This chapter proposes the concept of the mindsponge and its underlying themes that explain why and how executives, managers, and corporations could replace waning values in their mindsets with those absorbed during their exposure to multicultural and global settings. It first provides a brief literature review on global mindset and cultural values, which suggests that not only can a mindset be improved, but that it is learning mechanism can also be developed. Then the chapter offers a conceptual framework, called the (...) 'mindsponge', which builds upon earlier works linking mindset to themes of multi-filtering. The process is proposed to help identify emerging values in the transition economy of Vietnam and also to reconfirm existing core values. The concept of mindsponge provides executives, managers, and organizations with not only a practical framework for improving their global mind-set by identifying and strengthening core values, but also capturing emerging opportunities. (shrink)

Since the subsidised economy was substituted by privatisation in 1986, family became the main source of support for the majority of Vietnamese elderly. Traditionally, old aged parents live under the same roof with their adult children, so that they can be looked after. Recently, the process of modernisation of its economy with the focus on urban areas in Vietnam has pushed young rural generations away from home and torn rural families apart. Scholars and experts have tried to understand if that (...) movement is having any impact on the left-behind parents. However, the majority of the existing studies used secondary data, and quantitatively tested only the economic aspects. Other aspects of life of the left-behind elders attracted a limited amount of research. The voice of those left-behind elderly parents was also underestimated, and often not heard. This study utilised a qualitative approach and drew on the voice of those insiders, whose children had migrated to urban areas for employment. It explores the wellbeing of rural elderly individuals, not only the material aspects, but also emotional and physical care. (shrink)

Democracy is an interesting topic that many scholars pay attention to, since it is the foundation of a civil society. There are many factors that contribute to the country’s democracy. Two of many important factors that have a great impact on democracy are the people’s income and education. This study would investigate the relationship among income, level of education and democracy. The study focuses on the eastern cultured country, which is Vietnam after more than a decade of economic transformation in (...) this case. The data is obtained from World Value Survey (wave 5, 2006). The author found out that there is a positive significant relationship between income and democracy, not level of education and democracy by using the correlation statistical method. The author acknowledges some limitation and suggests recommendations for future search. (shrink)