Vinamilk: from Local Cooperatives to International Corporation

Announcing: Walsh, John, “Vinamilk: from Local Cooperatives to International Corporation,” Emerald Emerging Economies Case Studies, (abstract) available at: http://www.emeraldinsight.com/case_studies.htm?articleid=17026868&show=abstract, doi: 10.1108/20450621211228400.

Abstract:

Title – Vinamilk: from local cooperatives to international corporation.

Subject area – Marketing.

Study level/applicability – This case study would suit any class that deals with the interaction between the nature of business and society and is rooted in a specific basis in developing Asia. The particular nature of the class could be used to shape the subsequent discussion if necessary: a marketing class would focus on the need for development of the local market and consumer behaviour, while a management class might be more interested in the issues relating to an appropriate ownership structure in an emerging market in a company based on an amalgamation of smaller units likely to have been run by technicians (farmers) or party functionaries.

Case overview – Vinamilk is a Vietnamese company that has grown from humble beginnings as a collection of small-scale dairy co-operatives until the current time when it is one of the largest and most successful companies in that country and recognized as a significant developing Asian success. It has managed this while operating in a product category that has had very little tradition in Vietnam and for which demand has had to be created in order to enable the company to expand. The success of Vinamilk has now made it possible to imagine an international or a transnational future in which it would no longer be tied to its Vietnamese home or to be required to support government-supported developmental goals such as supporting employment and using local inputs. A debate is taking place, therefore, about the nature of the continuing relationship between firms and the public sector in a rapidly developing nation.

Expected learning outcomes – The objectives include: evaluation of the nature of the business-state relationship; evaluation of the nature of the home environment with respect to its attitude to business; and understanding better the nature of emerging markets and their interaction with international markets.

Supplementary materials – Teaching notes are available for faculty. Please consult your librarian for access.

Buddhist Social Work: A Case Study of the Samrong General Hospital

Announcing: Lovichakorntikul, Petcharat and John Walsh, “Buddhist Social Work: A Case Study of the Samrong General Hospital,” paper presented at the International Buddhist Conference (Mahachulalongkornrajavidyalaya University, Ayutthaya: December 2011), available at: http://www.undv.org/vesak2012/iabudoc/03PetcharatFINAL.pdf.

(I don’t think I have advertised this before.)

Abstract (actually they prefer ‘Prelude’):

Human Resource Development (HRD) is a crucial element in contemporary organizations and determines their future to a significant extent, especially in the healthcare business, which has been changing and developing according to emerging trends such as the problems of insufficiency and the inequitable distribution of healthcare professionals, as well as certain morality and ethical issues. While the public perception is that healthcare professionals who are working to heal patients and save lives must have kind and generous minds, this is not always the case and, in HRD, it remains necessary to develop the minds, attitudes and perceptions of healthcare professionals to be ready to serve others. Many Thai people are very familiar with Buddhism because most ceremonies and ways of life are related to Buddhist cultural practices. Buddhist teachings are implanted into their minds as well as the understanding that their ancestors followed the same methods and principles. Some believe that the nature of belied is changing along with changes in contemporary society, which privileges material goods above spiritual ones. In response, it is necessary to reinvigorate Dhamma teaching so that it speaks more clearly to present generations. This research is, therefore, based on certain Buddhist ethical principles, such as the five precepts (Pañcasīla), the basis of success (Iddhipada 4), the sublime states of mind (Brahmavihāra 4), and meditation. These have been implemented in a Samut Prakan province hospital since its inception. Hospital founders concentrated on creating ethical and potential human resources rather than creating task specific activities. This is a qualitative research study featuring management level and operational level employees in in-depth face-to-face interviews together with a focus group with relevant participants exploring the Buddhist social work scheme in this hospital. Findings and recommendations from the research are presented.

Perceived Benefits Gained from Online Game Playing among University Students in Bangkok

Announcing:

Techavimol, Pawana and John Walsh, “Perceived Benefits Gained from Online Game Playing among University Students in Bangkok,” Thammasat International Journal of Science and Technology, Vol.16, No.2 (April-June, 2011), pp.54-65, available at: http://www.tijst.net/issues/2011/no2/2011_V16_No2_6.pdf.

Abstract:

Although presumed negative aspects of online game playing are widely disseminated in the media, the possible benefits that might be derived from this appear much less frequently. Possible benefits include the reduction of stress, promotion of analytical skills and team-work and the fostering of relationships with other people around the world. Using a specifically-designed questionnaire, the authors investigate the extent to which a sample of 610 Thai undergraduate students from a variety of universities in Bangkok feel that they have benefited from online game playing and which of the various benefits appear to them to be most relevant and most often achieved. The results are discussed and recommendations drawn to incorporate greater use of game-playing modalities into the classroom environment and to enhance the link between education and industry by fostering partnerships to create more location-specific Thai-language content for use in the education system.

Review of Carpenter’s Hanged for the Few

An earnest party of travelers is engaged to find a mysterious holy city on behalf of a bloodthirsty and menacing tyrant – but despite the horrible external threats of fierce lizardmen, crazed ideologues and the nightmarish bedevilments of the past, it may be that the internal threats of mistrust, suspicion, and mutual intolerance are actually the more dangerous enemies.

Read the full review here.

Fighting Climate Change: Reducing Rubbish

Since we live – at least, most of us live – in capitalist societies, we are  constantly subjected to the relentless pressure to consume and then replace  existing items with new ones. This means that a large amount of stuff gets  thrown away as rubbish when, in fact, it could do good service for a lengthy  period of time.

Read the full article here.