Many academic studies have focused on exploring various interactions between entrepreneurial orientation (EO) and firm performance, where, in general, the findings confirmed their existence to be of ...positive character. However, many authors indicated a need to further test the possibilities concerning the nonlinearity between EO and firm performance. Moreover, since many research studies on this topic have been conducted in developed countries, there is still a need for such studies in developing countries, especially in the region of southeast Europe. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to investigate the existence of nonlinearity between EO and subjective financial performance among SMEs in southeastern European countries. Data was collected from decisionmakers of the 963 SMEs operating in Slovenia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Serbia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia. Proposed hypotheses were tested using hierarchical linear regression analysis. Research results confirmed existence of the positive direct relationship EO has on financial performance, including the positive effects on sales growth and profit-to-sales ratio. On the other hand, results have not confirmed existence of nonlinearity effects that EO has on financial performance, sales growth, nor on the profit-to-sales ratio. In other words, the observed relationship does not exhibit inversed U-shape characteristics among southeast European SMEs.
Researchers have pointed out significant adverse environmental impacts of the hotels and suggested environmental management systems (EMS) as a solution for identifying, managing and mitigating those ...impacts. EMS are adopted by the top management members based on perceived benefits and implementation barriers. The purpose of this study is to explore the attitudes of general managers from Croatian hotels about perceived benefits of and barriers to EMS implementation. Data was collected with online questionnaires from April to June 2021. Sample included 32 general managers, representing hotels from Istria, Kvarner, North, Central and South Dalmatia. Collected data was analysed using descriptive statistics. Croatian hotel managers perceive improved reputation and sustainable resource governance, followed by cost reductions as the main benefits of EMS. Administrative burden, lack of human resources and lack of knowledge are perceived as the most significant barriers for managers of hotels with implemented EMS, while implementation costs, lack of human resources and infrastructure changes are perceived as considerable barriers by managers from hotels without EMS. The results of this study provide an insight about the perceived benefits and barriers of EMS in Croatian hospitality sector contributing to the field by testing the findings of previous research in different context.
Zadržavanje zaposlenika aktualan je izazov u ugostiteljskom* sektoru. Svrha ovog rada bila je ispitati koje aspekte vezane za posao zaposlenici u hrvatskom ugostiteljskom sektoru smatraju važnima te ...postoje li generacijske razlike. Podaci su prikupljeni putem online upitnika provedenim od srpnja do kolovoza 2022. godine i analizirani deskriptivnom analizom. Rezultati pokazuju da generacija X najvažnijim čimbenicima smatra: dobru ravnotežu između poslovnog i privatnog života, plaću i sigurnost radnog mjesta te međuljudske odnose. Za generaciju Y najvažniji su aspekt plaća i sigurnost radnog mjesta, koje prate dobri međuljudski odnosi te dobra ravnoteža između poslovnog i privatnog života. Generacija Z jednako važnima smatra: plaću i sigurnost radnog mjesta, dobre međuljudske odnose i nisku razinu poslovnog stresa. Generacijske razlike su pronađene, ali nisu značajne. Važno je istaknuti zapažanje da sve generacije percipiraju sve čimbenike vrlo važnima. Zaposlenicima je stalo do poštene plaće i korektnih radnih uvjeta, ravnoteže između privatnog i poslovnog života te međuljudskih odnosa, cijene prilike za poslovni razvoj i više autonomije. Rukovoditelji u ugostiteljstvu trebali bi to uzeti u obzir kako bi kreirali visokokvalitetna radna mjesta i poboljšali zadržavanje zaposlenika.
Employee retention is actual challenge in hospitality sector. The purpose of this paper was to examine what job-related aspects are perceived important by employees in Croatian hospitality sector and if there are significant generational differences. Data was collected through and online questionnaire from July to August 2022 and analyzed with descriptive statistics. Results show GEN X perceives good work life balance, salary and job security and interpersonal relations as the most important factors. For Gen Y the most important aspect is salary and job security, followed by good interpersonal relations and good work-life balance. Gen Z equally cares about salary and job security, good interpersonal relations and low stress levels at job. Generational differences have been found but they are not significant. An important finding is that all generations perceive all factors as highly important. Employees care about fair wage and decent working conditions, work-life balance and interpersonal relations, they appreciate career development opportunities and more autonomy. This should be taken into account by hospitality managers to create high-quality jobs and improve employee retention.
Social entrepreneurship literature continuously emphasizes the need for innovations in business models as businesses gain more importance in achievement of sustainable development. However, there is ...a lack of practical examples of sustainable business models which prevents their faster adoption among entrepreneurs. This paper analyzes and evaluates alternative hospitality model - Albergo diffuso which is by many authors considered to be an example of sustainable business model. Albergo diffuso is used for tourism restart and revitalization of rural areas as it recovers old buildings, creates new jobs, involves local farmers and entrepreneurs in value creation network and preserves local traditions. This paper applied qualitative research approach to analyze the business model of Croatian Albergo diffuso ‘Ražnjevića dvori’ using the semi-structured interviews. Tourism is of huge importance for economies around the world but at the same time it produces a lot of negative environmental and social impacts on local communities. Therefore, sustainable innovation, especially in business models, is needed to achieve sustainable development of tourism. This research showed that Albergo diffuso can be regarded as a sustainable business model because it creates sustainable value, includes stakeholders in the value network and establishes mutual value flows and thirdly internalizes negative environmental and social externalities. Researchers conclude that with small adjustments, Albergo diffuso as sustainable business model could contribute to sustainable tourism development. However, conclusions cannot be generalized due to limitations of the study that include small research sample and application on single case and further research is required.
Europska unija svoj gospodarski rast i razvoj temelji na principima održivog razvoja, a on je nezamisliv bez obnovljivih izvora energije, koje Europa izdašno podupire financiranjem, promidžbom i ...dijeljenjem dobre prakse. U ovome se radu analiziraju efekti međunarodnog projekta FIRESPOL kroz koji se promicanjem dobre prakse i razmjenom iskustava između različitih zemalja i regija osnažuju ulaganja u obnovljive izvore energije (OIE), a time daje doprinos zapošljavanju i rastu niskougljičnog gospodarstva članica Europske unije.
The aim of this paper is to investigate whether employees choose intangible factors of job satisfaction or material factor high salary, then which factor of job satisfaction is the most important, ...and a comparison of different factors of employee satisfaction according to the assessed importance by the respondents (employees). The survey was conducted using the online survey method, on a sample of 233 employees in state and private enterprises in the Republic of Croatia, during February 2022, with the aim of examining employees' attitudes about intangible job satisfaction factors and materialjob satisfaction factors - high salary. The data obtained by the survey method are statistically analysed in the SPSS program and various factors of worker satisfaction in the high-paid workplace are compared. The results of the research showed that non-material factors ofjob satisfaction are more important to employees than high salaries. The most important intangible factor of worker satisfaction in the workplace is a good work atmosphere. When employees choose a high salary and some intangible factor, then they prefer that intangible factor, the leading of which is a good work atmosphere. Employees choose differently when they have the ability to rank intangible job satisfaction factors and high pay as a material job satisfaction factor. Then their first choice is still a good work atmosphere, then a high salary and only then all the other intangible factors.
In order for project management field to become more sustainable, project managers need to start paying more attention to well-being of team members. Strict deadlines, work overload and work-related ...stress can lead to poor work-life balance and prevent some social groups from job advancement leading to weakened well-being and poor performance. This study intents to explore interventions employed in project setting with the aim of establishing good work-life balance and ensuring equal opportunity for team members. Specifically, study looks into project manager's practices and behaviors in order to understand his or her role in achieving sustainable workplace for project team. In order to fulfill the objectives of the paper, literature review was conducted. Findings show that in order to improve good work-life balance and ensure equality, project managers need to first and foremost tackle the "long hours" culture of project management that equals presenteeism to commitment and good results. Secondly, research shows that team members are highly appreciative of work-life interventions like longer weekends, educations and longer pauses after intense periods but the crucial factor in success of such initiatives is the support from project managers who need to be flexible and establish good work-life balance themselves to prove that such behavior is acceptable. Thirdly, project managers need to ensure transparency and fairness in decision-making regarding project appointments and ensure that opportunities are not filtered through the image of ideal project worker that still appears to be "young man fully dedicated to his job ". Study concludes that satisfying team members' needs for good work-life balance and equality is both socially responsible and leads to greater project success.
Literatura ukazuje na značajne negativne utjecaje hotela na okoliš i predlaže sustave upravljanja okolišem (EMS) kao rješenje za prepoznavanje, upravljanje i ublažavanje tih utjecaja. EMS usvajaju ...članovi najvišeg menadžmenta na temelju percipiranih prednosti i prepreka implementaciji. Svrha ovog istraživanja bila je istražiti stavove generalnih direktora hrvatskih hotela o prednostima i preprekama implementacije EMS-a. Podaci su prikupljeni online upitnicima od travnja do lipnja 2021. U istraživanju su sudjelovala 32 generalna direktora, predstavnika hotela iz Istre, Kvarnera, sjeverne, srednje i južne Dalmacije. Prikupljeni podaci analizirani su deskriptivnom statistikom. Hrvatski hotelijeri kao glavne prednosti EMS-a vide poboljšanu reputaciju i održivo upravljanje resursima, a zatim i smanjenje troškova. Administrativni teret, nedostatak ljudskih resursa i nedostatak znanja percipiraju se kao najznačajnije barijere za menadžere hotela s implementiranim sustavom upravljanja okolišem, dok se troškovi implementacije, nedostatak ljudskih resursa i promjena infrastrukture percipiraju kao značajne barijere za menadžere hotela koji još nisu uspostavili takav sustav. Rezultati ove studije daju uvid u percipirane prednosti i prepreke sustava upravljanja okolišem u hrvatskom hotelskom sektoru pridonoseći ovom području testiranjem rezultata prethodnih istraživanja u različitom kontekstu.
This paper analyzes how Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises, SMEs in the hotel industry implement strategic Corporate Social Responsibility, CSR through the lenses of leadership, decision-making, and ...communication. Additionally, this research explores how the implementation differs between small and large hotel companies. To answer these questions, researchers used a qualitative approach by conducting 15 semi-structured interviews with eight SMEs and seven large hotel companies. The Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, IPA method was applied to analyze the gathered data. Research results demonstrate that hotel leaders in SMEs create a sustainability vision and lead the transition within their hotels. Leaders are mainly in charge of strategic decisions which are cascaded to all departments for operationalization. Moreover, dynamics between formal procedures shaping operational processes and informal organizational culture were identified. While formal elements shape goals and performance-tracking within organizations, informal elements ensure employees are aligned and committed to the sustainability vision. Formal documents and work procedures serve as guidelines for employees, but the informal aspect of leadership related to inspiring, engaging, and motivating employees is of even greater importance. Leaders motivate and engage employees by granting a high degree of autonomy in their work, allowing for mistakes to happen, valuing their efforts and contributions, and overall, fostering an open, trusting, and supportive organizational culture in their hotels. In conclusion, to successfully implement strategic CSR, a sustainable way of thinking must be developed that will ensure that all decisions and daily activities are in line with the sustainability vision.
