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The Role of Global Cities in Creation of Innovative Industry Sectors. Case Study – Life Sciences Sector

Author(s): Sławomir Dorocki,Piotr Raźniak,Anna Winiarczyk-Raźniak,Marta Boguś / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to analyse the location of the life sciences industry as an example of the innovation industry in global cities and the role of cities as centers of innovation and progress. Two of the most developed sectors of the life science: biotechnology and pharmacy were analyzed. The analysis made an attempt on identification the most important factors which have influence on the development of the innovative sectors in the cities. The study was based on the detailed analysis of two cities with the highest global development index of the life scences: New York and Basel.Design/methodology/approach: Research based on the The EU Industrial R&D Investment Scoreboard. Determination of the most innovative cities of the LS sector in 2015/2016 was possible thanks to Potential Index of Life Sciences (PILS). It is based on the standardized values of the total R&D value in the city, the average value per company, year growth of R&D expenditures for companies and number of companies in the city. In the research, the case study of the two most innovative cities in the life sciences sector was used.Findings: The greatest agglomerations are particularly important in the development of innovative industries which have well-developed scientific and research functions apart from their industrial functions. This is caused by a strong connection with the scientific background and human resources as well as greater availability of capital through a dense network of informal contacts on the science-industry line. As our research shows, LF industry is growing in metropolitan areas like NY, London, Tokyo and Paris, as well as smaller centers like Basel, Leverkusen, Athlone, Hamilton. The common feature in thee areas is the presence of research centers and educational institutions forming industrial clusters.Research/practical implications: The analysis of the importance of the cities for the development of innovative industries allows to understand the meaning of the factors influencing the innovativeness of the industry. In the future, it will be possible, to determine the role of cities, including global cities in the model of development of the innovative industries in the world. It allows for spatial analysis of the phenomenon.Originality/value: The subject of the life sciences industry development and the role of the cities was usually taken in the aspect of the World City Network. The following, detailed analysis may complement the published data of the official reviews and the role of the innovation in the so- called global cities.

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Key Competencies in Sustainability: Assessment of Selected Academic Programmes in Management

Author(s): Nataliya Dubrovskaya,Felipe Martinez / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Purpose: This paper presents the review of the extent to which sustainability-related courses are included in business and management education curricula at selected Higher Educational Institutions (HEI) in the Czech Republic. It demonstrates how HEIs incorporate sustainability issues into preparation of future managers. Design/methodology/approach: The paper research design is qualitative analysis of business and management curricula. It is based on the investigation of courses that names are directly connected to sustainability (Palma et al., 2011). Courses mentioned in the study plan are reviewed. This paper considers curricula of public universities in the Czech Republic that offer accredited programmes in business and management. It explores curricula of academic programmes in business and management at HEIs as a preliminary reference for the research. The results provide insights for further quantitative and qualitative research. Findings: Of 14 public universities that offer “Business Economics and Management” specialization of “Economics and Management” programmes, 6 universities (around 43%) include sustainability-related courses into their curricula. Most of these courses (56%) are elective, compulsory optional courses take 38% and the rest 6% is compulsory. These courses include sustainability management, corporate social responsibility (CSR), sustainable development, environmental impact assessment (basics) and some other subjects.Research/practical implications: The paper provides evidence for representation of sustainability-related courses in business and management programmes. However, the present study has lack of confirmation if students graduate with sustainability capabilities. The key competencies in sustainability (KCS) framework (Wiek et al., 2011) supports implementation of sustainability-related courses into academic programmes that prepare future managers. The further research will explore competencies that sustainability-related courses form.Originality/value: This research demonstrates the HEI attention to sustainability courses in programmes that focused on economic pillar of sustainable development. The paper contributes to HEI programmes development by suggesting the possible way of including sustainability competencies into non-sustainability oriented programmes.

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Foreign Direct Investments as a Tool of the Expansion of Chinese Corporations in V4 Countries

Author(s): Tomáš Dudáš / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Purpose: China is rapidly changing nowadays from a foreign direct investment (FDI) host country to a major investor country on a global scale. Many Chinese corporations are expanding into the international markets and they use FDI as a tool of expansion at an increasing rate. The aim of this paper is to map the expansion of Chinese corporations into the Visegrad group (V4) countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia) through FDI in these countries.Design/methodology/approach: The paper collects FDI data from the official government (Chinese and V4) and private databases to map the Chinese FDI in V4 countries since the beginning of the 21st century. The data will be used to create a comparative study of the V4 countries to localize the most important avenues for the Chinese expansion in these countries.Findings: Using several sources of Chinese OFDI data we demonstrated that these countries are on the periphery of the attention of Chinese companies. However, the FDI activities of Chinese companies clearly increased in the V4 countries after 2005 and this trend is likely to continue also in the coming years. The Chinese FDI projects in V4 countries are mostly concentrated in various sectors of the industry with machinery and electronics being the most important sectors. The events of the last several years show an increased interest of Chinese companies in the energy sector of the V4 countries, what will require a lasting policy response from the governments of the V4 countriesResearch/practical implications: The paper synthesizes several sources of Chinese OFDI data and includes (limited) policy implications for V4 governments facing giant state-owned Chinese corporations.Originality/value: The paper fills a void in an increasingly important research area as the expansion of Chinese corporations in Europe accelerated in the last years.

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Are Publicly Supported Companies in the Czech Food and Drink Industry Performing Better? Initial Findings from the Microdata

Author(s): Ondřej Dvouletý,Ivana Blažková / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Purpose: The objective of this study was to empirically observe, whether the Czech companies, which have received a financial subsidy from the European Regional Development Fund during the period of years 2008-2013, reported after the end of the programme better financial results. Design/methodology/approach: For each of the supported companies, authors have collected financial indicators obtained from their profit and loss statements and balance sheets (N=140, 69% of the supported companies in the sector). The three key performance indicators (KPIs) were selected to measure the firm profitability: return on assets (ROA), return on equity (ROE) and price-cost margin (PCM). Authors employed t-test to initially compare the periods before the firms received the subsidy (2005-2007) and after the end of the programme (2014-2015). Findings: The results of the paired t-tests have not found any statistically significant differences for the variables price-cost margin (PCM) and return on equity (ROE). However, the statistically significant difference was obtained for the return on assets (ROA), which suggested that the supported firms reported after the end of programme lower return on assets (ROA). Research/practical implications: Our initial observation suggests that participation of the Czech food companies in the Operational Programme Enterprise and Innovation did not lead to the better financial performance. However, our results need to be taken as preliminary, since more rigorous approach towards the programme evaluation needs to be implemented. This approach would require employment of the counterfactual analysis (CFA), taking into account large heterogeneity across the companies. CFA would also allow us to compare the supported companies with the similar firms present in the economy. Originality/value: Presented study exploits unique firm level dataset and contributes to the Czech regional knowledge by the first observation of the short-term effects of the participation in the public programme.

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Who Is Really Residing in the Czech Business Incubators?

Author(s): Ondřej Dvouletý,Michal Andera,Martin Lukeš,Zuzana Oravcová / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Purpose: There is no official statistics on types of companies that reside in business incubators and accelerators. Purpose of this study is to shed some light on who is using services of the business incubators in the Czech Republic. Design/methodology/approach: Since November 2016, we have contacted via phone and email representatives of the Czech entrepreneurial infrastructure. We have managed to get self-reported list of supported enterprises from 32 (51%) out of 63 Czech business incubators and accelerators. In total, we have received 894 names of companies, and out of them we were able to identify 794 (89%) companies. The identification and verification was conducted with a help of business register and database Albertina. We used Albertina database further to obtain firm´s characteristics.Findings: Supported companies are most densely located in Prague, Moravia-Silesia and South Moravia regions. Most of the enterprises are companies with limited liabilities. We report slightly higher failure rate among the incubated companies when compared to the ratio of companies which annually withdraw from business and the total amount of economically active enterprises. Financial data show that more than half of the companies reported annual turnover lower than 2 mil. CZK. Based on Chi-square test, we confirmed association between the year of official registration and revenues’ size of the supported companies. Research/practical implications: Our study offered initial insight into the performance of the companies supported by entrepreneurial infrastructure in the Czech Republic. Building upon presented findings, a more sophisticated analysis of the financial performance, based on historical data and variety of indicators, is needed in order to obtain more robust results. Originality/value: Presented study exploits a unique glimpse of the ecosystem reality on the level of tenant firms, revealing which companies are really using the incubators and what is their performance.

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Entrepreneurship Lost and Found

Author(s): Daniel Ericsson,Patrik Persson / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Purpose: In light of the many attempts within the social/societal turn of entrepreneurship to disconnect entrepreneurship from economic rationality and embrace it as an act of social becoming, the purpose is to reconnect entrepreneurship to its primary function within the capitalist regime: to make money and accumulate capital. This function, it is argued, is lost in present day research on entrepreneurship, and the aim therefore is to present a framework in which both economic and social aspects are found crucial for understanding entrepreneurship.Design/methodology/approach: Following post-positivist research traditions the research is based on an auto-ethnographic case study of entrepreneurship in the field of music. In focus is the phenomenon of collecting records, and the cultural web of social and economic significances that unfolds by means of the authors confessional tales about engaging in record collecting is used as an interpretative lever to question the dichotomy between social and economic rationality and value within contemporary research on entrepreneurship.Findings: In contrast to becoming or being perspectives on entrepreneurship, our interpretations lead us to frame entrepreneurship in terms of a having-mode. This mode in turn suggests a primary epistemic orientation based upon three interrelated socio-economic aspects: 1) a systemic know-what in order to distinguish field-specific values from non-value, 2) a systemic know-how to convert social value into economic value, and vice versa; and 3) a systemic know-how to create, capitalise upon and accrue field specific surplus value.Research/practical implications: The proposed framework breaks with both modern and postmodern notions of entrepreneurship, and thereby opens up new vistas for research on entrepreneurship as intrinsically a social and economic phenomenon.Originality/value: By opening up new vistas for research on entrepreneurship, alternative ways of describing, prescribing and understanding entrepreneurship are offered.

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Analytical View of the Determinants that Affect the Customer Satisfaction in Accommodation Business Based on Online Customer Reviews

Author(s): Richard Fedorko,Radovan Bačík,Jakub Horváth / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Purpose: The aim of the article is to describe the specific aspects affecting online reputation of Slovak hotels based on customer reviews.Design/methodology/approach: For the purposes of collecting primary data the crucial factor for the selection of hotels was identification of the suitable Tripadvisor rating focused on post-stay evaluation of hotels in Slovakia. Automatic data collection method was used for the observed variables (evaluations) within selected hotels ratings. The total of 19 226 evaluations of 333 hotels were analyzed. The main focus was given to customer overall satisfaction with a hotel in relation with selected variables. Data collection was carried out at the end of 2015. Based on the nature of the variables we used correlation analysis and regression analysis.Findings: The results of the research showed that there exists a direct relation between the overall customer rating and selected variables such as Sleep quality, Rooms, Service and Cleanliness.Research/practical implications: It can be concluded that hotels do not fully exploit the potential of modern marketing communication tools to promote their facilities. We therefore recommend these hotels to invest their time and effort into variables (factors affecting customer satisfaction) that have the ambition to positively influence their online reputation and thus attract new and old customers. Originality/value: The aim of this paper is to help hotels with their marketing strategies so they will better understand the factors that influence customer satisfaction. The analysis was conducted based on the research gap in the studies related to the factors that affect the satisfaction of customers of entities providing accommodation services.

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The Analysis of the Importance of Online and Offline Marketing Communication Tools when Searching for Business Entities from the Point of View of Consumers

Author(s): Richard Fedorko,Radovan Bačík,Jakub Horváth,Ján Mihál / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Purpose: The aim of the article is to find out how customers perceive online and offline communication channels SME’s use to communicate with their target audience in online and offline environments alike and how such communication affects behaviour of their consumers. Design/methodology/approach: The aim was to identify attitudes and preferences of the respondents in relation to the traditional (offline) forms of marketing communication and internet (online) forms of marketing communication focusing on SME’s. The primary source was data collected from questionnaires filled out by inhabitants of eastern region of Slovakia. We have reached out to 1,055 respondents of which 987 subsequently featured in our analysis. Data collection was conducted through simple random sampling in October and November 2016. To verify the hypotheses, we used the software STATISTICA. Due to the nature of the analyzed variables we used two-tailed Wilcoxon test.Findings: The results of the research showed that the difference between offline and online sources of information with regard to the influence of the information carrier, the usefulness of information carriers when searching for service providers and the usefulness of information carriers when obtaining information about service providers is purely accidental in nature and not statistically significant. Generally, it can be stated that a total of 72.44% of the respondents prefer getting information about products and services on the Internet or using online marketing tools.Research/practical implications: The results of our research are relevant to SME's who are skeptical towards the online environment of the Internet and marketing communication conducted within it. The research results should help SME's to decide on the strategic direction of their marketing communication. Moreover, the results show that online marketing tools are easily accessible and more efficient in terms of time and finances than conventional marketing tools.Originality/value: The aim of this paper is to help clarify the impact the selected promotion tools have when reaching target audiences of SME’s. The analysis was conducted based on the research gap in the studies related to SME’s online and offline marketing communication.

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The Impact of Selected Changes in Business Environment on Small Enterprises in the Czech Republic

Author(s): Vendula Fialová,Andrea Kolková,Andrea Folvarčná,Radim Maňák / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Purpose: This article aims to explore the impact of selected factors of development in business environment on numbers of entrepreneurs doing business as main and secondary activity in the Czech Republic. To the chosen factors of entrepreneurial environment belong especially amount of average wage, amount of advances on social and health insurance, unemployment. The aim of the research is to demonstrate that changes in the aforementioned factors are associated with the development of numbers of entrepreneurs who do business as main and secondary activity, including a comparison in the various regions of the Czech Republic, especially in the Moravian-Silesian Region.Design/methodology/approach: This article aims to demonstrate the impact and the statistical dependence of selected factors on the state of business environment and the number of entrepreneurs entering into business as main and secondary activity and to find out why the number of full-time entrepreneurs has been steadily declining in the Czech Republic. The statistical data used for the research are from the years 2009 to 2016 and came from the Czech Statistical Office, from and the Czech Social Security Administration and General Medical Insurance. The research methods of regression and correlation analysis have been used to analyse the aforementioned data. Findings: The article did not unequivocally prove the connection between number of entrepreneurs conducting business as their main and secondary activity and the average wage, rate of unemployment, and the amount of social security and health insurance payments. Mutual ties were identified in Moravian-Silesian region as well as in the Czech Republic. Research/practical implications: The research points to how the changes in business environment affect number of self-employed people and how they may have a long-term effect on the willingness of people to start their own businesses. Given the diversity and multitude of influences of business environment, other effects should be explored and compared in the future in order to stop this decrease in number of self-employed people who conduct business as their main activity and prevent a possible lack of entrepreneurs in the future. Originality/value: The article opens up new perspectives on the development in the number of entrepreneurs in the Czech Republic and factors which can have an influence on the willingness of people to enter into business whether it be their main or secondary activity.

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Technology Innovations as Drivers of Hotel Attractiveness

Author(s): Tamara Floričić,Nadia Pavia / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Purpose: In striving to achieve business excellence, hotel companies recognise the importance of new solutions that affect hotel attractiveness and boost demand. In order to implement adequate and optimised innovative concept they need to choose suitable innovations and to test their attractiveness. The aim and purpose of this paper is to explore tourist demand focused on youth tourism within the framework of experimental hospitality innovations. Why experimental hospitality innovations and how can they be organised and valorised within the tourism system? The possible answers emerge in attractiveness exploration and understanding the Millenials as new consumers segment that seeks new excitement, exploration and solutions. Design/methodology/approach: The research includes quantitative as well as qualitative methods which explore the attitudes of tourist demand through 88 questionnaires conducted in January 2017 processed by statistical methodology including chi-squared test (February to May 2017). Methods of best practice research (February, March 2017) that are presented in framework of experimental technologies and creative thinking techniques are implemented and oriented towards creation of a new model that could impact demand of a specific market segment – youth tourists. The presented model of innovative solutions, created in March 2017) recognises categories of innovations that could impact perception of potential consumers about hospitality attractiveness.Findings: Presented research suggests conclusions that would influence new knowledge and present the platform for innovative connections of industry stakeholders including hotel companies and technological innovations companies which could implement and test their innovative product and valuate it by actual consumers, hotel guests. Findings point to conclusions which confirm willingness of youngsters to stay in innovation test hotel, to evaluate and rank selected groups of innovations and to pay the market price for this special experience of being the part of product or service innovation process. Research/practical implications: Paper proposes a new concept of development of hospitality structures that both innovatively organise hotel product and place it on tourism market, and support development and implementation of technological and organisational innovations as a new service that enriches hotel product. The concept provides the responses of tourist demand on sight in real time and that research results present indicative guidelines for further investments. Originality/value: The contribution of this paper is reflected in a both a proposal of new approach and suggestion of innovations as marketing value for hotel companies when considering orientation towards demand as a selective market segment and as a mix of various innovative aspects that form hotel service: technology, organisation, service, experience, architecture and design.

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New Approaches to Optimization of Logistic Processes

Author(s): Ivo Formánek,Radim Farana / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

The paper aims to inform about practical experiences of our team with logistic processes optimization. The optimization is done both by application of contemporary ICT technologies and by advanced technologies working with artificial intelligence - especially with fuzzy logic and expert systems. The methodology begins with thorough data and process analysis, continues with data mining and ends with new processes definition, measurement and visualization. An important requirement is also the economic sustainability of the proposed solutions. Special emphasise in the paper is laid on distribution storages processes working with very limited working space for goods storing.Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to inform about the results of applied research in industrial enterprises. Design/methodology/approach: Our research concentrates on application of advanced ICT technologies that make good use of mobile technologies and technologies working with artificial intelligence - especially with fuzzy logic and expert systems. The methodology begins with thorough analysis, continues with data optimization and ends with right process definition, measurement and visualization.Findings: We analysed a couple of industrial organizations having troubles with regular, effective and efficient logistic processes. We found out that the logistic processes in many organizations are not defined enough and in case of unexpected situations (e.g. production breakdowns, missing trucks or too early, resp. too late trucks arrivals etc.) the logistics control is based only on operators’ experience, simple delivery data identification and mobile phones. Our solution leads to economy information support being able to react also to unusual events.Research/practical implications: Based on our experience we can say that the only consistent optimization and consistent automation of all processes can lead to optimal management of logistic processes in organizations. The great hope for the future is the concept of Industry 4.0, which allows very thorough but not too expensive supervision of all activities that can affect management of processes in organizations.Originality/value: The research is carried out in the current industrial organizations. The organizations are looking for solutions that enable effective, efficient and long term sustainable complex solutions supporting logistic processes. The requirement for economy of the processes is also very important.

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Supporting Sustainability and Innovation by Value-oriented Leadership

Author(s): Patricia Girrbach / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Purpose: Innovation in terms of sustainability requires appropriate leadership, values and circumstances. Although the concept of sustainability is well known nevertheless indeed there is a great discrepancy between theory and practice. Therefore, the aim of this paper is offering an appropriate leadership concept named Silent Leadership (SL) in order to reduce this discrepancy and to support innovation in sustainability-oriented companies.Design/methodology/approach: The paper is based on a current study conducted by the Wertekommission 2016. The study is based on interviews with 674 German executives of the middle and higher management. On the basis of this data a contemporary leadership concept is developed which takes the results of the research into consideration.Findings: The research covers an important topic of appropriate leadership style, which could lead towards more successful sustainability innovations in companies by closing the discrepancy existing in companies in terms of desirable and actual values. Research/practical implications: The paper includes implications for a new kind of leadership named silent leadership which serves as an appropriate concept for managing the challenges in terms of sustainability and innovation processes caused in a rapidly changing world.Originality/value: This paper fulfils an identified need to reduce the actual discrepancy between desirable and actual corporate values in order to support sustainability as well as innovation in companies.

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CSR as a Marketing Area of Higher Education Stakeholders

Author(s): Hanna Hall / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Purpose: The aim of the article is to analyze the perceptions and expectations of key university stakeholders - students, in relation to corporate social responsibility (CSR) of higher education institutions, as the main marketing area of stakeholders of these institutions. The author’s studies were completed with the use of FGI (Focus Group Interview). The interviews were recorded using a voice recorder, and immediately after their completion, they were transcribed, the material was selected and ordered according to the research problems, an analysis and interpretation of the content. The results and conclusions drawn from the article were then presented.Design/methodology/approach: The studies were of qualitative character and were completed with the use of Focus Group Interview, among 5 groups of students of Rzeszow University of Technology (PRz). Each group consisted of 5-6 people who volunteered to participate in the study. The studies lasted two months - February and March 2017. Additionally, the study was complemented by “In Deph Inteview” with the head of the Career and Promotion Department of PRz. The main purpose of the interview was to know the areas of activity of the University in the CSR. The interview was conducted on 22.03.2017. Findings: The research is in progress, it is assumed, however, that the expectations of students in relation to the social responsibility of the university are the expectations associated with both the statutory activity of the university (i.e. reliable education, upbringing, shaping civic attitudes of students) and additional one (e.g. an attractive education offer to children and young people from the region, supporting charities, activities for persons with disabilities, in favor of sport, arts and culture, environmental protection).Research/practical implications: The results of the social responsibility of universities, and especially those on the expectations of their key stakeholders - students, in this regard, can be effectively used by higher education institutions interested in innovative solutions in the field of marketing. By an implementation of solutions based on the results presented in the article and primary and secondary research, schools will be able to reach out more effectively to candidates as well as to develop its positive - pro-social image among all groups of stakeholders.Originality/value: The subject of social responsibility of marketing in relation to higher education is a new area of theoretical knowledge and practice which is rarely tackled in specialist publications in the area of university marketing. But it seems to be extremely important and future-oriented field of knowledge and looking at a growing interest in CSR in the near future, the standard area of activities of each university.

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Project Management In the Czech Republic: Is It Time for Innovation?

Author(s): Majra Hodžić,Helena Hrůzová / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Purpose: The importance of project management has hastily increased and its rapid development and tendency towards innovation made it one of the key components of the organizations’ performance. Therefore, the main purpose of this paper was to conduct a systematic study of the current situation and practices in the field of project management in the Czech Republic. Three areas of project management are closely studied: stakeholders´ main demands and requests, main characteristics of project management and level of use of the project management methods. Methodology: The study consists of the analysis of primary and secondary data. The cross-sectional online survey comprising of 3 parts was conducted in 2016 in Czech Republic and yielded 118 usable responses. Furthermore, the results of the author’s survey were compared with the results of similar surveys from the last 5 years. Kruskal-Wallis test has been used to support the claims. Findings: The survey showed that working in project management is arduous. There is an increase in the level of use of basic project management methods. Moreover, there is a link between the definition of successful project and project success factors and stakeholders’ demands of the projects. Finally, there are important empirical insights showing broader implementation of project management, although no essential overall progress was noted in the project management in the last 5 years. Thus, project management is a file for innovation.Research: This study indicates the necessity of innovation such as development of the basic framework for the project governance approaches as well as increase in the use of available project management methods. Future research should focus on analysis of the overall status of project governance approaches as well as on the issues of determination of project scope and risk management within projects.Value: This study looks at the project management from the multi-factor perspective and addresses the current situation indicating innovative directions of development as well as broader application of project management methods, which are not much researched in the region.

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Factors Affecting Performance of Employees in SMEs

Author(s): Darja Holátová / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Purpose: Performance is one of the most important conditions of successful existence of firms in the market. The performance of an enterprise is made up of individual labour productivity of employees. It is influenced by many factors. The paper deals with the influence of some factors of human resource management at employee individual labour productivity in small and medium-sized enterprises in the region of South Bohemia. The factors in this paper are the following: monitoring of the objectives of the company, determine company´s strategy, the existence of trade unions in the company, drawing up the plans of the number of employees.Design/methodology/approach: Our database uses both quantitative and qualitative data. The data from the documentation of an enterprise were used, such as the value (financial) indicators of production and non-production activities, including financial analysis, and the data on human resources. Economic data were also obtained by tracing in annual reports and reports of financial results of the enterprise. A questionnaire survey was a part of the research. The research sample includes 300 SMEs from South Bohemia, which were chosen by random selection.Findings: The Paper explores the factors influencing the Performances of employees in small and medium enterprises in the region. The data obtained and the results show that the factors affecting the performance of employees only include checking the fulfilment of objectives. Work performance decreases with decreasing frequency of checks.Research/practical implications: This paper deals with the influence of selected tools of human resources management in small and medium-sized enterprises on the work performance of employees. Individual labour productivity was calculated by value added divide to re-count number of employees, which is the most exact methods. Originality/value: This paper identified which tools of HR management can influenced the output of the SMEs.

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What Drives Student Entrepreneurs? Guesss Evidence from V4 Countries

Author(s): Marian Holienka,Péter Gál,Zuzana Kovacicova / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Purpose: Student entrepreneurship is an important phenomenon within the entrepreneurial dynamics. At universities, students have access to broad knowledge and networks, and student status gives some freedom and space for experimenting before entering the “real” life with all its responsibilities. However, as in the general population, while some students get engaged in the enterprising efforts, the others remain distant. With business activities established already during the studies, the transition from student life to economic activity is smoother. Thus, our aim is to find out what drives student entrepreneurs in Visegrad countries in their business activities during their university studies.Design/methodology/approach: Our analysis is built on data from Global University Entrepreneurial Spirit Students’ Survey (GUESSS), an extensive academic study on student entrepreneurship, collected in the 2016 wave. Our main sample comprises of 15,971 university students from V4 countries (Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia). Potential drivers from individual human and social capital characteristics, perceived institutional support, and demographic attributes are examined in our analysis, using the logistic regression method. We focus especially on promisingly sustainable student entrepreneurs with already active businesses who plan to continue them also after completing their studies. Findings: Our findings indicate the main drivers leading university students to engage in entrepreneurial activity with perspective that exceeds the scope of student life. According to our results, gender (being a male) and increasing age play significant role, together with dropping number of years to finish studies. Intensity of entrepreneurship education and studying in a business-related field also positively affect inclination to running an own business. Finally, having enterprising parents significantly drives student entrepreneurship as well.Research/practical implications: Based on the results of our analysis, we develop recommendation for policy makers and education programmers to utilize the entrepreneurial potential across universities in V4 countries and encourage more students to engage in sustainable business ventures. Universities should capitalize upon the existing generally established influences that also work for student population, but, at the same time, they need to target problematic issues (such as gender gap or business family gap) and develop focused and tailored actions to solve them through modified proven instruments.Originality/value: Most studies take student entrepreneurs as a homogeneous group. However, according to empirical results only a half of them plan to continue with their businesses after completing their studies, while the others consider their enterprising as temporary or side activity. Therefore, we distinguish between the two, and focus our investigation only on student entrepreneurs declaring the long-term focus (i.e. active and prospective entrepreneurs), that implies a more promising future impact. With this unique perspective, we contribute to the existing body of knowledge on student entrepreneurship.

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Utilization of Financial Support Programs by Slovak Enterprises

Author(s): Lenka Hvolková,Vladimíra Klementová / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Purpose: Small and medium-sized enterprises are in general facing a wide range of barriers and one of the most important barrier for their development is a lack of money. Therefore, the governments usually create a collection of support programs that help companies to eliminate these obstacles. The main aim of the paper is to evaluate how Slovak SMEs utilize support programs of the Slovak government and European Union in their business activities. On the base of the findings the paper will also contain suggestions how this type of support can become more available for Slovak companies in future. Design/methodology/approach: The main objective of the paper is achieved through the empirical research performed in 2016 on the sample of Slovak companies via electronic questionnaire. We have distributed questionnaires to the 2 500 potential respondents, the rate of return was 3,2 %. We have formulated two hypotheses, the first one defined an assumption that Slovak micro enterprises were mostly interested in obtaining grant for self-employed person. The hypothesis H2 was based on the premise that the bureaucracy and administrative burden are the strongest barriers in applying for financial support programs.Findings: The paper brings empirical findings about how the Slovak enterprises perceive the financial support programs provided by the state institutions and institutions from European Union; it also identifies main obstacles for obtaining of this type of financial resources.Research/practical implications: The study includes implications for the improvement of the state system that is supporting Slovak companies. It also analyses current activities of the public sector, e. g. the existence of Better Regulation Centre and National Business Centre. In future it is necessary to extend the existing research in the number of respondents and also deeper insights into specific support programs. Originality/value: This study contains feedback from enterprises, i. e. recipients of the support programs that bring important information for the state institutions and European institutions in order to provide more effective support in future

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Application of Mystery Calling Method in Car Dealerships – Polish-Czech Research

Author(s): Katarzyna Hys,Liliana Hawrysz,Roman Kozel,Šárka Vilamová / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Purpose: The objective of this article is to present research results assessing standards of the telephone service carried out by employees of car dealerships. Methodology: The research was conducted based on a developed conceptual model which was empirically verified by Mystery Calling method. In order to obtain results of this measurement, the original interview questionnaire was elaborated. Findings: It was established that although customers recognize the areas for improvement, general standards of customer service have been assessed positively. Practical implications: Although the study has been carried out on a selected cohort of respondents, it was observed that the obtained results might have implications for the whole automotive industry. Results have indicated the need to strengthen employees from the mental and professional side. Further empirical studies should be carried out for a larger sample of companies. The model and methods are universal and can be adapted to evaluate other services. Originality/value: This research sheds light on the research gaps regarding the evaluation standards of call service by the customer of the car dealerships. The originality of the research consists in implementing it in two European countries. Moreover, specific research tools were developed taking into account requirements of the testing environment. Due to deliberative actions, results have comparative and utilitarian value.

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Evaluating Level of Enterprise Innovativeness Through Innovation Ratios

Author(s): Hana Janáková,Róbert Tomčík / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Purpose: An extension of theoretical and methodological approaches focused on assessment of the financial and innovation performance of enterprises was the main reason for preparing this paper. The aim consists of ratios proposal, allowing a general innovative-output analysis, mainly in connection with financial questions of a company. Subsequently, their use in preparing the equations describing innovative performance of enterprises according to detailed specification (sector assignment, company size, legal form, etc.) is assumed.Design/methodology/approach: Based on current findings and information obtained from financial analysis, innovation management and published statistics on innovation, research and development, a set of indicators, which are able to quantify the innovative performance, was created. Analysis (subsequently followed by synthesis) further divided into ratio analysis, vertical analysis and decomposition of indicators were used in drawing up the innovative-oriented ratios. Saaty's criteria weighting method has been recommended in the process of compiling equations used to quantify the level of innovativeness among enterprises.Findings: According to the theoretical and practical knowledge contained primarily in professional literature and by the use of selected methods, a set of categorized ratios, describing the financial characteristics of the company in connection with implemented innovations, was drew up. These characteristics include, for example, profitability of innovation outputs in a certain period of time, the impact of ongoing or finished innovations on liquidity, cost ratios on innovations and so on.Research/practical implications: Simple evaluation process of both innovative and financial performance for a certain period is considered as the main outcome for practice. Future research may be focused on incorporation of the identified indicators (ratios) into comprehensive models, enabling to describe the innovative performance of a particular group of companies (due to selected conditions or restrictions) more sophisticated and with higher-explanatory power.Originality/value: The aim of the paper constitutes initial phase of the prepared research that will be focused on evaluating the innovative performance and activity of industrial companies according to selected sector. However, it is assumed much higher applicability of the proposed ratios.

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Building Lean Bodies With Lean Management: Implementation of Lean Principles in Entrepreneurship

Author(s): Jan Janečka,Felipe Martinez / Language(s): English Publication Year: 0

Purpose: This paper presents the entrepreneurship specifics of lean management implementation for continuous innovation and business sustainability. It summarises the results of lean management implementation in a condition and strength-building company. The firm applies a community-based business model. The firm expansion and the constraints on the operational management processes of this SME motivate the research.Design/methodology/approach: The research design for the paper is a case study (Bryman & Bell, 2015). The research explores the implementation of lean principles and tools in the firm. The case study compares the specific parameters of the internal processes before and after lean implementation. The parameters vary based on the project but are usually time, distance and financial aspects. Personal interviews with first-line workers provide information about the consequences of this approach among the personnel.Findings: The firm applies lean principles and tools in the processes of Check-in, Purchase, Supply and Check-out. Lean implementation provides specific improvements in these processes such as 66% reduction in lead time, 85% reduction in distance and the creation of the first standard for these processes. Preliminary non-structured interviews show the positive reaction of the personnel with reference to the lean implementation. The sustainability of the business model requires standards at each small activity of the organization. These standards allow the organisation to learn from their activities, to track improvements and they provide management with clear information about operations.Research/practical implications: The paper offers new evidence of lean implementation in a non-traditional and modern sector. The firm obtains practical implementations to improve its operation. Future research will explore the operations leanness of similar organisations.Originality/value: The novelty of the paper confronts the expectation that a company with a mission to help people build lean bodies possess a lean operation. However, process mapping and other lean analysis suggests the opposite. The evidence from this case study brings value and motivation to many entrepreneurs for other similar companies.

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