The aim of this paper is to show possible effects of networking strategies and to examine the realization of these effects in the case of clustering of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The ...Nišava District Textile Cluster has been chosen in order to test the impact of clustering on the performance of SMEs. The dynamics of cluster members' growth and development indicators during the four-year period shows that some improvements have been achieved. Nevertheless, further statistical analysis does not confirm the existence of positive effects of this cluster on its members' business performance, that is, their growth and development. The cluster's short lifespan, effects of the world economic crisis and, the most important, the inadequate structure and support of the examined cluster are seen as the main reasons for this absence of positive effects.
This paper presents the results of the research of motives of female entrepreneurs for starting their entrepreneurial activity. The research is conducted on a sample of 40 female entrepreneurs from a ...number of cities in the Republic of Serbia. The results indicate that the motivation of the female entrepreneurs is a complex phenomenon that is made of a combination of the so-called negative (push) and positive (pull) motives for starting the entrepreneurial activity. Looking at the structure of the motives, the results suggest that female entrepreneurs are attracted to the entrepreneurship by the existence of business opportunities to a greater extent than they are pushed in this activity by an absence of other and better options of employment. These results should be interpreted in the context of the sample’s educational structure, in which over a half of the respondents have higher levels of education. Regarding the key motives, it can be said that female entrepreneurs are a heterogeneous group, given the fact that the pull motives are more important for the population of more educated entrepreneurs, and that the push motives are more significant for starting the entrepreneurial activity among women with lower educational attainment. Similarly, although the flexibility of working hours is one of the most important motives for female entrepreneurs in general, its importance is most pronounced in the population of female entrepreneurs that are between 26 and 45 years old. The lack of the statistical significance of some results is explained by the sample size.
Small and medium sized-enterprises (SMEs) are often seen as a sector important for job creation. About 2/3 of the overall employment is provided by this sector, both in the EU and in the Republic of ...Serbia. There is evidence that SMEs are responsible for the most part of the net employment growth. The SMEs sector in Serbia is identified as sector which can absorb a part of the unemployment generated by the large scale enterprises’ (LSEs) restructuring and privatization. Today, the unemployment rate in Serbia is high above the average unemployment rate in the EU. The question is whether the SMEs sector can absorb that unemployment, or is this sector more influenced by the crisis, relative to the LSEs. The aim of this paper is to examine the employment contribution of the SMEs in the Republic of Serbia. Furthermore, the paper will deal with the impact of the crisis on the SMEs’ employment, efficiency and their investment activities. The problems that are identified by SMEs, and that lead to rising unemployment in this sector over the past few years will be considered and analyzed.
Mala i srednja preduzeća (MSP) se često vide kao sektor bitan za kreiranje novih radnih mesta. Ovaj sektor privrede obezbeđuje oko 2/3 svih radnih mesta, kako u Republici Srbiji, tako i u EU. Postoje empirijski dokazi da su mala i srednja preduzeća zaslužna za najveći deo rasta neto zaposlenosti. U Republici Srbiji se ova preduzeća vide kao preduzeća koja mogu da apsorbuju deo nezaposlenosti koja se restrukturiranjem i privatizacijom generiše u sektoru velikih preduzeća. Danas je stopa nezaposlenosti u Srbiji značajno veća od prosečne stope nezaposlenosti na nivou EU. Pitanje je da li sektor MSP može da apsorbuje ovu nezaposlenost, ili su ova preduzeća u većoj meri pogođena krizom, relativno prema velikim preduzećima. Rad ima za cilj da ispita doprinos malih i srednjih preduzeća zaposlenosti u Republici Srbiji. Takođe, u radu se istražuje uticaj krize na zaposlenost u ovom sektoru, na efikasnost i na nivo investicionih aktivnosti malih i srednjih preduzeća. Osnovni problemi za vlasnike malih i srednjih preduzeća koji vode rastućoj nezaposlenosti u ovom sektoru biće razmotreni i analizirani.
The business performances of a company are partly determined by the relationships that a company has with the entities in its environment. The relations of cooperation established in order to achieve ...the same or supporting objectives of the parties involved are increasingly becoming a determinant of the business success. There is an increasing importance that the complex structures of relationships with the external entities have for the competitiveness of the enterprises. Therefore, the strategic management process should include defining the network environment relevant for the company's competitiveness management. This paper specifies a terminological framework for business network analysis. Additionally, the company's network environment is identified as an environment relevant for building, maintaining and developing the competitiveness. Thus, the paper suggests possible ways for improving the strategic management theory and practice.
Corporate philanthropy implies direct nonrefundable donations of company’s money, goods, and time to support philanthropic causes. Corporate philanthropy has a very long history in practice. However, ...various authors have conflicting views as to its feasibility in terms of its impact on business results. On the one hand, there are authors who claim that any expenditure of money on matters which does not maximize profit is unjustified. On the other hand, other authors believe that companies are citizens of society and that their moral obligation is to organize their business in a manner which improves the community. In recent years there has been a growing number of papers which explain that the voluntary commitment of companies to promote society can in turn help them improve their competitiveness. A number of empirical studies have shown that there is a positive relationship between corporate philanthropy and competitiveness. However, the dilemma of whether corporate philanthropy is just "an expense without coverage" or a means of improving competitive advantage is still present as those studies contain significant methodological limitations. The starting assumption of this paper is that corporate philanthropy can help improve the competitiveness of companies, but only if it is implemented strategically in accordance with the company's business goals and strategy. This assumption will be examined and discussed.
In recent years, talents are becoming an increasingly important factor in the competitiveness of modern enterprises. Thanks to their competences, their commitment to a particular enterprise and ...awareness of their own contribution to the success of the enterprise, talents may create greater value by improving the quality of products and services, reduce operating costs, improve customer relationships, build better reputation, etc. Because of that, modern enterprises are paying more attention to attracting, developing, motivating and retaining talents, both for managerial positions and for strategically important executive positions. This paper explains some of the measures that enterprises can implement to increase the motivation, commitment and loyalty of talents and thus enhance their own competitiveness.
The process of globalisation in economic development has great influence on economic order in the world which covers subjective structure of economy and intercommunication between its elements. Many ...discussions have started around the process of globalisation. The influence of globalisation on regional development has become one of the main topics. In the process of globalisation regions obtain new status: the object of world economy system. Regions begin to take part in world competitive process. Due to this all processes and contradictions which accompany globalisation appear on regional level. Moreover globalisation brings to regions not only new possibilities but also threats.
