The main objective of the paper is to present the development of digital economy and society in the Countries of the European Union in the light of the digital convergence of these markets. The ...analysis was based on the data on the Digital Economy and Society Index (DESI) from 2015 and 2020. Empirical studies have been conducted in two stages. First, basic measures of time series dynamics were used to determine the dynamics of changes in index values. On the other hand, in order to classify countries in terms of similarity of value and structure of the DESI, a cluster analysis was used as one of the basic methods of the so-called unsupervised statistical grouping. The studies presented confirm that the levels of indicators and the dynamics of changes in their value at the level of the synthetic DESI indicator, and in the five underlying areas of analysis, vary despite the fact that almost all are pro-growth, including for isolated clusters of EU-28 countries. When analyzing the DESI synthetic index and its components, it was concluded that there is generally an increase in convergence between the EU-28 countries in terms of the level of development of the digital economy and society, as well as in four components: Connectivity, Human Capital, Use of Internet Services and Digital Public Services. The Integration of Digital Technology area was the only one where increasing polarization of results was observed. The added value of the paper is to fill the research gap in research on the digital convergence of markets in the Countries of the European Union.
The aim of this article is to analyze the effectiveness of the Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) concept for packaging in the context of the transition to a Circular Economy (CE) and the ...corresponding transformation of the energy sector. The functioning of today’s packaging industry is becoming more and more linked to the assumptions of the CE due to the use and recycling of raw materials. The basic research method used in this work is an analysis of the literature on the links between the concept of the EPR and the CE. The authors limited their research to the selected legal, economic and social aspects of packaging production and management in the European Union (EU). The situation in Poland is discussed in particular and the legal, economic and social specificity of the implementation of the EPR in this country is presented. This paper emphasizes the dependance between the implementation of the EPR concept and the effectiveness of the transformation toward a CE, which is achieved by increasing the circularity in the energy sector.
The implemented climate policy and the current geopolitical situation make us pay special attention to energy independence, both in the household and in the national dimension. One way to obtain ...inexpensive and environmentally friendly energy is the development of photovoltaic micro-installations. For positive changes to occur, correct state regulation and an appropriate set of administrative and economic instruments are necessary. The purpose of this article is to discuss changes in the accounting system for renewable energy prosumers and their consequences for the further development of renewable energy. The financial settlement methods favorable to prosumers were recently replaced with new solutions. According to the authors, this slows down the energy transformation.
The article presents the current situation with the implementation of electric cars in Poland against the background of pan-European trends and the current energy sector condition in Poland. The aim ...of the study was to show the ecological, economic, social, and technical difficulties and controversies related to the use of electric cars in Poland. The authors used statistical analysis and identified the main factors of electromobility development in Poland. Despite the declared electromobility in the Strategy of Responsible Development program, the degree of its implementation is far from the previously established goals. The article analyzes the feasibility of the above plan and indicates the factors inhibiting the development of electromobility in Poland. The strategy and decisions to further implement electric cars cannot be purely political. In justifying the need to promote the use of electric cars in Poland, one should take into account the specificity of the Polish economy, its energy system, the condition of its infrastructure, and real social needs. The authors formulated a hypothesis that the aforementioned program is based on simplistic assumptions and marginalizes or ignores significant barriers to the development of electricity-based transport in Poland. The successful implementation of that program is conditioned by comprehensive and costly activities aimed to transform the whole energy system and introduce an effective system of incentives for the buyers of electric cars.
The energy sector has been a pioneer in the use of information and communication technologies for many years, and has undergone enormous changes in recent years as a result of the transition ...resulting from the fourth industrial revolution. In the paper, we examine and analyse relevant studies and their findings in order to show the current status of research on three selected aspects of digitalisation in energy sector enterprises. The paper sheds light on the diverse drivers influencing the digitalisation processes of energy sector companies. It also provides an overview of business models that are or will soon be implemented in the energy sector thanks to opportunities offered by digitalisation in response to observed trends in the energy market. Finally, it illustrates open research challenges and future dilemmas related to various aspects of energy sector digitalisation. The paper was prepared using the critical literature review method. It covers a large volume of the most recent and relevant literature referring to the three major research areas mentioned above. The literature review allowed us to identify the drivers influencing the digitalisation of energy companies and distinguish between those specific to this sector and those relating to all businesses as a part of the more general phenomena of Industry 4.0 and Industry 5.0. We also show how the digitalisation-based business model innovation presented in the literature empowers new energy producers and consumers through business models. We have also identified the most frequently indicated challenges and dilemmas in the digitalisation of energy companies related to the risk of the destabilisation of the energy market due to decentralisation, new requirements placed on the competences of energy sector workers, the new culture of interaction between energy suppliers and consumers, and the digital security of data used in the energy system.
Purpose: The aim of the theoretical deliberations and empirical research conducted is to determine the basic sources of problems in the SME sector of enterprises in Poland during the COVID-19 ...pandemic crisis, and to present how enterprises are responding to external changes and adapting to these changes. The consideration of four types of enterprise strategies in the context of a large scale and a strong influence of external conditions on their activities is the leitmotif of the undertaken research. Design/methodology/approach: The research work used the analysis of the literature of the subject within the research methods of social studies with respect of the analysis and criticism of literature, as well as for logical analysis and structure. The empirical part applied desk research which concerned quantitative methods in the form of a survey. The survey was conducted among SME sector firms, that is micro-, small-, and medium-sized business entities whose economic activity was registered in Poland. The detailed information on sample sizes (based on three report sources) was given in the methodological part of the article. The research period is related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The statistical data presented in the paper primarily include the period of 2019 and 2020. Findings: The research revealed the basic sources of problems that SMEs in Poland struggled with during the COVID-19 pandemic in the period 2019–2020. The article presents the effects of changes related to the bankruptcy and restructuring processes of enterprises, expressed in an increase in their number in the compared years. In particular, the negative effects of the COVID-19 reality were experienced by SMEs conducting service activities. The paper also shows ways of responding and adapting to the turbulent reality of the studied enterprises, indicating the transformation and adaptation types of the actions taken. Originality/value: The presented research into SMEs is an original combination of theoretical issues related to business management during a crisis and distinguished strategies of responding to changes in the conditions of uncertainty, and the actual picture of changes in those entities in the days of the COVID-19 pandemic. The value of the research is manifested in the uniqueness of linking theoretical references of problems of management studies with respect to organisation management in the strategic aspect to specific research findings in firms defined as the core of the national economy, namely small- and medium-sized enterprises under the conditions of the COVID-19 pandemic crisis.
Objective: The aim of the article is to present and exemplify the mechanisms of changes in defining and influencing the new imperative of corporate value creation. It is implied by the impact of the ...sustainable development concept. Research Design & Methods: The research focused on the concept of corporate value creation in the context of the challenges connected to sustainable development. In the article, both inductive and deductive ways of reasoning were adopted, which makes it possible to combine the results of the detailed research. Findings: The publication indicates the emerging need for a change in the manner of perceiving and thinking about values – ‘from grasping value for today – towards the value of the future.’ This is related to the need to formulate the new imperative of corporate value creation. Implications & Recommendations: The reasonable profit concept can also be the basis for the formulation of the postulate of ‘reasonable speed of corporate value creation.’ Therefore, there is a need to redefine the existing imperative of corporate value creation and implement a new imperative based on the idea of the responsibility for the existence and long-term development of the enterprise. Contribution & Value Added: The result is the disclosure of the emergence of a hybrid concept of sustainable value-based management. The added value of this article is the proposal to create a new imperative of corporate value creation based on the foundation of the restitution of the idea of responsibility.
On the basis of the overview of the literature of the subject, the significance of the problem of cooperation among SMEs in the context of the factors influencing their development is presented. The ...author’s own empirical research conducted among the enterprises of the sector with and without foreign capital in Poland presents the engagement of these enterprises in cooperation with other enterprises as well as with other market entities such as local government units, research and development units, or institutions of higher education. The results of the research concerning various forms of cooperation among SMEs with other enterprises as well as the size classes of the cooperating enterprises are also graphically presented. Moreover, the assessment of the similarity of the structures of the SME sector enterprises with Polish and foreign capital is made, which in turn made it possible to define their similarities and differences by taking into consideration their capital (Polish or foreign).
The growing importance of family businesses in the global economy is related to the specificity of their activities, the increase in their contribution to GDP creation or providing jobs. It prompted ...the authors of this article to research these particular entities belonging to the small business. Considering the different economic conditions caused by the crisis of the COVID-19 pandemic, the aim of the work was to examine and identify the strategies implemented among family enterprises from the SME sector in Poland in the period immediately preceding the COVID-19 pandemic (2018–2019) and during this pandemic (2020–2021). It was achieved through analyzing the literature of the subject, development of our own research method, analyzing the results of primary research, presenting conclusions and making recommendations for science and economic practices. The authors formulated research hypotheses verified within the framework of the conducted research. The research is of a pioneering nature and was designed in such a way as to present the similarities and differences between the classes of enterprises under study (micro, small and medium-sized), as well as the research periods in terms of the development strategies applied by them. In this respect, appropriate research methods were selected. The study combined qualitative methods (critical analysis of existing explanations of the concept and essence of family enterprises; review of the literature on enterprise development in the light of Industry 4.0) with quantitative methods (analysis of the taxonomy of structures based on the similarity index of the studied structures; comparative analysis by cross-tabulation). To perform the research thus planned, the authors’ study on the systematization of development strategies in family enterprises was adopted. Implementing strategies among family enterprises in the SME sector seems to be crucial in their development. As the results show, this is of particular importance in crisis periods. The pandemic crisis was particular, and the functioning of enterprises during it was problematic. Some of them had to suspend their activities, some ceased their operations altogether, and those that survived were successful. The path leading to this success was the specific development strategies that were implemented by the family businesses in the SME sector surveyed. It is therefore worthwhile, both from an academic point of view and from a business practice point of view, to learn about these strategies. The authors have identified and described them and presented the resulting conclusions for the future.
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