SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AS A DETERMINANT IN THE IMPROVEMENT OF ORGANIZATIONAL COMPETITIVENESS (CASE STUDY)

Author(s): Kornelia Polek-Duraj / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2017

The level of involvement of Polish companies, especially micro, small and medium-sized ones, in their activities consistent with the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility is relatively small. On the one hand, it may be due to poor knowledge concerning this subject, especially about the benefits that derive from it, and what can be achieved (e.g. improved image, increased competitiveness, the ability to innovate). On the other hand, there is a need to bear, particularly in the beginning, the necessary costs, and this reimbursement is not immediately felt by the company. The aim of this article is to present a way of implementing the concept of Corporate Social Responsibility and its impact on improving the competitiveness of the audited company. The analysis was carried out at the largest wood processing plant in the Opole region.

Youth Unemployment and Economic Growth: Lesson From Low-Income Countries in Sub-Saharan Africa

Author(s): Ihensekhien Orobosa Abraham,Asekome Mike Ozemhoka / Language(s): English Issue: 2/2017

The paper examines the empirical relationship between youth unemployment rate and economic growth rate in low-income countries in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). To achieve the objectives of the paper, Panel Least Squares and Ordinary Least Squares techniques were adopted to estimate the model using annual data from 1991 to 2013. The paper found that the average GDP growth rate for low-income countries in SSA within the period of the study was 3.8 % while that of average youth unemployment rate was 9.4%. It was observed there exists negative relationships between youth unemployment and economic growth variables inthe panel result while in the individual countries cases some countries were found to have positive relationship between the two variables of unemployment and economic growth rates indicating a case of non existence of Okun’s law. Hence, the negative coefficients observed indicated the existence of Okun’s law in some low-income countries. The findings, therefore, suggest that individual countries should create more jobs based on labour intensive industries, that the governments of these low-income countries should promote youth empowerment schemes by creating the needed policy environment, that the ratio of output growth needed to maintain stable level of youth unemployment rate could be sustained when there are boost in economic activities that will encouraged investment and employment. Few countries that exhibited positive relationship between youth unemployment rate and economic growth rate should focus more on how to increase the level of economic activities through the application of policy mix that would generate more investment in these countries.

THE PHENOMENON OF FOREIGN MIGRATIONS AND SELECTED ASPECTS OF THE DEVELOPMENT OF HUMAN CAPITAL

Author(s): Eugeniusz Zdrojewski,Aneta Kisiel / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2017

THE PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS RIGHT.

Author(s): Catalin Ghinararu / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2017

The paper aims to clarify in terms of political economy why countries in Central and EasternEurope, with a special and distinct focus on Romania are seemingly unable, at least in the short andmedium term, to positively alter their relative position inside the wider European economic area andparticularly inside the European Union of which they are recent member states. Commencing on a statement made by Jean Francois Revel in the mid nineties and which epitomizes the travails such an economy has to endure in order to make the transition from Plan to Market, the paper then develops on the basis of the postulate of the Stolper-Samuleson theorem which states that a developing economy is not necessarily best served by excessive openness to trade flows. The paper argues, with data, that while benefits of the integration into the single market are to a certain extent undeniable, so are the costs and for some reasons, which are explained in the paper, the latter sometimes outweigh the benefits. Small open economies are adversely affected by the excessive openness to trade brought by the integration as instead of a “normal” relation of interdependence they tend to fall into a relation of “dependence” and thereby land into the undesired and undesirable status of “dependency”. Dependencies are bound to “trail” their “metropolis of sorts” and thus an improvement in their relative position becomes hardly possible or simply takes a long time, which is difficult to accept for its inhabitants. Accordingly, people are simply RIGHT to be angry and frustrated about it, but they were also RIGHT when they joined, simply because when they exited communism, they did not realize that they were not at the level at which they entered it, but were very far below it!

Cутність та структура інтелектуального капіталу фірми

Author(s): K. H. Hubin / Language(s): Ukrainian Issue: 21/2015

The article considers the sense and structure of firm intellectual capital as a synergetic factor of production. The author has proved necessity of division of firm intellectual capital into inter-specific, specific, and universal ones according to a criterion of possibility of application in other firms. The article indicates a place of firm intellectual capital within a system of production factors and its distinctions from other production factors.

Ціна інтелектуальних послуг у контексті ціннісно-мережевого підходу

Author(s): O. V. Yarmak / Language(s): Ukrainian Issue: 25/2016

The author has indicated the investment effect of intellectual services. The article proves that this effect should be taken into account in determination of their vale and price. The author has substantiated theoretical frameworks of the value network approach to determination of a price for intellectual services and developed a model of pricing based on the interaction of prices for several services.

Юридичні послуги у сфері інтелектуальної власності: економічна та соціальна ефективність

Author(s): O. M. Levkovets / Language(s): Ukrainian Issue: 26/2016

The problem of the contradictions of economic and social efficiency of legal services in IP is formulated. The main groups (types) of legal services in IP are classified; peculiarities of modern securing technology are identified. Conflict potential economic and social efficiency of legal services is demonstrated on the bases of goals, principles of the system PEIPR as a social technology, legal institution, considering specific function the law firm as a business entity, the characteristics of relations in the field of IP. The rating of consequences for the formation of the legal economy is implemented. The ways of neutralizing the aforementioned risks are defined.

Теоретичні конструкції креативної економіки

Author(s): Liubov Fedulova / Language(s): Ukrainian Issue: 31/2017

The article deals with theoretical and methodological aspects of the concept of a creative economy formation, the differences between the main types of economies are determined. The approaches of scientists to reveal the essence of creativity, creative industries and the corresponding generalizations and substantiation have been analyzed. The role of the creative type of economy at the present stage of global sustainable socio-economic development is revealed.

W stronę dobrostanu. Działalność instytucji finansowych a nieracjonalność człowieka

Author(s): Aleksander Ostapiuk / Language(s): Polish Issue: 17/2018

Nowadays, more than ever firms especially connected with financial industry declare corporate social responsibility. The article has two goals. Firstly, it shows that there is no need to introduce new ethical rules in conducting business. It is enough to follow freemarket rules which assume mutual benefits from exchange. Secondly, it is argued that firms need to look broader at the people’s welfare. In order to do this, the conception of wellbeing is presented which is much broader than the economic welfare conception. Due to the cognitive restrains people cannot achieve well-being and satisfy their “real” preferences. The author argues that firms have to be concerned about well-being to make benefits from exchange mutual. In order to achieve this, firms can nudge people into right choices which would be taken if it was not for the cognitive biases. To do this, firms can use the libertarian paternalism conception. Besides analysing this conception, the author presents reasons why libertarian paternalism could be the method which helps people to increase their well-being and have freedom.

THE NEED OF FLEXIBLE ADAPTATION TO THE CONTINUOUS ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE

Author(s): George BUCĂȚA,Elisabeta-Emilia Halmaghi / Language(s): English Issue: 12/2017

In business, the flexibility is the art of work and perform within, but also outside the rules, policies or paradigms. The flexibility and freedom are key parts of the organizational culture as more and more people tend to ask for these elements from employers in order to perform to the best of their abilities. Reshaping flexibility in times of organizational changes may be crucial for companies to gain a competitive advantage on the market they operate given the fierce competition.

Ocena rozwoju społeczno-gospodarczego powiatów województwa podlaskiego z zastosowaniem metod TOPSIS oraz Hellwiga

Author(s): Dorota Sokołowska,Marzena Filipowicz-Chomko / Language(s): Polish Issue: 6/2015

The aim of this paper is to conduct a multidimensional analysis of the socio-economic development of the counties of Podlaskie Voivodeship in 2006 and 2013. The level of the counties' development was measured in four selected dimensions: demographics, business entities and job market, economy, and social conditions. These areas were investigated using the indicator-based analysis and the construction of the counties' rankings created by means of two methods: Hellwig's development pattern and TOPSIS. The author compares the circumstances of the development between 2006 and 2013. Finally, the effectiveness of the methods was evaluated based on the differences between the rankings.

Kultura organizacyjna a negatywne zachowania personelu pielęgniarskiego – na przykładzie szpitali klinicznych

Author(s): Joanna A. Jończyk,Danuta Kunecka,Iwona Mazur / Language(s): Polish Issue: 32/2017

The objective of the study was to provide a reply to the question whether there is any relationship between a particular model of organization culture dominant in university hospitals, and negative behaviours in the professional group of nursing staff. The study was conducted in a group of nursing staff employed in university hospitals, by the method of a diagnostic survey, using a questionnaire designed by the author, and a standardized research instrument The Negative Acts Questionnaire (NAQ), adapted to Polish conditions. 178 correctly completed questionnaires were subjected to statistical analysis. The results of the study obtained indicate that in university hospitals there dominate an organizational culture characterized by a high degree of formalization, mainly task-oriented, with a considerable effect of formal control. Negative behaviours commonly occur in the workplace of a nursing staff, in 41.6% allowing the victimization of mobbing. No relationships were found between the model of organizational culture dominant in university hospitals, and the occurrence of negative behaviours at the workplaces of nursing staff.

Identyfikacja czynników decydujących o atrakcyjności szpitala powiatowego jako pracodawcy

Author(s): Beata Buchelt,Aldona Frączkiewicz-Wronka / Language(s): Polish Issue: 32/2017

Employer brand is one of the most important elements of a strategy aimed to attract and retain valuable employees and sustain competitiveness on labor market especially when there is a shortage of qualified employees. The aim of the paper is to identify factors which can make hospitals attractive employers and which can be perceived as points of references for employer branding strategies. Special attention is given to county hospitals which construct a fundament of healthcare system in Poland. The identification of factors has been performed based on a survey addressed to line managers of medical personnel (physicians, nurses and other medical staff). The aggregated amount of population amounted to 242 line managers, among those 99 came from county hospitals. The main conclusion drawn from the research is that there is a specific set of factors which attract medical personnel from county hospitals. Among the others stability and reliability are highly valued.

Zarządzanie zasobami ludzkimi w perspektywie oczekiwań i postaw pokolenia Y

Author(s): Adam Suchodolski / Language(s): English Issue: 33/2017

The article shows the results regarding the expectations and attitudes towards work of representatives of generation Y from North America and Poland. The main similarities and differences between both groups in terms of the attitudes towards work are indicated in that article. In interpreting the results of the research it may be concluded that in the analysed area, young people in Poland do not constitute a homogenous group. Moreover, in comparison to their American peers they are generational hybrid shaped by the global trends of mass culture and socialization processes determined by the native culture and system of values. The aim of the article is to formulate the proposals regarding impacts in human resource management towards the Polish representatives of the Y generation adapted to the specificity of their expectations and attitudes.

An Exploration for the Motives behind Enhancing Senior Banker’s Level of Organizational Resilience: A Holistic Case Study

Author(s): Mohamed Mousa,Andrew Adjah Sai,Gehad Salhin / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2017

Objective: the present paper aims to explore the main motives behind Cairo bank’s attemptsto raise its senior bankers’ level of organizational resilience. Methodology: after gathering and investigating all relevant literature about organizational resilience, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 24 of the senior bankers who work at Cairo bank at 6 October city, Giza, Egypt. All interviews were conducted in the Arabic language. Findings: the findings of this study show that senior bankers at Cairo bank, like many other Egyptian classes, struggle in a state of uncertainty and consider it the main motive behindtheir bank’s attempt to raise their resilience level. The pressure of stakeholders is, to a largeextent, present, and there is a thought that fulfilling different societal obligations is a sourcefor economic gains and accordingly, stakeholders’ pressure is a second motive behind raisingemployees’ organizational resilience. Furthermore, organizational culture adaptability and thetendency to responsively act in line with unpredicted events is a third motive. Finally, seniorbankers’ loud voice in calling for continuous grants for education and training has come to bethe fourth motive. Value added: the paper is considered the first to qualitatively investigate organizationalresilience in Egypt. Recommendations: The researchers are of the view that the development of every departmentalagenda for needed resilience is a priority for improving organizational capacity. Moreover,reformulating the bank’s values, operations and activities should also be considered to createa harmony between the external threats and the internal duties. Furthermore, there shouldbe also an orientation to redefine the concept of “uncertainty” from time to time to includesocio-political and socio- economic types of risk.

WYKORZYSTANIE MODELI LOGITOWYCH DO IDENTYFIKACJI CZYNNIKÓW WPŁYWAJĄCYCH NA AKTYWNOŚĆ EKONOMICZNĄ OSÓB STARSZYCH

Author(s): Iwona Bąk / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2017

The aim of the research undertaken in the article is to assess the probability of having, by people aged 50+, certain status in the labor market, that mean, the status of working, unemployed or inactive. Therefore, the logit models were estimated in which the dependent variable was binary variable characterizing the status of the labor market of studied population. The information base of studies were separate non-identifiable data from the Labour Force Survey, which has been made available for consideration by the CSO.

ROZKŁADY WYDATKÓW MIESZKAŃCÓW OBSZARÓW MIEJSKICH I WIEJSKICH W POLSCE

Author(s): Anna Turczak,Patrycja Zwiech / Language(s): Polish Issue: 2/2017

In the article the degree of similarity between expenditure per capita distributions of inhabitants of urban and rural areas was determined. The similarity of distributions was measured by the (lambda) statistic suggested and the more similar two distributions were, the smaller value the statistic  had. The classification procedure that was carried out resulted in forming the following three groups: A – cities with populations of 500 thousand or more, B – towns with populations not exceeding 500 thousand, C – rural areas. In order to draw the final conclusions the dispersion of expenditures between groups A, B ,C and within these groups was analysed.

Wartość generowana przez sieci społeczne w kontekście prawa Metcalfe’a

Author(s): Edyta Abramek / Language(s): English Issue: 4/2017

The topic of this article is network analysis, shown as an activating method used in education. Due to a growing interest in social networking sites and an increased importance of cooperation, it is necessary to improve students’ skills in the field of methods provided by Social Network Analysis (SNA). The potential of social networks can be used, for example to develop contacts, share ideas and as a communication tool. The aim of this paper is to present how students can study “network effects” − the value generated by network structures. This issue will be clarified on the example of Metcalfe’s law, selected measures of the SNA method and others. The exercise presented in the article is an excellent base for conducting in-depth research using the SNA method, which in turn allows to identify barriers to the flow of knowledge, discover invisible structures and relationships, analyse the collected data quantitatively and qualitatively. The article will indicate directions of using the analysis of social networks in research works at universities.

Wykorzystanie chmur obliczeniowych w Polsce i w pań- stwach Unii Europejskiej: analiza porównawcza

Author(s): Roman Machuga / Language(s): Polish Issue: 4/2017

The aim of the article is to conduct a comparative analysis of the current state of use of cloud computing in Poland and in the countries of the European Union and to identify possible actions to promote the benefits and perspectives of their implementation in various areas of economic activity and social life. The article presents the most important benefits of using information processing in clouds and possible directions of application of cloud computing. An analysis of the state of cloud computing usage in Poland in comparison with the countries of the European Union was made. Based on the multi-aspect analysis, detailed conclusions have been developed that generalize the current state of use of virtual sites. In addition, the conclusions set out possible activities both at the state level as well as in scientific and scientific and didactic environments in order to popularize cloud computing, increase the percentage of their use by entrepreneurs and individual users.

Knowledge Transfer Importance for Competitiveness of Service Industry Companies in Internationalization Process

Author(s): Marcin Soniewicki / Language(s): English Issue: 3.2/2016

Knowledge management processes differ depending on a kind of examined company as their needs vary. This paper concentrates on analysis of one, key element of knowledge management – knowledge transfer in particular kind of firms – service industry businesses. Its goal is examining the intensity of mentioned processes and checking their importance for performance of service industry companies, especially those operating on foreign markets. The results of empirical, quantitative research conducted among381 service industry companies show that there are not large differences in intensity of knowledge transfer processes among various types of firms in this industry. Nevertheless, there are very big, statistically significant, differences in competitiveness level of companies with low intensity of knowledge transfer and high intensity of these processes.More detailed analyses have shown that each increase of knowledge transfer intensity int hese firms coexists with increase in their competitiveness. This effect is especially visible among entities in internationalization process