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How to Successfully Internationalize SMEs from the CEE Region: The Role of Strategies of Differentiation and Education

Author(s): Melita Balas Rant / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2017

Purpose: The purpose of the paper is to better understand why some SMEs who pursue a niche strategy on the international scale are more effective with a differentiation via innovation while others with marketing differentiation. Methodology: Therefore, the paper studies the effectiveness of different points of differentiation (innovation, marketing) of hidden champion type of companies: (1) from the perspective of the unknowns of the key success factors in the specifc market segment, and (2) from the perspective of the professional mindset/education of the strategist. Findings: The results show that differentiation via innovation positively impacts frm performance when there are many market unknowns over key success factors, whereas marketing differentiation positively impacts frm performance when there are few market unknowns over key success factors. On the other hand, when top management earns a business education, the impact of marketing differentiation on frm performance is signifcant, positive, and strong. The effectiveness of differentiation via innovation does not depend on education. Research limitations/implications: These results mostly consider the hidden champion type of companies, which prefer not to reveal themselves or their data to the public. The transferability of this research is thus limited. Originality/value: This paper studies the hidden champion type of companies, which usually receive little attention from researchers, through the lens of differentiation via innovation and marketing differentiation as two distinct ways of competing as their effectiveness is contingent on the market unknowns.

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Impressions of Competency: Tactics and a Conceptual Model

Author(s): Julita Haber / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2017

Purpose: The study introduces a research stream of impressions of competency (IC) within the impression management feld. The need for more understanding and research on IC within the feld stems from the rising levels of information processing and competency expectations at work. This shift towards knowledge-intensive processes within organizations creates an environment in which the need to be perceived as competent has become even more relevant. As a result, employees may rely on IC tactics, if the expectation is that they appear as knowledgeable, skilled, and intelligent (i.e., competent).Methodology: The paper frst includes a new typology of IC tactics that comprises impression management strategies used by individuals specifcally to attain an enhanced image of competence in the workplace. Second, it provides a conceptual model and offers propositions with regards to the antecedents, effectiveness, and outcomes of IC tactics for consideration in future research. Conclusions: The research suggests that higher social norms of displaying competency in the workplace will contribute to higher IC tactic use especially by individuals keen on self-monitoring. Furthermore, politically skilled individuals are more effective with IC tactics, which results in more desirable evaluations of performance.Research limitations: This is a theoretical and conceptual study. It formulates propositions for further empirical research studies.Originality: This paper introduces IC within the impression management feld by identifying IC tactics and developing a conceptual model for the examination of their effectiveness in the workplace.

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Creating and Delivering Value for Consumers of Healthy Food – a Case Study of Organic Farma Zdrowia S.A.

Author(s): Paweł Bryła / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2017

Purpose: This paper aims to analyse selected aspects of the marketing strategy of the frst and biggest network of self-service shops with organic products in Poland – Organic Farma Zdrowia.Methodology: The adopted methodology involves a qualitative approach. The case study is based on an analysis of company documents and marketing communication, especially that offered on its website and in its social media channels.Findings: The company specializes in distribution of organic products in Poland. It has gone through organic growth, acquisitions, attracting a Dutch investment fund, and entering the NewConnect stock exchange. It operates based on the model of multichannel distribution, combining physical and online retailing. The assortment consists of 4,000 products, including organic food, cosmetics, and cleaning aids. The company has managed to create 3 own label product lines. The online retailer belonging to the company (organic24.pl) is organized in a professional way, although some improvements are possible. In 2015, the company engaged in ambitious marketing projects.Practical implications: The fndings may be useful for the Organic Farma Zdrowia company as certain modifcations in its marketing communication are recommended. Other companies operating in the sector may also beneft from the analysis of the strengths and weaknesses of the business in question. Furthermore, our case study may offer a framework of reference for researchers interested in this area.Originality: This is the frst study to examine the strategy and marketing activities of Organic Farma Zdrowia, a major player in the sector of organic food distribution in Poland.

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Co-branding Strategy as a Source of Innovation on International Market

Author(s): Magdalena Grębosz -Krawczyk,Jean-Marc Pointet / Language(s): English Issue: 3/2017

The aim of this paper is to identify the impact of a co-branding strategy on the innovationsdevelopment on international market. The research has been conducted in 2013–2015,and has been targeting 50 large international companies which operated in minimum 3 countriesof Europe and have implemented a co-branding strategy for 3 years. The analysis of findingshas shown that the possibility of use of the new technologies and the use of knowledge andexperience of partner’s through technical knowledge exchange are rated at the low level incase of implementation of co-branding strategy. These findings suggest that co-branding is nota source of innovation on international market due to the fact of the limited trust in the foreignpartner and the protection of own’s know-how by the companies. These outcomes confirm alsothat today the managerial actions should focus mainly on the symbolic dimension of brands.

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The Use of Virtual Reality in Ergonomic Design of Workstations

Author(s): Aleksandra Dewicka / Language(s): English Issue: 10/2017

The tools of ergonomic analysis and ergonomic design should be based on the useof virtual reality tools. The article presents available and used ergonomic software used duringthe design of workstations. After a short introduction, the virtual reality and its applicationswere discussed. The third point of this study contains the basic legal requirements relatedto the ergonomic design of workstations obtained through literature research. Then,the virtual reality in ergonomic design and its tools and techniques of ergonomic diagnosiswere discussed. The entire study is closed with a brief summary.

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ODDZIAŁYWANIE POTENCJAŁU KOMPETENCYJNEGO MENEDŻERA NA JAKOŚĆ ZARZĄDZANIA

Author(s): Kurkiewicz Iwona / Language(s): Polish Issue: 3/2017

One of the distinctive features of modern business is a noticeable alignment of views on the growing requirements for managers. Constant improvement of professional skills among people forming the core of the company and influencing its direction of actions is being more and more important. Significant development of the organization is primarily the result of the excellence in management, resulting from enhanced managerial competences. Nowadays, professional potential of managers is a key factor that influences performance of organization.

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KONSEKWENCJE CIĄGŁEGO DOSKONALENIA PROCESÓW W ORGANIZACJACH

Author(s): Renata Brajer-Marczak / Language(s): Polish Issue: 3/2016

Currently continuous improvement of processes is becoming the challenge for the whole organization. This need is driven by cost competition and a pressure of quality improvement. There are various criterions and methods that can be pointed out. In the paper, the author focuses on presenting both, benefits of the processes and potential dangers or negative outcomes, as well. The author shows organizational, social, and economic consequences.

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Supervisory Board Composition and Firm Financial Performance: A Case of Companies Listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange

Author(s): Dorota Dobija,Grygorii Kravchenko / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2017

Purpose: This paper investigates the relationship between the internal governance structure and fnancial performance of Polish companies. Ensuring diversity of corporate boards has been on the agenda of various regulators on a national and international level as it is generally expected corporate boards that are more diverse will be more competent and more effective monitoring managerial actions, and therefore positively impact company performance. Methodology: This paper uses a sample of companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange and examines the two main compositional features of company supervisory boards (independence and experience) and their practices by companies. We also investigate the effect of diversity on company performance. As our empirical methodology, we use linear regression analysis. Findings: Our fndings support the proposal that diversity matters, especially in terms of the presence of experienced members on supervisory boards, and that such diversity positively affects fnancial results. In addition to the main fnding, the results of the study indicate also the importance of the ownership structure. Family frms and companies with a higher level of gearing are more likely to perform less effectively. Originality: To date, research on the association between supervisory board diversity and fnancial performance in either the Polish or Central and Eastern European capital markets has been limited. The paper also points to the importance of having experienced members on a company’s supervisory board. Independent members on supervisory boards do not seem to have a similar association.

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The Specifcity of Boards of Directors in Russian Companies

Author(s): Monika Fiedorczuk / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2017

Purpose: The primary purpose of the article is to present the specifcity of Russian boards of directors, critically analyze their main characteristics, and consider their relations to selected corporate governance mechanisms in Russia.Methodology: The article was prepared based on specialist literature, which pertains to the theoretical aspects of the boards of directors’ activity and the changes in the corporate governance system in Russia. The qualitative research on the boards of directors’ key characteristics in the Russian public companies was based on SPARK data.Findings: The central features of the boards of directors in the Russian companies depend on the key events in the Russian economy – such as fnancial and economic crises – changes in the companies’ ownership structure, including the participation of the state in ownership, as well as on their activity on the Russian and international fnancial market.Research limitations: Research limitations resulted mainly from the lack of access to all the data about the directors of the companies under examination, including their independence from or obligation to the state institutions.Originality: The research on the Russian joint-stock companies – that is, corporate governance in Russia with its mechanisms – is a relatively new issue in the Polish specialist literature. They may be an important trigger for comparative studies in the feld of corporate governance in Central and Eastern European economies.

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Motivational Factors to be a Mentor in Formal Mentoring in Organisations. The Role of Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation in the Propensity to Mentor

Author(s): Wioletta Małota / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2017

Purpose: The purpose of the study was to examine the motivational factors of propensity to be a mentor by managers in a formal mentoring in organisations. The author addresses the importance of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations and examines their relation to the propensity to mentor. The second objective was to critically analyse whether managers deciding to mentor do so for egoistic or altruistic reasons – for self-benefts or others’ benefts. The third task concentrates on the role of extrinsic motivational factors, especially additional remuneration on the propensity to mentor.Methodology: For this study, the author applied quantitative research among Polish managers working in medium and large size organisations. The author examines the correlation between dependent and independent variables and addresses the impact of control variables as moderators.Findings: First, the results support managers’ high propensity to mentor in a formal mentoring programme. Second, the study fnds that intrinsic motivation was the salient factor taken into consideration in the propensity to mentor, whereas extrinsic motivation exerted very little influence. Third, the study confrms a pattern of motivational pluralism based on the fact that both kinds of intrinsic motivators in the propensity to mentor – for the beneft of oneself or others – appear equally signifcant. Fourth, the research fnds that additional remuneration does not motivate managers to mentor. No moderation effects of age, gender, kind of organisation and carrier level on the propensity to mentor were observed.Research implications: The confrmation of Polish managers’ high propensity to mentor contradicts conventional wisdom in some organisations that managers overloaded with work are unwilling to mentor. The fnding that managers want to be mentors may encourage organisations to implement mentoring programmes without fear of a shortage of prospective mentors. Based on observed behaviour and the importance of motivational factors, this study delivers valuable guidelines on the recruitment and selection of mentors for HR departments. The results that managers exclusively follow intrinsic motivation in the propensity to mentor should be considered in designing the methodology of mentors’ selection.

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Interorganizational Network Embeddedness and Performance of Companies Active on Foreign Markets

Author(s): Milena Ratajczak-Mrozek / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2017

Purpose: Despite the importance of innovation, the full innovation potential of companies operating in the industrial sector of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) seems not to have been unlocked yet. Thus, the primary purpose of the study was to explore the key elements of company innovation policies applied on the way to successful innovation.Methodology: The article presents results of an empirical quantitative analysis. The data has been collected through an anonymous online and postal survey. The analysis focuses on 345 companies active on foreign markets and involves a Mann-Whitney U test and a regression analysis.Findings: The conducted analysis points to the importance of the degree of interorganizational network embeddedness for the performance of companies active on foreign markets. It shows that the higher the degree of the overall network embeddedness (measured with adaptations, trust and mutuality), the higher the company’s perceived performance relative to its competitors.Research limitations: The research was burdened with such limitations as respondents experiencing time pressure and the use of only one source of information (the interviewees).Originality: Despite much general evidence, the study attempts to complement the rare qualitative studies on innovation in CEE. It was carried out as a response to the lack of an in-depth study covering such recurrent challenges in the feld of company innovation policies as disruption, portfolio balancing, integration, intangibilities’ management, and play.

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Exploring Companies’ Innovation Policies in the Industrial Sector in Central and Eastern Europe

Author(s): Dawid Szutowski,Julia Szułczyńska / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2017

Purpose: Despite the importance of innovation, the full innovation potential of companies operating in the industrial sector of Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) seems not to have been unlocked yet. Thus, the primary purpose of the study was to explore the key elements of company innovation policies applied on the way to successful innovation.Methodology: The study is based on qualitative methods. The aim of the study has been achieved through 24 semi-structured interviews conducted with senior management, project leaders, and R&D specialists employed at companies operating in the industrial sector in CEE. The time frame covers the period of the fourth quarter of 2016 and the frst quarter of 2017.Findings: Managing disruption consists of focusing on innovation development stage and following market imperatives by making the innovation try to address the market needs. Balancing portfolio requires considering product and process innovation jointly. Furthermore, 62% of the interviewees say that breakthrough innovation results ultimately from numerous incremental advancements. As far as policy integration is concerned, achieving competitive advantage through internal research is common amongst technological leaders, while market contenders turn to external cooperation. Moreover, incorporating CSV principles into the concept of innovation policy appears to be a necessity. Managing intangibilities comes down to patents.Research limitations: The research was burdened with such limitations as respondents experiencing time pressure and the use of only one source of information (the interviewees).Originality: Despite much general evidence, the study attempts to complement the rare qualitative studies on innovation in CEE. It was carried out as a response to the lack of an in-depth study covering such recurrent challenges in the feld of company innovation policies as disruption, portfolio balancing, integration, intangibilities’ management, and play.

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The effect of UTAUT2 moderator factors on citizens’ intention to adopt e-government: the case of two SADC countries

Author(s): Willard Munyoka,Manoj Maharaj / Language(s): English Issue: 1/2017

E-government is widely believed to play a significant role in improving the public service delivery system in developing countries. Yet, its adoption and utilization amongst citizens remain a subject of concern amongst government policy makers. This study aims to investigate moderating factors that influence citizens’ decisions to adopt and utilize e-government services in the SADC region. The study adopts the extended UTAUT2 model as a theoretical underpinning, backed by recent literature on e-government adoption to advance and test an e-government adoption model. Empirical quantitative data for validating the proposed model was collected from 247 participants using self-administered questionnaires.In analyzing the empirical data, five moderating demographic factors affecting citizens’ behavioral intention to adopt e-government services were tested and confirmed. The study found that only four moderating factors (age, level of education, the location of residence, and vernacular language) positively influenced citizens’ intention to adopt e-government. The study concludes by drawing attention to insights on moderating factors affecting e-government adoption, thereby casting more light to success factors and gray areas for failed adoption.

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Management of the nature conservation areas of Ukraine’s Polissya region based on the international experience

Author(s): Alina Yuryevna Yakymchuk,Taras Mykytyn,Andriy Valyukh / Language(s): English Issue: 1(cont)/2017

In ensuring sustainable development an important role belongs to natural preservation areas with different functions and modes of preservation, where an important place is occupied by natural conservation territories and natural conservation objects that form the natural reserve fund. A system of management of natural reserve fund of Ukraine is associated with many problems and shortcomings. The authors have studied the experience of efficient management of similar institutions in other countries, such as the national natural and regional landscape parks. They have outlined prospects for the development of natural reserves in Ukraine in accordance with international standards and requirements. They have also outlined innovative tools for the protection of biodiversity. They have offered a range of measures to improve the efficiency of the system of management of natural reserves based on the best international practices (establishing standard expenses of the state budgetary financing, insurance, the use of geoinformation technologies, grant projects and programs, adaptive management, restructuring of management, improvement of the organizational structure, effective system of paid services, etc.).

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Corporate Governance in Transition Economies

Author(s): Rezart Dibra / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2017

Corporate governance has become an important topic in transition economies in recent years. Directors, owners and corporate managers have started to realize that there are benefits that can accrue from having a good corporate governance structure. Good corporate governance helps to increase share price and makes it easier to obtain capital. International investors are hesitant to lend money or buy shares in a corporation that does not subscribe to good corporate governance principles. Transparency, independent directors and a separate audit committee are especially important. Some international investors will not seriously consider investing in a company that does not have these things. Corporate governance is a central and dynamic aspect of business. The development of a strong corporate governance framework is important to protect stakeholders, maintain investor confidence in the transition countries and attract foreign direct investment. This paper looks at the role of corporate governance in European transition countries in their transformation to a market economy. The paper compares the different levels of corporate governance established among the transition countries

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WEWNĘTRZNE CZYNNIKI INNOWACYJNOŚCI PRZEDSIĘBIORSTW

Author(s): Danuta Rojek / Language(s): Polish Issue: 3/2017

W artykule podjęto problematykę wewnętrznych czynników innowacyjności przedsiębiorstw. Przedstawiono wy¬brane podejścia i klasyfikacje wewnętrznych czynników innowacyjności przedsiębiorstw - zarówno na podstawie studiów literaturowych, jak i wyników zastanych badań empirycznych. Za cel przyjęto próbę agregacji czynników w grupy i wskazania zagregowanych konstruktów. W wyniku rozważań wskazano na zagregowane czynniki: technologiczne, wiedzy, zarządcze, organizacyjne, kulturowe. Podział ten może stać się inspiracją do operacjonalizacji zmiennych w ramach każdego z konstruktów i stworze¬nia narzędzi dla przeprowadzenia badań empirycznych w przedsiębiorstwach.

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TEORIA PODEJMOWANIA DECYZJI A ZARZĄDZANIE JAKOŚCIĄ

Author(s): Jan Kordos / Language(s): Polish Issue: 3/2017

Autor przedstawia wybrane źródła informacji statystyki publicznej i Internetu, które mogą być przydatne w analizach sektora prywatnego i publicznego, mogące doprowadzić do syntetycznych wniosków oraz wskazania ekonomicznych, prawnych i społecznych konsekwencji dokonywanych zmian. W związku z tym omówiono klasyfikacje danych statystyki publicznej, a także źródła Internetu gromadzące rozmaite informacje, a szczególnie Big Data przydatne w różnych analizach. Rozważano przydatność w tych analizach teorii podejmowania decyzji. Szczególną uwagę zwrócono na kryteria zarządzania jakością, uwzględniające: pewność, ryzyko i niepewność, przydatne w różnych analizach, oraz w podejmowaniu decyzji. W zakończeniu podano wnioski wynikające z rozważań.

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Finansowanie zobowiązaniami nieodsetkowymi a procesy dźwigniowe – model teoretyczny

Author(s): Tomasz Berent / Language(s): Polish Issue: 79/2016

Purpose – The objective of the paper is to present a theoretical model which allows the analysis of the leverage mechanism triggered by both debt as well as non-debt financing. Design/Methodology/approach – To research leverages originating from non-interest bearing liabilities, the analytical tools of financial leverage analysis are applied. Findings – The impact of the split into operating and financing assets as well as operating and financial liabilities is shown to materially change the leverage analysis. Originality/value – Non-financial leverages stemming from non-interest bearing operating liabilities are hardly described in financial literature. The model proposed can be applied to both diagnose the presence as well as to measure the strength of the non-financial leverages.

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Analiza ryzyka II poziomu w 3-poziomowym hierarchicznym modelu zarządzania bezpieczeństwem informacji uwzględniająca specyfiki statystyki publicznej

Author(s): Zygmunt Mazur,Janusz Pec / Language(s): Polish Issue: 52/2017

We present a proposal for including characteristics of public statistics as a precondition of validity for any level II risk analysis based on a 3-layered model of information security in a national statistic organization with hierarchical-networking corporate structure. 3-layered model is proposed using the TISM methodology. The risk analysis can be based on corporate resources or all business processes within the organization related to its security. In case of lack of a mapping of relationships between processes, there is a possibility of an imperfect substitute in the form of an analysis of specifics of organisational functions, which groups some processes by their characteristics. An example is given to illustrate utilization of the characteristics of public statistics in level II risk analysis.

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Efficiency of a Two–Stage Teaching Process in Public Institutes of Technology

Author(s): Łukasz Brzezicki,Piotr Pietrzak / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2017

The aim of the paper is to examine the relation between the domestic credit instability and the rate of inflation. Using random-effects panel logistic regression on annual data for a sample of around 160 countries over up to four decades we show that low inflation makes sizable deviations of the credit-to-GDP ratio from the trend more likely, thereby posing a dilemma for the central bank’s choice of policy goals. We find that macroprudential policies are counterproductive as they do not reduce the probability of surpassing the credit-to-GDP gap threshold of 2 and increase the probability of hitting the upper threshold of 10 in advanced economies. The use of financial institutions-targeted instruments seems to tighten the link between credit and output gaps in advanced economiesThe article attempted to simultaneously evaluate the efficiency of two stages (that is, student education and completion of education by the graduates) of the educational process in the technological institutes of higher education. An assessment of the efficiency of the teaching activity in 18 public institutes of technology in 2014–2015 was presented by the DEA method. The study used the DEA relational model, which assumes, on the one hand, the existence of a relationship between the two stages in the whole instruction process and, on the other, taking into account intermediates which link the two stages. The use of this model allows us to determine the causes of inefficiency more accurately than in the classical models. The output of the instruction process was measured by the number of graduates and the input was assumed by the number of academic teachers, non-academic staff, and the total value of the didactic work. Whereas, as a result of the first stage, which was also the input to the second stage, the number of students (output/input) was accepted. Both the efficiency of the first and second stage and the overall efficiency were estimated. The results show that efficiency varies between the two stages. Even if the general didactic activity of higher education was found inefficient, in some cases its individual stages proved to be efficient

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