Vol.39, No 1 (2006)

Maurice Yolles

Liverpool John Moores University, 98 Mount Pleasant, Liverpool L3 5UZ, UK

Abstract

Background/Purpose: The notion of organisational intelligence is a relatively new one that has come through from the area of management cybernetics, itself concerned with system viability. Intelligent organisations are connected to learning and knowledge organisations. While defining intelligent organisations outside a cybernetic framework is possible, this is not as comprehensive an approach as it might be. An illustration of this is provided by adopting one model of the intelligent organisation, and illustrating how it can succumb to inherent pathologies of the organisation. Key words: Intelligent organisation, strategy, collective intelligence, management cybernetics.

Petr Doucek

University of Economics, Faculty of Informatics and Statistics, Department of System Analysis, W. Churchill sq. 4, Prague, Czech Republic

Lea Nedomová

University of Economics, Faculty of Informatics and Statistics, Department of System Analysis, W. Churchill sq. 4, Prague, Czech Republic

Jan Klas

University of Economics, Faculty of Informatics and Statistics, Department of System Analysis, W. Churchill sq. 4, Prague, Czech Republic

Abstract

Background/Purpose: Process of managing organizations and firms has never been simple activity. Together with growing complexity of relationships in society is also increasing the necessity of understanding the core process of managing at higher level of complexity. Management is no longer single problem of individual managers and is becoming more and more multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary. In this context it is necessary to take into account both partial aspects of management process and the process as a whole. The approach resulting from above mentioned bases is named as “Integrated management system” (IMS). The IMS introduces complex and sectional view of managing the firm. As being usual nowadays, it is based on process view both on core activities of organization (core processes) and on supporting processes including managerial processes. IMS comprises nowadays in particular of following areas of management: quality management, environmental management, occupational health and safety management system,IS/ICT security management. Key words: Integrated Management System, Quality Management, Environmental Management, Occupational Health & Safety Management System, IS/ICT Security Management.

Patricija Jankovič

Univerza v Mariboru Fakulteta za organizacijske vede, Kidričeva cesta 55a, 4000 Kranj, Slovenij

Abstract

Background/Purpose: The old and ossified systems of public service management, with their strong premise of self-sufficiency, are a thing of the past, and are condemned to ruin despite the financial support by the state budget. However in the area of higher education we are still in a period of transition and adaptation. In our efforts to achieve comparability between Slovenian and European study programmes we should not neglect the problem of organization and management of the institutions of higher education. The purpose of this paper is to warn of the necessity of the actualization of problems in university management and ensuring an asymmetric distribution of authority in management of the institution.We present the legal possibilities for the formation of a slightly different and more modern method of university management. Key words: university, administration organization, management, authorities, responsibilities

Matevž Tomšič

Univerza v Ljubljani, Fakulteta za družbene vede, Kardeljeva ploščad 5, 1000 Ljubljan, Slovenija

Mateja Rek

Univerza v Ljubljani, Fakulteta za družbene vede, Kardeljeva ploščad 5, 1000 Ljubljan, Slovenija

Abstract

Background/Purpose: The aim of this paper is to analyse key aspects of economic and political culture of the new EU members from Central and Eastern Europe in comparison to old members (EU-15) of the European Union. Authors argue, that both, economical and political culture of most developed countries have a common core of underlying values, mainly being characterized by individualistic orientations and active, participatory attitudes.This argument is being empirically tested based on the data of several comparative research conducted in old and new members in recent years. Even though the data points to several distinctions among old and new members as regards the compatibility of their economic and political culture with the principles of market economy and parliamentary democracy, it is impossible to argues, that old and new countries are incompatible as regards the economic and political culture. Key words: economic culture, political culture, market economy, parliamentary democracy, European Union, Central and Eastern Europe

Matjaž Mulej

Univerza v Mariboru, Ekonomsko-poslovna fakulteta, Razlagova 14, 2000 Maribor, Slovenija

Vojko Potočan

Univerza v Mariboru, Ekonomsko-poslovna fakulteta, Razlagova 14, 2000 Maribor, Slovenija

Abstract

Background/Purpose: Complexity is not only a mathematical discipline, but it tackles all features that are complex (= entangled / intricate due to relations between their components). Some references about systems theory call such features systems, while others put systems equal to mental pictures of features tackling complex features, mainly, again. One may conclude that complexity theory renews principles of the General Systems Theory, after the latter have lost their battle competing against narrow specialization. This battle gave birth to five main streams of systems theory and cybernetics. Complexity theory, as a mathematical discipline, would belong to stream 1.As a science dealing with complex features in an interdisciplinary way, it would belong in stream 3, if using a mathematical basis, or in stream 5, if using a philosophical one. Key words: Bertalanffy; complexity; cybernetics; dialectical system; General Systems Theory; system

Bojan Rosi

Univerza v Mariboru, Fakulteta za logistiko Celje – Krško, Mariborska cesta 7, 3000 Celje

Matjaž Mulej

Univerza v Mariboru, Ekonomsko-poslovna fakulteta, Razlagova 14, 2000 Maribor

Abstract

Background/Purpose: We humans regularly face problems, conflicts, and crises.Are we able to recognize them in time and requisitely holistically to comprehend, prevent, or solve them, at least? Often we do try to solve problems / problematiques, conflicts, and crises in an efficient and effective, hence systemic way. Unfortunately, we find again and again, that in our behavior, action, life practice,we are too narrow-minded, one-sided, remaining on the level of a single specialized expertise and profession only. Therefore we lack interdisciplinary, co-operative and creative approaches; innovation lacks. Briefly, we often find that we are not meeting the law of requisite holism.This makes us unable to solve our »difficulties« in a satisfactory and long-term style. Dialectical network thinking is a new methodology able to help us in such efforts. Key words: Conflicts, Crises, Dialectical Network Thinking, Problems, Requisite holism

Jože Zupančič

Ministerial Declaration

Jože Gričar

Fakulteta za organizacijske vede Univerze v Mariboru

Janez Bešter

Fakulteta za elektrotehniko Univerze v Ljubljani

Zdene Flerin

Količevo Karton, d.o.o., Papirniška 1, 1230 Domžale

Jože Zupančič

Univerza v Mariboru, Fakulteta za organizacijske vede, Kidričeva cesta 55a, 4000 Kranj Slovenija

Abstract

Background/Purpose: The article presents a prototype application to control the cardbord cutting process which was implemented in order to increase the production effectiveness and assure a traceability throughout the production process.The article also shows how can the informatization of the production process, together with and adequate organizational actions, increase the effectiveness of cutters, improve the traceability of semiproducts, enable easier and faster resolving of complaints and make possible to issue more accurate and trustworthy quality certificates. Key words: information technology, prototype, cutter, board production, business process reengineering, traceability

Lucija Zupan

HERMES SoftLab d.d., Litijska 51, 1000 Ljubljana

Alenka Brezavšček

Univerza v Mariboru, Fakulteta za organizacijske vede, Kidričeva cesta 55a, 4000 Kranj

Abstract

Background/Purpose: In the paper, the information security standard BS 7799 is described. A short history of the standard is presented. Benefits of standard implementation into an organization are highlighted. Modifications in the latest versions of the standard (BS ISO/IEC 17799:2005 and BS ISO/IEC 27001:2005) are described in detail. The authors also discuss possible impact of these modifications on the organizations that have developed their information security management systems (ISMS) on the basis of the previous versions of the standard. Besides, the article describes what the organizations can expect in the field of the information security standardization in the near future. Keywords: information security, BS 7799 standard, new edition, modifications, impact on the organizations, future of the standard