This paper provides empirical evidence of the negative aspects of unfairness within the food supply chain concerning the purchasing policies of a micro-food producer who is also a supplier of large ...retail chains in the Republic of Croatia. When looking at the business relations between micro-enterprises and retailers, the authors identify a problem in the form of purchasing policies of retailers that contradict the legislative intention of the Act on the Prohibition of Unfair Trading Practices in the Food Supply Chain and the Directive of the European Parliament and the Council on the same subject. The paper aims to point out to the legislators that their approach to the issue has not led to the economic sustainability of the vulnerable links in the food supply chain, i.e., the supply side companies, as the problem has mostly been diverted to unfair prices. The authors point out the undue rigidity of the legislation concerning market competition in prohibited vertical agreements and the undue flexibility in price intelligence. In addition, this paper points out that unfair purchasing policies may constitute inflationary pressures not yet recognized by macroeconomic theory. The limitation of the paper stems from the likely generalization based on inductive inferences based on a case study. There is the possibility of further research on this topic in the short term to make informed economic and policy decisions.
Ovaj rad empirijski demonstrira negativan aspekt nepravednosti unutar lanca opskrbe hranom vezan uz nabavnu politiku prehrambenih proizvoda mikro proizvođača u Republici Hrvatskoj, zemlji članici EU. Razumijevajući odnos mikro poduzeća iz segmenta prerade hrane s maloprodavačima, autori identificiraju problem u vidu nabavne politike maloprodavača koja je suprotna intenciji Zakona o zabrani nepoštenih trgovačkih praksi u lancu opskrbe hranom i Direktive Europskog parlamenta i Vijeća. Cilj rada je ukazati zakonodavcima da njihov pristup problematici nije rezultirao ekonomskom održivošću ranjivih karika u lanca opskrbe hranom, odnosno tvrtki na strani ponude, jer se problematika nepoštenih trgovačkih praksi ponajviše preusmjerila na užu problematiku nepoštenih cijena. Autori uočavaju neopravdanu rigidnost zakonodavstva vezanog uz tržišno natjecanje u području zabranjenih vertikalnih sporazuma te neprimjerenu fleksibilnost u području cjenovnog praćenja između maloprodavača. Svrha ovog rada je ukazati da nepoštena nabavna politika može predstavljati inflatorni pritisak koji makroekonomska teorija još ne prepoznaje. Ograničenje rada proizlazi iz vjerojatne generalizacije temeljene na induktivnom zaključivanju iz studije slučaja. Poželjna su daljnja istraživanja na ovu temu u kratkom roku kako bi se donijele pravilne ekonomske i političke odluke.
Drop shipping represents a delivery business model based on e-commerce logistics, which is very relevant in the global pandemic crisis. In this model, buyers order products and services directly from ...the manufacturer over the Internet through the intermediary of a drop shipper who ensures the easiest and fastest delivery. Drop shipper is a type of e-commerce entrepreneur that offers goods using online logistics infrastructure to ensure direct physical delivery from the manufacturer to the retailer or customer. This includes drop shipping as a business model to Industry 4.0 (i.e. the digital economy). This paper elaborates how a particular e-commerce model affects the development and improvement of global supply chains. Aim of this paper is to research how entrepreneur can lower its costs along drop shipping supply chain by managing inventory ratios or cost of stock. This enables drop shipping to greatly facilitate market access for cash-strapped entrepreneurs. We also conducted a simulation of optimized drop shipping process to show that there is a constant adaptability for entrepreneurs using drop shipping, especially among small and medium enterprises (SMEs). The timeliness of drop shipping is that it has facilitated as a global delivery solution in relation to the coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID-19). Moreover, drop shipping is based on a Activity-Based Costing (ABC model) whose quantitative efficiency has been proven by scientific analysis and research results. Finally, the legal aspects of drop shipping are given importance in the situation of COVID-19 which had a crucial impact on international trade in 2020, especially in predicting short-term trade trends. Due to this within this paper we also examined the effects of the ˝coronavirus˝ on global e-commerce. Global drop shipping data ensures qualitative predictions considering pandemic environment, social distancing issues and internet trade curves which are more than useful in today’s changing business conditions.
In a modern global economy, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) have inviolable importance and inclusion in the overall social development and economic growth. Regarding the high share of SMEs ...in the total number of companies, given the number of employees and the share in export orientation, the question of SMEs existence, as well as their market share and competitiveness in the global environment, represents prime relevance to any national economy. Therefore, the issue of quality becomes a critical component of achieving competitiveness in delivering products and services to their consumers (customers.) Due to this extremely delicate issue, each company establishes and implements a systematic process relationship or a quality management system as a part of its general management mechanism. This is a reason for SMEs management to strategically decide on the challenges of introducing a quality management system; thus, to improve their competitiveness on the domestic and foreign markets, which is a very demanding, exhaustive and time absorbing process requiring detailed preparation and collective engagement. The basic reasons for applying a quality management system are apostrophised in any business objectives – improving business processes, product quality and services, increasing spending as a factor of developing higher market share, better reputation (image) and sustainable business results. Due to the measurable quantitative and qualitative attributes and features that can significantly enhance the introduction of quality management systems into practice of SMEs, numerous studies have been carried out, some of which are conducted within the last two decades. For the authors, this was an initiative to conduct a survey, within this paper, in the Primorsko-goranska county (Croatia) during the month of July 2018, in which a number of SMEs were analysed in the crucial areas of quality management systems. The authors’ objective was to assess the viability of SMEs regarding their application of a quality management system. The basic hypothesis was that introducing quality management systems into SMEs contributes to their foreign competitiveness i.e. strengthening their export activity in general. Beside positive outputs of applying quality management, the authors’ research presented in this paper also established some relatively high and negative quantifications in relation to the application of the quality management system. Such outcomes represent justified reasons for future scientific research in this area.
Javni sektor u suvremenom poslovnom okruženju biva izložen isti m utjecajima globalnog poslovanja, društvenih i kulturnih promjena kao i privatni sektor, te se sukladno tome prilagođava postojećim ...socio-ekonomskim potrebama. Zadaća je javnog sektora da zajedno s privatnim sektorom unaprjeđuje društvo, stvara predispozicije društvenog
rasta i razvoja, utječe na pozitivno određenje nacionalnih ekonomija i rada poslovnih subjekata u svrhu stvaranja novih vrijednosti. Također, kao javni servis, javni sektor osigurava pravovremeno, kvalitetno i sadržajno ostvarenje interesa građana. Stoga je nužno definirati i razvijati oblike javnog menadžmenta
koji se mogu odgovarajuće prilagoditi promjenama okruženja i djelotvorno upravljati različitim aspektima internih funkcija javnog sektora. Cilj rada je istražiti temeljna obilježja suvremenog javnog sektora i na temelju toga odrediti potrebne modalitete javnog menadžmenta. Metodologija istraživanja temelji se na analizi strukture javnog sektora s osvrtom na Republiku Hrvatsku, uz pregled javnih upravljačkih odnosa koji u njemu trenutno postoje. Pritom se uvažava diverzifikacija javnog sektora na opću državu (javnu upravu) i javna (društvena) poduzeća. Svaka razina javnog sektora ima svoje podrazine djelovanja u različitim vidovima djelatnosti sa specifičnim ciljevima i zahtjevima, što pred javni menadžment postavlja uvjet uske specijaliziranosti, multidisciplinarnosti i interaktivnosti s različitim subjektima poslovnog okruženja. Rezultati istraživanja očituju se u predlaganju razvojnog modela menadžmenta s ciljem povećanja reagibilnosti javnog sektora na promjene u suvremenom društvenom i poslovnom okruženju. Istovremeno se kao glavni zaključak nameće da je razvoj transparentnog javnog menadžmenta preduvjet razvoja javnog sektora koji može uspješno zadovoljavati potrebe i pratiti interese svih njegovih korisnika u 21. stoljeću.
The public sector operating in the modern business environment is exposed to the impacts of global business, social and cultural changes to the same extent as the private sector and is, therefore, equally adjusting to the existing socio-economic requests. The general objective of the public sector is, in alignment with the private sector, to improve society, create predispositions to social growth and development, influence the positive determination of national economies and business entities in order to create new values. With the notion of a ̋public service ̋, the public sector ensures timely engaged, high quality and content realization of citizens' public interests. Therefore, it is necessary to define and develop models of public management that will adapt to changes in the social environment and effectively manage various aspects of the public sector's internal functions. The aim of this paper is to explore modern aspects of the public sector and to determine adequate public management modalities. The research methodology is based on analysis of the public sector structures in the Republic of Croatia, accompanied with a review of current public governance relationships. Respectfully, the public sector is divided into the general government (public administration) and public (social) companies. Each level of the public sector has its own sub-sectors with different activities, specific goals and requirements. This also requires public management to set the conditions for specialization, multidisciplinary approach and interactivity with different subjects from the business environment. Research results indicate the development of a public management model intended to increase public sector responsiveness to contemporary changes in the social and business environment. The main conclusion states that developing transparent public management is a prerequisite for developing an efficient public sector that can successfully meet the needs of all its users in the 21st century.
The development of modern society cannot be imagined without electricity as a ubiquitous and almost irreplaceable energy source. Energy is a key factor in human development, it provides a standard of ...living and enables the economy to grow, with electricity being one of its most important forms. In the modern world, efficient energy supply, particularly electricity as its most flexible, commercial and cleanest form represents an important basis for economic growth and development. Although research of the causal link between electricity consumption, financial development and economic growth has been represented in the scientific literature for the last 20-30 years, the results are still contradictory. However, this particular topic has not been systematically investigated and addressed in Croatia. Therefore, studying the causal relationship and economic effects of the mentioned variables represents an important and challenging research task. The purpose of this paper is to determine the interconnectedness of electricity consumption, financial development and economic activity in Croatia. This will be achieved by analysing the available data for the last two and a half decades using the so-called bootstrap approach. According to the empirical results, causality runs from real GDP to total electricity consumption and from financial development to real GDP. In addition to empirical results, policy implications and recommendations for future research will also be presented in the paper.
Implementacija poslovnih modela zasnovanih na društvenoj odgovornosti poduzeća (DOP) i trostrukom rezultatu poduzeća (eng. Triple Bottom Line – TBL) zastupa i novi analitički pristup namijenjen ...cjelovitoj procjeni ekonomske vrijednosti. Budući da su DOP i TBL strateški orijentirani na ciljeve održivog razvoja i eko-efikasnosti u poslovanju, nova promatrana ekonomska vrijednost naziva se održivom dodanom vrijednosti (eng. Sustainable Value Added – SVA). Dosadašnja istraživanja i konstruktivne kritike SVA modela nisu prikladno testirani primjenom odgovarajućih ekonometrijskih modela. U ovom radu autor predstavlja primjenjiv empirijski model testiranja SVA kao mjeru koja integrira aspekte TBL-a: 1) financijski, 2) okolišni i 3) društveni. Cilj ovog istraživanja je potvrditi SVA kao integralnu mjeru koja se iskljušivo može koristiti za kvantitativnu procjenu dugoročnih učinaka koje poduzeće ostvaruje u smislu doprinosa održivom razvoju. Autor pritom zastupa i tezu da je procjena SVA moguća samo kada značajan broj poduzeća iz različitih industrijskih sektora redovito objavljuje godišnja izvješsa o DOP-u. Time se osigurava prezentacija potpunih i standardiziranih podataka trostrukog rezultata potrebnih za analizu SVA. U ovom radu SVA se uspoređuje s tradicionalnom ekonomskom mjerom dodane vrijednosti (Value Added – VA), ali u smislu doprinosa održivosti. Rezultati empirijskog testiranja ukazuju na značajne razlike izmedu mjera VA i SVA, osobito u smislu integriranja financijskih, okolišnih i društvenih učinaka poslovanja. Testiranjem je SVA signifikantno potvrđena kao djelotvorna, a time i prikladna integralna mjera poslovnih doprinosa u domeni održivog razvoja. U tom smislu, dodatni cilj je istražiti eko-efikasnost specifične vrijednosti kao uvjeta održivosti, mjerenog upotrebom SVA-a.
The world is changing rapidly. Many distinguished economists were convinced that the international Pareto optimum, particularly relevant for the enlargement of the European Union (EU), was quite a ...realistic achievement only if EU follows the dictate of a strong radical free market reform. "Laissez-faire" was considered as a magic solution for every economic issue within the EU. However, we believe that the EU is becoming a perfect case in point to illustrate the labyrinth of transition from a "territorial" (nation) state into a "market" state on the basis of profound globalization process and functional integration of the global economy. Dialectic of globalization suggests that the extant economic theory becomes virtual and unsuitable for the process of globalization. We raise the following questions which we are not able to answer just by using the existent (neoclassical) economic theory and policy: whose GDP should be optimized in a global economy? Whose employment level should be addressed: that of territorial or the market state? Who is the main economic subject in the upcoming market state: (multi/transnational) corporations or individual (non-sovereign) states deprived of their economic resources during privatization? How this new stage in the world (capitalist) development is going to look like? Since we have (partly) stepped in the next stage of capitalist development, we propose the term "mega-capitalism" which totally differs from Friedman's and neoliberal understanding of economic processes and Fukuyama's end of history. Should the EU join mega-capitalism as a unique state or as bunch of (currently 28) integrated national states? Should the EU maximize its own GDP or GDP of individual member states? The same question is pertinent for the level of employment, social justice etc. Is the EU becoming or should it become (only) a region within the unified global state? These are the questions that need to be answered as soon as possible for the sake of the citizens of the EU and we will try to tackle these questions within this chapter.
Temeljna svrha ove doktorske disertacije je objediniti i produbiti spoznaje o tendencijama razvoja i mogućnostima primjene standardiziranih modela izvještavanja o društveno odgovornim aktivnostima ...poduzeća. Glavni ciljevi istraživanja odnose se na ispitivanje mogućnosti cjelovitog iskazivanja financijskih, okolišnih i društvenih učinaka koji proizlaze iz društveno odgovornih aktivnosti te predstavljaju ukupni poslovni rezultat poduzeća. Glavni istraživački problem stoga se odnosi na predstavljanje metodologije integralnog ocjenjivanja učinaka poslovanja u obliku trostrukog rezultata: financijskog, okolišnog i društvenog. Potreba poduzeća i njegovog menadžmenta da istovremeno komunicira s različitim skupinama koje djeluju unutar poduzeća ili se nalaze u njegovu okruženju opravdana je osnova da se promoviraju izvještaji kojima se odgovarajuće prezentiraju različiti aspekti poslovnog rezultata, osobito oni nefinancijski. U ovom radu tako su opisani model trostrukog rezultata i odrednice njegovog integriranog izvještavanja. Sadržaj izvještaja o društvenoj odgovornosti u svojim ključnim odrednicama treba interpretirati ostvarenje ciljeva održivog razvoja koji su zajednički poduzeću i njegovim dionicima. Nakon što je poduzeće prethodno utvrdilo relevantne dionike unutar organizacije i one iz okruženja tek onda pristupa detaljnijoj analizi njihovih interesa i ciljeva. To je značajan korak u planiranju društveno odgovornih aktivnosti poduzeća. Sukladno tome utvrđuju se značajne tj. materijalne teme od zajedničkog interesa poduzeća i relevantnih dionika koje je u izvještaju potrebno obuhvatiti. Pritom sadržaj izvještaja mora odražavati ostvareni trostruki rezultat i sve ključne veze kojima se potvrđuje ravnoteža financijskih, okolišnih i društvenih učinaka s obzirom na moguće zahtjeve i ciljeve internih i eksternih dionika. Sadržaj izvještaja mora uvažavati razlike dionika a standardizacija omogućiti slobodu njegova oblikovanja i objave prema specifičnim potrebama dionika i industrijske grane kojoj poduzeće pripada. U ovom doktoratu je od iznimnog znanstvenog doprinosa procjena mjere kojom se integralno ocjenjuje trostruki rezultat poduzeća. Empirijsko istraživanje stoga se temelji na obilježjima izvještaja o društvenoj odgovornosti obuhvaćenima uzorkom koji izdvaja relevantne financijske, okolišne i društvene učinke poslovanja. Isticanjem obavezne objave ovih učinaka u okviru postojećih standarda izvještavanja o društvenoj odgovornosti osigurava se mogućnost empirijskog ispitivanja njihovog utjecaja na održivu dodanu vrijednost (SVA) kao predstavljenu metodologiju integralne ocjene učinkovitosti poduzeća. Pregledom dosadašnjih istraživanja uočeno je da ne postoji analiza koja bi vrednovala vezu između problematike izvještavanja o društvenoj odgovornosti s jedne strane i mjera (pokazatelja) kojima bi se s druge strane ocijenila učinkovitost poduzeća u upravljanju trostrukim rezultatom. Paralelno ispitivanje utjecaja financijskih, okolišnih i društvenih aspekata poslovanja objavljenih u izvještajima o društvenoj odgovornosti na zavisnu financijsku varijablu dodane vrijednosti (VA) ukazalo je da se u okviru te mjere navedeni učinci ne integriraju tj. odgovarajuće ne iskazuju određene aspekte društvene odgovornosti poduzeća. Ispitivanje istih utjecaja na održivu dodanu vrijednost (SVA) kao zavisnu nefinancijsku varijablu ukazalo je da ova mjera odgovarajuće integrira financijske, okolišne i društvene učinke poslovanja u svim njihovim relevantnim obilježjima. Uz navedeno, najznačajniji dio istraživanja svakako je činjenica da se SVA može utvrditi i analizirati jedino primjenom standardiziranih izvještaja o društvenoj odgovornosti koji ujednačeno, vremenski kontinuirano, obvezno i transparentno predstavljaju financijske, okolišne i društvene učinke poduzeća.
The fundamental purpose of this doctoral thesis is to consolidate and deepen the knowledge on development and application possibilities of standardised Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) reporting. The main research objectives relate to the examination of integrated presentation possibilities of financial, environmental and social impacts that arise from socially responsible activities, representing the overall business result. Therefore, the main research problem refers to the implementation of a methodology for integrated evaluation of the business Triple Bottom Line (TBL): financial, environmental and social results. The need of a company and its management to simultaneously communicate with different groups operating within the company or in its environment is reasonable grounds to promote reports that properly represent different aspects of business performance, in particular if they are including the non-financial ones. This thesis analyzes the model of the Triple Bottom Line and key determinants of its integrated reporting. The content of CSR reports have to interpret crucial achievements regarding sustainable development goals that are common to the company and the stakeholders. After a company recognizes its relevant internal and external stakeholders it is able to conduct a more detailed analysis of their interests and goals. This is a significant step in the process of planning socially responsible activities. In this process significant or material topics of common interest for the company and the stakeholders are being aligned in reporting purposes. Due to this, the content of the report has to reflect relevant aspects of the TBL and key connections that are crucial for gaining balance between financial, environmental and social business impacts. This has to be done with regard to actual requirements and objectives of the company stakeholders. Content of such reports should express stakeholders differences while the process of standardization has to enable freedom in report creation and publication according to the specific needs of stakeholders and the industry in which company operates. In this doctoral research significant scientific contribution is given through assessment of the measures that enable integrated evaluation of the TBL. Empirical research is therefore based on the features of the CSR reports by a sample that separates financial, environmental and social effects of business. It is emphasized that mandatory publication of such data in accordance with actual standards of CSR reporting provides an empirical examination of their impact on sustainable value added (SVA). SVA is here represented as a methodology for integrated measurement of companys efficiency. By reviewing previous scientific research it was concluded that it doesnt provide empirical analysis of the link between CSR reporting issues and measures (indicators) used for evaluating the efficiency of TBL management. Therefore this doctoral research conducted parallel testing of financial, environmental and social aspects contained in CSR reports and their impact on value added (VA) as a dependent financial variable. Testing showed that VA as a measure doesnt appropriately integrate certain aspects of the CSR. There was also a parallel testing of the same impacts conducted on SVA as a dependent non-financial variable. This test confirmed that the measure of SVA is appropriately integrating financial, environmental and social impacts of business within the relevant range of their characteristics. Respecting these results it is significantly confirmed that SVA can only be identified and analyzed through application of standardized CSR reports which, due to their uniformity and continuity, enable transparency of financial, environmental and social business impacts.
Temeljna svrha ove doktorske disertacije je objediniti i produbiti spoznaje o tendencijama razvoja i mogućnostima primjene standardiziranih modela izvještavanja o društveno odgovornim aktivnostima poduzeća. Glavni ciljevi istraživanja odnose se na ispitivanje mogućnosti cjelovitog iskazivanja financijskih, okolišnih i društvenih učinaka koji proizlaze iz društveno odgovornih aktivnosti te predstavljaju ukupni poslovni rezultat poduzeća. Glavni istraživački problem stoga se odnosi na predstavljanje metodologije integralnog ocjenjivanja učinaka poslovanja u obliku trostrukog rezultata: financijskog, okolišnog i društvenog. Potreba poduzeća i njegovog menadžmenta da istovremeno komunicira s različitim skupinama koje djeluju unutar poduzeća ili se nalaze u njegovu okruženju opravdana je osnova da se promoviraju izvještaji kojima se odgovarajuće prezentiraju različiti aspekti poslovnog rezultata, osobito oni nefinancijski. U ovom radu tako su opisani model trostrukog rezultata i odrednice njegovog integriranog izvještavanja. Sadržaj izvještaja o društvenoj odgovornosti u svojim ključnim odrednicama treba interpretirati ostvarenje ciljeva održivog razvoja koji su zajednički poduzeću i njegovim dionicima. Nakon što je poduzeće prethodno utvrdilo relevantne dionike unutar organizacije i one iz okruženja tek onda pristupa detaljnijoj analizi njihovih interesa i ciljeva. To je značajan korak u planiranju društveno odgovornih aktivnosti poduzeća. Sukladno tome utvrđuju se značajne tj. materijalne teme od zajedničkog interesa poduzeća i relevantnih dionika koje je u izvještaju potrebno obuhvatiti. Pritom sadržaj izvještaja mora odražavati ostvareni trostruki rezultat i sve ključne veze kojima se potvrđuje ravnoteža financijskih, okolišnih i društvenih učinaka s obzirom na moguće zahtjeve i ciljeve internih i eksternih dionika. Sadržaj izvještaja mora uvažavati razlike dionika a standardizacija omogućiti slobodu njegova oblikovanja i objave prema specifičnim potrebama dionika i industrijske grane kojoj poduzeće pripada. U ovom doktoratu je od iznimnog znanstvenog doprinosa procjena mjere kojom se integralno ocjenjuje trostruki rezultat poduzeća. Empirijsko istraživanje stoga se temelji na obilježjima izvještaja o društvenoj odgovornosti obuhvaćenima uzorkom koji izdvaja relevantne financijske, okolišne i društvene učinke poslovanja. Is
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