in a lake and its catchment. This thesis is apalaeoenvironmental reconstruction of catchment processes in Bolgoda Lake situated in western SriLanka. We studied a sediment core retrieved from this lake. In our study, we focus on multiplephysical and chemical proxies: grain-size, loss-on-ignition, total organic carbon content, C:N ratio,and δ13C stored in the organic matter. The aim of this study is to contribute to a better understandingof the palaeoenvironmental conditions in the region and allow a comparison between this site andothers.In the deepest part of the core, we see an overall high sand content, which indicates a period ofhigher discharge into the lake compared to what the other core parts indicate. This is probably aresult of higher precipitation. This is followed by a decline in C:N and a rise in TOC in the second partwhich indicates an increase of primary production in the lake. In the third part we again see a shift inthe C:N indicating a source change back to more terrestrial runoff. The increase in TOC and LOIvalues together with decrease in C:N ratio and a steady increase in δ13C indicate an increase inlacustrine productivity in the upper part of the core.By reconstructing the palaeoenvironmental history in Bolgoda Lake we can conclude that it isprobable that some other factor than diagenetic change affects the lake. Our results indicate thatthese changes most likely are due to more wet periods and anthropogenic activity, mainly throughland use changes.

Aim The burden of cervical cancer in Sri Lanka is high and research is limited. The objective was to describe the knowledge of Human Papilloma Virus (HPV), cervical cancer and its cytological screening, as well as worry of HPV and attitudes towards and practices of screening among undergraduate students at Rajarata University of Sri Lanka, Mihintale. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in January 2015 at Rajarata University, using a self-administrated questionnaire containing socio-demographics, knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP). Male and female undergraduates, 18-30 years, were eligible. Knowledge was assessed by a numerical sum score ranging from 0 to 13, with 13 as maximum. Analyses were performed using ANOVA or Kruskal-Wallis tests. Results 326 students answered the questionnaire that revealed limited knowledge on cervical cancer, HPV and screening, with a mean score of 5.34 (SD 3.33). Knowledge was higher among older, medical students in the fifth year, however there was a high correlation between these variables. Knowledge was lower among management students. Most students were uncertain about the questions in the attitude section. A majority of students would be worried if they got infected with HPV. Screening practices were low (0.45 %). Approximately half of the women would consider cytological screening in the future. Conclusion The limited knowledge, low screening practices and high worry imply a need for information and awareness programs. Further research is needed in order to fully understand the delicacy of this public health threat for Sri Lankan women.