Rok 2024 (ročník 27)

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Optimization of inventory cost control for SMEs in supply chain transformation: A case study and discussion
(Technická Univerzita v Liberci, ) Zheng, Xiaosong; Chen, Yilin; Ekonomická fakulta
With the continuous transformation of supply chains in various industries in China, the strategic landscape, industrial structure, industry rules, business models, and management logic have all changed dramatically, and the consumer market has become more demanding regarding pre-sales quality and after-sales service. Primarily for distribution companies whose primary business model is “buy and sell products and earn a profit margin,” the supply chain transformation has placed higher demands on inventory cost control. In this study, we propose an integrated approach for optimization of inventory cost control of internal supply chain management. The integrated approach includes an improved ABC inventory classification method, spare parts demand forecasting, and an adapted inventory management method. We then select a small and medium-sized home appliance distribution company as the case study because the company is at its early stage of inventory transformation due to the supply chain transformation. Using the case study and field research methods, we analyzed the specific impact of supply chain transformation on the company’s inventory cost control and demonstrated the efficiency of the integrated approach. This study finds that the case company can control inventory costs more efficiently and effectively after implementing the improved ABC inventory classification method. The proposed different demand forecasting plans can help improve the accuracy of spare parts demand forecasting. Finally, different inventory management methods based on different classifications of spare parts can help determine the appropriate spare parts ordering point and procurement quantity.
Effectiveness factors of small and medium-sized enterprises from the perspective of corporate culture: A case study in Slovakia
(Technická Univerzita v Liberci, ) Lorincova, Silvia; Hitka, Milos; Durian, Jozef; Rauser, Daniel; Ekonomická fakulta
To reach business success, a company can use and manage a lot of seemingly inconspicuous and useful tools. One of them is corporate culture. The purpose of the paper is to define the factors that affect business efficiency from the perspective of corporate culture. The Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument (OCAI) was used. For data analysis, the Beta regression method, inductive statistics, and Tukey’s test were used. Based on the research results, it can be stated that there are significant differences in factors that affect the business efficiency of small and medium-sized enterprises in Slovakia from the perspective of corporate culture. The results show that effectiveness factors typical for clan corporate culture, such as teamwork, communication, loyalty, and human resource development, are applied in small enterprises. However, medium-sized enterprises are dominated by a hierarchical corporate culture with an emphasis on regulations, procedures, stability, control, and accuracy of management. It can be concluded that clan corporate culture is the best type of corporate culture for small and medium-sized enterprises in Slovakia. It is recommended to see the success of the enterprise in relation to caring for the people because employees represent a strategic tool in management that can influence the effectiveness of all business processes.
Exploring travel agencies customers’ loyalty motives throught machine learning analysis
(Technická Univerzita v Liberci, ) Dudek, Andrzej; Jaremen, Daria E.; Michalska-Dudek, Izabela; Pellesova, Pavlina; Ekonomická fakulta
This article focuses on identifying the directions of changes in the decision-making process of purchasing package travels and the motives determining this purchase, as well as the impact of these motives on the affective, behavioral and global loyalty of travel agency customers during the COVID-19 pandemic. To achieve the research goal, a literature review and field research were conducted. In the case of secondary sources, the content analysis method was used to examine them, while data from primary sources (N = 1,508) were collected using an indirect survey technique (CAWI). The data analysis was carried out using machine learning – the variable importance method and the random forest algorithm. The obtained results allowed us to conclude that during the period of threat of the COVID-19 virus pandemic, tourist packages had been purchased less frequently, and buyers either had limited their trips to domestic trips or had adapted their travel destinations to the changing pandemic situation. The most important motivators that determined the choice of a travel agency during the COVID-19 pandemic were an attractive offer, a wide selection of package travels, previous positive experiences and trust in the organiser. It was also confirmed that in the face of the pandemic threat, buyers of package travels had been loyal to travel agencies. The use of machine learning allowed for more in-depth analyses and identification of motives that had a key impact on the development of buyer loyalty during the pandemic. The factors identified in the study encouraging buyers of package travels to maintain long-term relationships with their suppliers are belief in the value of the travel agency’s offer, trust in the travel agency, individual approach travel agency employees, efficient service in the travel agency, and a wide selection of package travels.
The role of leadership in managing digital transformation: A systematic literature review
(Technická Univerzita v Liberci, ) Rakovic, Lazar; Maric, Slobodan; Djordjevic Milutinovic, Lena; Vukovic, Vuk; Bjekic, Radmila; Ekonomická fakulta
Digital transformation should not be seen as a time-bound project, but rather as a process that needs to be continuously improved and managed over time. In the absence of leadership, digital transformation will occur spontaneously in an organisation, but it is necessary to monitor and manage the process itself to achieve the goal and establish a digital organisation. A person who leads the digital transformation must possess the appropriate competencies. Leadership competencies, especially the combination of digital and human skills, are crucial to the development and success of the digital transformation process. The authors of this article identify a vaguely described process of digital transformation as the main research problem, highlighting the need for the systematisation of leadership competencies necessary for effective digital transformation management. In this regard, the research objectives are to define and describe the process of digital transformation and identify the leadership competencies necessary for successful management of the digital transformation process. In order to achieve the objectives of the paper, a systematic literature review was conducted for the period 2001–2022 and 90 papers were identified based on the criteria outlined by the Web of Science and Scopus index databases. The identified papers were then analysed from the aspect of defining digital transformation, the activities of the digital transformation process, and the characteristics of digital leadership. Following a thorough analysis of the selected literature, the paper provides a comprehensive definition of digital transformation, proposes a framework for its management, and analyses the key competencies of digital transformation leaders (digital leaders), which together make up the paper’s main contribution. The paper can be used not only as a starting point for future research in this area, but also as initial guidelines for the implementation and management of the digital transformation process. The systematic literature review conducted has certain limitations. Only two, albeit the largest, citation databases were searched, and only papers in English were identified. The established framework should be verified and expanded through empirical research.
Managers’ attitudes as a critical success factor of kaizen
(Technická Univerzita v Liberci, ) Todorovic, Mirjana; Cupic, Milan; Jovanovic, Dejan; Ekonomická fakulta
The purpose of our study is to examine the manager’s attitudes towards different aspects of kaizen, their commitment to the idea of kaizen, and their attitudes towards the motivation and participation of employees. We use a questionnaire to investigate the attitudes of 124 managers – 62 economists and 62 engineers, from 62 manufacturing companies operating in Serbia. We employ exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and Mann-Whitney’s U test. We find a moderate level of managers’ agreement with the statements on the importance and effects of kaizen, and a relatively low level of agreement with the statements on employees’ participation and motivation. Using the EFA, managers’ attitudes are grouped into three areas requiring attention – perceived kaizen effects, employees’ development and motivation, and employees’ participation. Finally, we find that economists and engineers do not differ in their attitudes towards kaizen, which indicates their similar and common attitudes towards certain aspects of kaizen. We contribute to the literature by examining managers’ attitudes towards the critical success factors of kaizen implementation and identifying the areas requiring more attention from the managers to support the social aspects of kaizen implementation and effects. Our results should change the perceptions of managers and contribute to the development of a new approach that involves more active and effective managers’ participation in the kaizen implementation. Our results can also be beneficial to practitioners seeking to implement and use kaizen more efficiently in their companies. Although our study does not consider the direct impact of a specific economic environment on kaizen implementation, it can be beneficial to companies in emerging and transitioning economies similar to Serbian.
Digital payments as an indicator of financial inclusion in Euro Area countries
(Technická Univerzita v Liberci, ) Petrikova, Tamara; Kocisova, Kristina; Ekonomická fakulta
The process of digitisation in the financial sector is developing through the systematic introduction of computer systems, the establishment of Internet connectivity and the use and ownership of various information and communication devices. Information and communication technologies can increase the desired degree of financial inclusion in a country by increasing the availability of various financial services. This study examines the individual attributes that can affect financial inclusion in the Euro Area countries in 2021. Our analysis applies a probit model to data from the World Bank Global Findex database, focusing on digital payments as a proxy for financial inclusion. The main finding highlights that higher income, higher education, female gender, and younger age groups are associated with an increased propensity to engage in digital payments. Notably, our expectation of a non-linear relationship between age and digital payments is confirmed, as evidenced by the application of the Robin Hood algorithm. Specifically, we observe a positive correlation between age and digital payment usage. However, this trend reverses beyond a specific breakpoint, approximately around the age of 40, leading to a subsequent decline in digital payment activity. Furthermore, our research shows that individuals who utilised alternative payment methods alongside cash before the COVID-19 pandemic are likelier to engage in higher digital payments. Additionally, a tendency for higher adoption of digital payments coincides with countries that achieved a higher Digital Access Index (DAI), an indicator assessing the degree of digitalisation in a country. Furthermore, it is associated with countries among the Euro Area’s founding members.
Investigating the determinants and effects of prestige sensitivity in fashion retailing
(Technická Univerzita v Liberci, ) Anic, Ivan-Damir; Kursan Milakovic, Ivana; Mihic, Mirela; Ekonomická fakulta
Targeting the prestige fashion segment enables fashion retailers to continue growing while facing a challenging environment. To attract prestige-sensitive consumers, it is important to understand their buying motivations and responses to retail actions. Thus, this paper examines the motivational predictors and effects of prestige sensitivity in fashion retailing, using the symbolic self-completion theory as a framework. It also explores the moderating role of fashion innovativeness. The data collected from shoppers of apparel products (N = 289) in Croatia were analyzed using structural equation modelling (SEM). The results show that recognition enhancement, sexual attraction, and recreation shopping motivations, which help enhance individuals’ self-identity in society, drive prestige sensitivity. At the same time, fashion innovativeness significantly moderates the relationship between recreation motive and prestige sensitivity. Prestige-seeking consumers positively respond to mannequin displays, spend more time shopping, and focus more on symbolic apparel attributes while shopping. This study contributes to the self-completion theory applied in fashion retailing by developing and testing the model that links prestige sensitivity with shopping motivations, fashion innovativeness, the selection of apparel attributes, response to visual merchandising, and time expenditure. The findings provide recommendations for marketers on how to develop fashion products/prestige brands in line with the expectations of prestige-seeking shoppers, target this market segment more efficiently, and increase the effectiveness of marketing efforts.
Regional COVID-19 cases and Bitcoin volatility: Assessment through the Markov switching prism
(Technická Univerzita v Liberci, ) Phan, Dat Minh; Hoang, Sinh Duc; Duy Dao, Tung; Pham, Tien Phat; Ekonomická fakulta
The 21st century has become the century of technology, which has spread to the currency market, presenting the international economic system with a new challenge – the challenge created by digital currency, which has determined a change in the rules of operation in the market. The main property of cryptocurrencies in general, and Bitcoin in particular, is constant volatility and mutual sensitivity to each other. This article aims to analyze the cryptocurrency market landscape from both short-term and long-term perspectives. Additionally, the article seeks to quantitatively assess the contradictions, trends, and patterns of price volatility in Bitcoin by employing the framework of Markov switching during the period spanning from 2020 to 2022. The Markov switching model was used in the study. In this study, the factors influencing volatility on different modes of the Markov switch are the COVID-19 pandemic and the Pearson correlation statistical method. The Chisquared test was estimated to identify the connection between Bitcoin volatility switching modes and the COVID-19 pandemic spread. This analysis enables international investors to diversify with maximum efficiency and returns using available hedging tools. However, several open questions remain for future research. Future studies can analyze different cryptocurrencies’ volatility. This research helps to assess the nature of the relationship of cryptocurrencies in statistics (the correlation of cryptocurrencies as of December 1, 2021, when no significant events in the financial market and political upheavals were recorded) and dynamics (the Markov switching models for the postpandemic period of 2020–2022). The article contributes to understanding the interdependence and sensitivity of different cryptocurrencies in relation to each other.
An attempt to resolve no-wait flow shop scheduling problems using hybrid ant colony and whale optimization algorithms
(Technická Univerzita v Liberci, ) Rostamzadeh, Reza; Gholipour, Arezou; Komari Alaei, Mohammad Reza; Zavadskas, Edmundas Kazimieras; Saparauskas, Jonas; Ekonomická fakulta
The incentive for many developments and scientific progresses within the field of scheduling has emerged from industrial environments, and naturally, it could be utilized in expressing the scheduling concepts regarding terms used in the industry. Generally speaking, scheduling problems are known as limited optimization issues through which decisions related to the machines’ assignment and works processing sequence are probed. Thus, following a review of the related literature, the major goal of this research is to design a mathematical model and to solve it through a meta-heuristic for no-wait flow shop scheduling problem using different machines for the purpose of minimizing the time required to complete the work using whale and ant colony optimization (ACO) algorithms in Sanat-Gostar-e-Hamgam Shoe Company. The ACO and whale algorithm methods are used to compare and predict scheduling activities in manufacturing line of shoe industry. The results showed an ACO algorithm with two stages in mean ideal distance (MID) end amounting to 76.65 and 77.38, respectively. Also, regarding the amounts of standard error mean squares, it could be claimed that the model designed using the improved whale algorithm has a better prediction, and the minimum time required to complete works using the whale algorithm is estimated to be equal to 86.1071. This could lead to an optimal state in achieving the predetermined goals.
The importance of corporate image and social responsibility for consumer engagement in sustainable consumption
(Technická Univerzita v Liberci, ) Streimikiene, Dalia; Kiausiene, Ilona; Makunaite, Greta; Ekonomická fakulta
Rampant consumption and society’s growing demands are leading to ever-deteriorating quality of environment and life. Changing consumption patterns is essential to reduce the effects of climate change and create a more sustainable environment for generations to come. The rise of fast fashion is leading to overconsumption of clothing and textiles, which leads to high levels of pollution. In order to promote public awareness and the implementation of sustainability in all areas of life, companies need to contribute to the promotion of sustainable consumption. The way in which fashion sector creates its image and sees social responsibility has an impact on consumers’ decisions to use sustainable products. The aim of the research is to identify the impact of corporate image on consumer engagement in sustainable consumption and to investigate the impact of social responsibility in creating corporate image. A questionnaire-based survey was conducted. 406 respondents from Lithuania were interviewed. The results were analysed using descriptive statistical methods. The study shows that a positive corporate image and engagement in social responsibility are important factors in consumers’ engagement in sustainable consumption. Weak but statistically significant relationships were found between these variables. Social responsibility has been found to have a positive impact on corporate image, with corporate environmental responsibility being the most important. Also, it was found that more than 90% of respondents have a positive view of the company’s corporate social responsibility and that the implementation of corporate social responsibility initiatives changes their perception of the company itself.
Decision-making on the job choice in the condition of Slovak households
(Technická Univerzita v Liberci, ) Kollar, Jan; Kika, Marian; Mazurova, Barbora; Ekonomická fakulta
Getting, keeping as well as changing jobs are the moments in a person’s life associated with not only the search and evaluation of the options but also with selection and decision-making. The article is one of the few in the Slovak Republic that deals with the issue of decision-making on the job choice in households, thus bringing new point of view into the knowledge about the Slovak labor market. The aim of the article is to analyse the decision-making process on the job choice of members of Slovak households and to identify the decision-making circumstances. It deals with the three selected parts of the decision-making process: the decision-making steps, the decision-making subject (decision-maker) and the decision-making circumstances. The contribution is based on the theoretical background concerned to decision-making, paid work and specific conditions of households and it draws the knowledge from the results of the original national research in more than 500 Slovak households. The primary data was collected through an anonymous survey, using a standardised anonymous questionnaire and guided interviews. Statistical sorting and descriptive statistics were used in data processing using the statistics software SPSS. The chi-square test was used to verify the representativeness of the research sample. The results show that the closer the final decision, the higher the proportion of individuals who implement decision-making actions. The most important decision-making circumstances include financial valuation, the character (difficulty) of the work and the childcare.
Utilization of time-driven activity-based costing and process simulation in cost management of organization
(Technická Univerzita v Liberci, ) Halaska, Michal; Sperka, Roman; Ekonomická fakulta
The deployment of information and communication technologies in organizations is on the rise. Many organizations consider the application of technologies to be a crucial key to improve their processes. However, traditional costing systems are not suitable for cost estimation of business processes due to the use of volume-based cost drivers, which are often not adequate for the structure of today’s organizations. In this research, we present an overview of how the TDABC (time-driven activity-based costing) model can be combined with process mining and business process simulation for cost estimation of such processes. The objective of this paper is to use the cost dimension as a major attribute for the potential implementation of robotic process automation (RPA) in companies. However, information and communication technologies could be considered in general. We demonstrate our approach in a case study that takes advantage of a real-life event log containing transactional data representing the loan application process in an insurance company. The event log is analyzed and processed using process mining techniques. Based on the preprocessing, a simulation model representing the original loan application process is designed. The designed simulation model is then used for simulation of partial and full implementation of RPA through separate scenarios. Then, we add the cost dimension to the simulation by enriching the event log with cost data based on a formalized cost model. We show that even though partial implementation of RPA might not deliver significant increase in efficiency in the process, it might still represent significant cost savings.
Natural resources and the underground economy: A cross-country study in ASEAN using Bayesian approach
(Technická Univerzita v Liberci, ) Nguyen, Thach Ngoc; Duong, My Ha Tien; Nguyen, Diep Van; Ekonomická fakulta
The development of the underground economy can significantly affect a country’s economic indicators. Although there have been different studies on this phenomenon, many aspects of underground activities remain incompletely defined. Therefore, the current research aims to supplement the existing literature by analyzing the link between abundant natural resources and the scope of the underground economy. To accomplish this objective, we collected panel data from ten Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries during the period 1991–2018. We then employed the Bayesian regression estimator to look into the influence of natural resources wealth on the scope of the underground sector. We found that the former can negatively and strongly affect the latter in ASEAN countries. That is, natural resources might be a blessing rather than a curse for economic growth and development in these countries. Other variables were found to have a strong positive relationship with the underground economy, like trade openness, tax burden, size of government, corruption, and the global financial crisis. Meanwhile, GDP growth, urbanization, and political stability had a strong negative effect on the size of the underground economy. These findings provide some implications for the governments of ASEAN countries to perform appropriate measures to control the underground economy.
To trust or not to trust ICT? Empirical model of relation between career readiness, trust, and distrust
(Technická Univerzita v Liberci, ) Kowalczyk, Elzbieta; Lewicka, Dagmara; Zajac, Pawel; Ekonomická fakulta
In this study, the authors focus on two issues: the influence of technology trust and distrust on career readiness and the identification of these trust and distrust factors determined by the respondent’s gender. To achieve this goal, the authors collected data using the survey method. The study was conducted among 871 Polish university students aged 18 to 25. Structural equation modeling was used to show potential causal dependencies between variables. The study provides valuable insight into research on trust and distrust in technology. Three groups of factors influencing career readiness were identified: catalysts (ICT trust, human-ICT competition), inhibitors (digital illiteracy, harmful ICT) and neutrals (ICT scepticism, digital anxiety). Variables in the career inhibitor category are not significant for the male respondents. The model used in the study indicates higher readiness among women in the dedication dimension, lower readiness in the engagement dimension, and no gender difference in the sacrifice dimension. The differential role of gender is confirmed in the context of career readiness. Limitations for this type of research are related to the difficulty of reaching the appropriate research sample, and thus its representativeness. In this case, thanks to a large research sample, it was possible to capture the relationships that allow for a better understanding of Generation Z.
Medical device regulation and its impact on the industry: A case study of Czech companies
(Technická Univerzita v Liberci, ) Maci, Jan; Matejicek, Martin; Peter, Lukas; Lefley, Frank; Maresova, Petra; Ekonomická fakulta
The implementation of regulations is often seen as a necessary tool to mitigate market failures and safeguard consumer interests. The Medical Device Regulation (MDR) is a recent regulation specifically designed for the production of medical devices, aiming to ensure their safety and effectiveness. This article focuses on Czech companies and seeks to examine and quantify the effects of the MDR on their operations, considering both economic and procedural impacts. Through the analysis of primary and secondary data, this study endeavors to shed light on the repercussions of the MDR on the companies in question. The findings suggest that the MDR will have a negative impact on the profitability of these companies, consequently influencing their operational strategies. One key factor contributing to this negative outcome is the inability of the companies to transfer the increased costs resulting from regulatory requirements to their customers. As a result, affected companies are forced to make adjustments to their product portfolios, reducing their range of offerings. The research reveals that the perception of the MDR among the companies is predominantly negative. This negative sentiment arises primarily due to the financial burdens imposed by the regulation and the other associated impacts discussed in the article. Furthermore, the MDR is not perceived as a catalyst for innovation within the industry. By quantifying the effects of the MDR on Czech companies, this article provides valuable insights into the real-world implications of this regulatory framework. The findings highlight the challenges faced by companies in adapting to and complying with the MDR, particularly in terms of its impact on profitability and product offerings. This research serves as a reminder of the complex interplay between regulations, economic outcomes, and industry dynamics. Ultimately, it emphasizes the importance of considering the potential ramifications of regulations and their effects on businesses and markets.
Navigating the human element: Unveiling insights into workforce dynamics in supply chain automation through smart bibliometric analysis
(Technická Univerzita v Liberci, ) Angielsky, Melanie; Copus, Lukas; Madzik, Peter; Falat, Lukas; Ekonomická fakulta
This study aims to create a scientific map of supply chain automation research focusing on human resources management, which will be applicable in practice and widen the knowledge in theory. It introduces the scientific articles, subject areas and dominant research topics related to supply chain automation, focusing on human resources management. In this study, 509 publications retrieved from the Scopus database were analyzed by a novel methodological approach – a smart bibliometric literature review using Latent Dirichlet Allocation with Gibbs sampling. The study processes scientific articles with automated tools. It uses a novel machine-learning-based methodological approach to identify latent topics from many scientific articles. This approach creates the possibility of comprehensively capturing the areas of supply chain automation focusing on human resources management and offers a science map of this rapidly developing area. This kind of smart literature review based on a machine learning approach can process a large number of documents. Simultaneously, it can find topics that a standard bibliometric analysis would not show. The authors of the study identified six topics related to supply chain automation, focusing on human resources management, specifically (1) network design, (2) sustainable performance and practices, (3) efficient production, (4) technology-based innovations and changes, (5) management of business and operations, and (6) global company strategies. The study’s results offer key insights for decision-makers, illuminating essential themes related to automation integration in the supply chain and the vital role of human resources in this transformation. The limitations of this study are the qualitative level of results provided by the machine learning approach, which does not contain manual analysis of documents and the subjectivity of the expert process to set the appropriate number of topics.
The essence and barriers to the use of controlling in the practice of manufacturing enterprises
(Technická Univerzita v Liberci, ) Potkany, Marek; Musa, Hussam; Schmidtova, Jarmila; Gejdos, Pavol; Grofcikova, Janka; Ekonomická fakulta
The theory, but also examples from practice confirm the fact that the use of controlling in economic practice differs significantly in the context of understanding its essence. The ambiguity of the definition of controlling, two different thought concepts, the diversity of tools and approaches, but also other barriers prevent its use to a greater extent than this managerial approach would deserve. The current research is based on the understanding of the essence of controlling in German-speaking countries and is oriented towards a coordinated predictive management approach based on precise cost reports. The research question was aimed at identifying current use and barriers of controlling in manufacturing enterprises in relation to the understanding of its essence and impact of performance through a questionnaire survey and structured interviews with managers from 2021 to 2022. A population of 2,504 enterprises was addressed by means of stratified sampling. The chi-square goodness- of-fit test was used to test how well the characteristics of the research sample fit the final population. A total of 352 manufacturing enterprises formed the resulting sample representative – enterprise size and type of industry designated according to the European standard industry classification system. Methods of contingency analysis and interval estimates of the population proportion were used to test the stated hypotheses. The testing confirmed a dependence between the practical use of a broader scale of controlling tools and the performance of enterprises measured by the return on sales (ROS) indicator, as well as the difference in the perception of barriers to the implementation of controlling depending on the size of enterprises. Controlling with the assistance of software support of the management information system, with a detailed implementation process and precisely defined competencies of employees and controllable KPI, creates the potential to increase the complexity of management and performance of enterprises as well as the elimination of potential risks.
Factors influencing career sustainability in Saudi Arabian banks: A PLS-SEM analysis
(Technická Univerzita v Liberci, ) Parveen, Musrrat; Alshehri, Amal Awadh Hadi; Ekonomická fakulta
This research delves into the correlation between organizational career growth and its impact on career sustainability among employees in the Saudi Arabian banking sector. It also explores the mediating influence of task performance and organizational citizenship behavior. Utilizing self-reported online questionnaires, data was collected from employees in Jeddah and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, working in both private and public banks. Approximately 255 surveys were gathered, and thorough scrutiny of the data was conducted to identify any instances of common bias, duplication, or missing values. Following this data cleaning process, a sample size of 200 was retained for subsequent analysis. The survey, conducted over a month from December 2022 to January 2023, targeted four key factors: organizational career growth (OCG), organizational citizenship behavior, task performance, and career sustainability. The study utilized partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) and path analysis, a combination that allows observed variables to represent latent variables while elucidating causal relationships between them. The findings showed that organizational career growth has a positive and significant influence on organizational citizenship behavior, task performance, and career sustainability. The SRMR value of 0.078 indicates a good fit between the observed data and the model; while the normed fit index (NFI) score of 0.957 shows that the model fits the data well. In addition, the study utilized the blindfolding technique to evaluate the model’s predictive validity. The results show that organizational career growth exerts a moderate effect on both task performance (Q2 = 0.218, Q2 = medium effect) and career sustainability (Q2 = 0.281, Q2 = medium effect) and has a limited impact on organizational citizenship behavior (Q2 = 0.136, Q2 = small effect). Expanded career opportunities within the organization led to better task performance and organizational citizenship behavior, indirectly boosting employees’ career sustainability in banking sector. Detailed managerial insights are also provided.
Till death do us part. Do customers cheat on brands?
(Technická Univerzita v Liberci, ) Klepek, Martin; Toth, Lukas; Ekonomická fakulta
Some companies, based on the beliefs of their managers, aim to obtain solely loyal customers in the hope that these customers will always buy only one brand and never cheat by buying a competitor’s brand. However, a growing body of empirical research suggests that this may be an overly positive expectation and that this marketing strategy can run counter to the nature of the consumer. To scrutinize the sole loyal buyer idea, this study empirically examines the phenomenon of duplication of purchase, which suggests that customers not only buy from repertoire but also that brands share customers in proportion to their market share. Data were drawn from two consumer packaged goods categories: beer (10 brands), soft drinks (6 brands), and eight NUTS2 regions. Using a robust sample of 3,488 customers from a consumer panel and many sets of data approach, the research replicated significant patterns of duplication of purchase in both categories studied and across all regions. The findings support the notion that while consumers are likely to repurchase a brand previously purchased, they also frequently diversify their choices between competing brands. Therefore, the study confirms the generalisability of duplication of purchase behaviour in different categories and geographies, providing critical information for marketing strategy and brand management. It is a strategy that goes against the principles of how buying behaviour works to try to persuade customers to buy from one single brand for the rest of their lives. A great deal of corporate resources will be wasted in the pursuit of sole loyalty.
Navigating the Industry 4.0 frontier: Unveiling perceived risk and cost moderators in technology adoption
(Technická Univerzita v Liberci, ) Jum’a, Luay; Alkhodary, Dina; Ekonomická fakulta
The advent of Industry 4.0 (I4.0) brought about significant transformations within the realm of business management. Industries are increasingly adopting innovative practices and implementing smart supply chain operations through the adoption of I4.0 technologies. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the factors that influence the adoption of I4.0 in supply chain operations. To accomplish this, an extended unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) model was applied, with perceived risk and cost acting as moderators in the context of the manufacturing sector. The study used a quantitative research methodology, with a sample size of 276 participants who held managerial positions at various levels within the sector. The data were obtained through the use of a structured questionnaire employing a judgmental sampling technique. The findings of the study revealed that both social influence and facilitating conditions had a significant impact on the adoption of I4.0. However, the relationship between social influence and I4.0 adoption was only moderated by perceived risk and cost. The aforementioned findings indicate that it is imperative that firms give precedence to the establishment of a conducive environment and culture that nurture innovation and promote the assimilation of cutting-edge technologies. Furthermore, it is essential for individuals to prioritize the establishment of strong networks and collaborations in order to effectively leverage the advantages offered by the I4.0. The implications of this study offer valuable insights for policymakers, practitioners, and researchers in the field of I4.0 and technology adoption. These insights pertain to the significant factors that influence the decision to adopt I4.0 and the anticipated applications of I4.0 within the supply chain.

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