Social Media is playing an important role in project work. Social Media Tools enable communication to and with stakeholders and support dissemination, thus adding to the sustainability of the ...project's results. The presented study was conducted with the aim to analyze the personal social media preferences and opinions, as well as social media features and their usage within projects. With a sample size of 137 answers from across Europe, all the respondents were employed people who are actively involved and participating in EU projects. The survey questionnaire had two parts: Part 1. Social media preferences and opinions. Part 2. Social media usage for project purposes. The results indicate the importance of social media for project related work and communication. The analysis shows gender differences when using Facebook for project work, but no gender differences were found when using other social media. In addition, we found statistically significant differences of social media usage and opinion in relation to the employment sector of the respondents.
The globalisation process of the world economy has led to increase of international capital mobility. In the last two decades, the level of foreign direct investments (F.D.I.) was significantly ...raised and in 2017 was US$1.8 trillion. The question occupying attention in economic literature is what the main motives and determinants of F.D.I. in certain countries are. This article aims to explore what are the linkages between business environment and inward F.D.I. The research was performed on the sample of five European emerging economies, located in Central and Eastern Europe (C.E.E.) - Poland, Slovenia, Bulgaria, Romania and Serbia. The research compared the main tendencies of F.D.I.s in selected economies, institutional framework and reforms during transition process, competitiveness and ease of doing business (E.D.B.). With the quantitative analysis and ordinary least squares (O.L.S.) regression authors tried to identify statistical significant linkages between inward F.D.I. and ease of doing business indicators, where control variables were G.C.I. pillars (relevant for business regulation and institutional framework), macroeconomic performances, market capitalisation and taxation. The results are identified factors of business environment relevant for attraction of F.D.I. and provided empirical model for each country respectively.
The growing share of the retired population in Europe worsens the balance of the social costs as social consensus in most European countries rests on extensive social transfers for this population ...group. With its 25% share in GDP and 50% share in social transfers, the European (continental) model is indeed not sustainable when compared globally. The current prevailing model of "rejuvenation" of the labour market through immigration did not prove as a sustainable solution. The same is valid for the perspective of fast technological change. It is based on filling the labour market with low-paid jobs enabling host economies to leave aside the imperative permanent change in the labour market structure. This paper discusses the case of Slovenia and tries to search the reasons for the absence of elderly population in the labour market in this country. Based on the data comparison and disposable studies, authors try to identify the main issues when endeavouring to keep elderly population in the labour market.
Inward foreign direct investments are usually cited as an essential tool for economic growth and are often listed as one of the priorities by national governments, especially in transition countries ...strive. When local communities are concerned, the economic effects of international capital flows in principle should not differ from the national economy. Despite the threats they can also pose, they should mostly represent the opportunity for technological improvements and raising the competitiveness of the economy. When inward foreign direct investments are more or less limited to a local community, its leadership is in a position to follow them carefully. In this case, they are usually also well informed on sentiments of the population regarding these investments. These processes may add to the governments' responsibility when planning the investments but often also add to the transparency of other stakeholders, which could help the governments to manage foreign direct investments in the local community. To offer a novelty with research in the field, the authors added this perspective to existing studies, predominantly analysing foreign direct investment effects in the national economy. The paper brings a comparative analysis of sentiments in local communities in Slovenia and Serbia. Statistical analysis based on opinion polls, although not free of statistical risks, enabled expected conclusions but also opened new insights.
Objective: The objective of this paper is to analyse motivation factors for female entrepreneurship in Mexico. In the proposed article, the authors discuss the factors which compelled women to start ...their enterprises in Mexico.Research Design & Methods: Based on in-depth interviews with female entrepreneurs and entrepreneurship experts, the authors show which factors motivated women to start their own business in Mexico.Findings: The study proves that women in Mexico are motivated by a combination of push and pull factors, where the majority of the factors are pull factors. The findings of the study help to conclude that female entrepreneurship development is influenced by different factors including the entrepreneurs’ personal traits, social and economic factors. Due to their conservative traditional attitude, risk adverse tendency, and non-cooperation of family members, etc. women entrepreneurs are sometimes deterred to start a business in Mexico.Implications & Recommendations: It is necessary to raise the awareness of different factors that promote female entrepreneurship in Mexico. Governmental programmes which support female entrepreneurship, business incubators, and networking could be very helpful for women when starting their own business.Contribution & Value Added: The originality of this work lies in studying motivational factors for female entrepreneurship in Mexico. The Mexican society faces a big revolution towards female entrepreneurship. Based on the change of family structure and traditions, women nowadays are having more opportunities to develop as entrepreneurs.
The most frequent definition of the smart city in the literature defines it as a developed urban area that creates sustainable economic development and high quality of life. Therefore, a city should ...always be capable of identifying and effectively resolving its key development challenges in order to improve the quality of life of its citizens. Regarding economics approach, the authors rely on endogenous growth theory derived from Arrow. The authors explore the role of smart city management and governance, which will have to combine the need for capital with the need to ensure the environment that this capital will enhance modern urban producing factors. Hence, the authors discuss communication aspects and the importance of the evolution toward smart communities, where the idea is not on making places smart anymore, but rather focus on humans and their needs. For an emerging smart city, market built up of smaller cities and municipalities describes the changing role of marketing and the shift of roles in its processes in order to show the urge to become familiar with the spirit of open innovation and rethink marketing strategy in this emerging reality.
To intervene against discriminatory in the workplace is tremendously important because discriminatory practices have an enormous economic impact, along with a severe impact on psychological health, ...which can result in illnesses such as depression and burnout. Such intervention requires a multidimensional approach, including the whole organization and a systematic procedure. The aim of this paper is to offer suggestions on how to reduce discrimination in the workplace in Austria and Taiwan. To reach this aim, a qualitative study was conducted. It showed that education, active positioning of companies, leadership and diligent selection of employees, discussion and analysis, psychological support, governmental policies, and aspects of language and talking gender-wise are the most important steps to decrease or eliminate discrimination in the workplace.
The objective of this paper is to analyse differences in leadership and discrimination in Austria and Taiwan. A quantitative as well as a qualitative study was conducted to identify differences ...between Austria and Taiwan regarding leadership and discrimination at the workplace. Data was gathered through an online survey. Findings showed that supervisors in Austria motivate their employees to reveal their full potential more than supervisors in Taiwan. In addition, it is identified that leaders and employees in Austria have easier access to further training for personal development than leaders and employees in Taiwan. As for discrimination at the workplace it was identified that discrimination by clients and suppliers and discrimination of minorities at the workplace is more prevalent in Taiwan than in Austria. Motivation of employees and access to further training and personal development can minimize discrimination at the workplace.
Operating a fashion franchise network in emerging markets comes along with great geographical distances. Besides, operating a franchise network includes the management of different approaches as the ...franchisor; franchisee and franchise store managers take major positions in the operational executions, but all at different levels. A franchisor sets the strategic planning, whilst the franchisee maintains a tactical approach and the franchise store managers perform solely at operational level whilst at this place the strategic, tactical and operational planning must come together. In order to ensure the accomplishment and maintenance of an ultimate brand image and experience, the franchisor establishes brand standards. This article investigates how international fashion companies can implement and assure brand standards and qualities among their franchise networks in emerging markets. Qualitative research conducted by the authors has given an insight into the general motives for fashion companies franchising their businesses in emerging markets and the implementation of brand standards, assuring quality and control, and challenges in operating franchise stores.
This paper analyses possible challenges and opportunities that Mexican female entrepreneurs face during the establishment of new enterprises. Based on in-depth interviews with female entrepreneurs ...and entrepreneurship experts, authors researched opportunities in the form of governmental and non-governmental institutional support, growing entrepreneurship, social awareness and women empowerment. However, lack of credibility, fear of vulnerability to criticism and social pressure are some challenges associated with gender egalitarianism. In such, the authors proved that Mexican culture impacts women in some ways more than the others. Institutional collectivism was the cultural dimension with higher positive impact on women, followed by gender egalitarianism with a neutral to positive impact and the power distance with a neutral influence on women.