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Mental border obstacles
Published on 10 December 2018
Sweden
Norra Mellansverige
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About this good practice
The people, in Sweden and Norway, through generations have had a big exchange with each other and once belonged to the same nation. Cross-border enterprise between the countries faces many challenges, both today and in the future. To face these challenges and increase cross-border collaboration, one key factor is to identify the obstacles that impede people or business from moving between countries or regions. Øresund Institute got the task to conduct a study to answer this. Based on in-depth interviews, six mental border obstacles (MBOs) for business owners between the countries were identified. Geographic variations, industry affiliation and proximity to the border affect the extent to which entrepreneurs experience mental barriers. As a result, from the mental border obstacles found, 23 initiatives that could benefit future development and increase cross-border activities between Norway and Sweden were suggested. For example; initiatives for increasing transnational thinking among businesses, through contact events. To increase knowledge about the other society in general, through a trans-border news service connected to the business sector. To increase knowledge and exchange in education through promoting studies abroad in Norway and Sweden. Businesses along the border will benefit from these findings and as a result increase cross-border cooperation between Sweden and Norway.
Resources needed
For this study it was required to find subjects to interview. At the end 50 entrepreneurs from small- and medium-sized companies along the entire Norwegian-Swedish border, as well as from larger localities in both countries and 13 border- and business organizations, were interviewed.
Evidence of success
The 6 mental borders identified were: national attraction, "it never occurred to me" - the importance of surroundings and network, staying in one’s comfort zone, experiencing concrete problems & formal obstacles, the image of “the others”, differences in business culture. From the findings 23 concrete initiatives will be launched to deconstruct the MBOs benefitting future development and increase cross-border activities for SMEs between Norway and Sweden.
Potential for learning or transfer
The awareness for mental border obstacles and the need to identify and deconstruct them in order to increas cross-border activities for SMEs. Identifying them by means of a study could be a useful tool for other regions when looking at issues that affect businesses along a border. Moreover, the methodology of in-depth interviews with 50 entrepreneurs from SMEs along the entire border, as well as from larger parts of the county in both countries and 13 borders- and business organisations could also be used for studies in other regions. The findings could be compared with the situation in other border region and possibly be transferred directly for future actions.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Värmland County aAdministrative Board
Sweden
Norra Mellansverige
Contact
International strategist