Vol.39, No 2 (2006)

Metod Šuligoj

Grgar 165-i, 5251 Grgar

Abstract

Background/Purpose: This article refutes the statement that the hotel industry as seen from the financial and working conditions standpoints does not favour the workers due to the mental and physical strains caused by the work and the relatively low salaries. As every activity also the hotel industry has its specific working conditions, which can be divided into physical and psychologically sociological ones. Among these, there are some that have negative effects on a person’s health and his or her well being, all however to a certain extent.The salaries in the hotel industry are lower than in some comparable service activities, e.g. commercial activity or transport, storage and communications. One of the main reasons for this is the low productivity. The official data on the salaries tend to be misleading.What the official statistical reports lack is the inclusion of all the earnings of the hotel industry employees, like tips and casual cash-in-hand. One of the best solutions for the improvement of these conditions is the implementation of the flexible work and employments forms, at the same time however, taking into consideration the principles of the labour market. Key words: hotel industry, hotel industry employees, working conditions, labour costs, salaries, productivity

Zdenko Segetlija

J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Economics in Osijek, Gajev trg 7, 31000 Osijek

Abstract

Background/Purpose: Organizational and structural changes in retail trade in the Republic of Croatia are viewed in the sense of the change of quality as the reflection of the attained level of development. In this paper, the author first explains the retail trade and its structure. In the analysis of organizational and structural changes in retail trade in Croatia, the author starts from the growth/decline of retail trade (indicators of the physical volume of realized turnover, the number of shops, capacities and number of employees), and then analyzes its development (qualitative changes) in last 20 – 30 years (structural changes in the realized turnover – concentration tendencies, in the forms of retail trade, in the formats of shops, development of co-operative forms, etc.). Structural changes in the Croatian retail trade have also been reflected in the development of new forms of firms/companies, new formats of shops, vertical integration of wholesale and retail trade, as well as on the new relations of cooperation of trade companies (e.g. of retail chains) with manufacturers. Key words: retail trade, concentration, shop, type of shop, retail form, the Republic of Croatia

Boris Bukovec

VŠUP – Visoka šola za upravljanje in poslovanje, Na Loko 2, 8000 Novo mesto, Slovenija

Abstract

Background/Purpose: The article starts with the aspect of success of an individual, organisation and civilisation, continues with key views on changes in organising systems targeting on a human being as an individual. The core part of the text deals with the role of imagination, creativity and selfactualisation of a person and recognising the apparent trend of the movement from a group towards an individual. When managing organisational changes, the key role goes to the management of human resources, where of the utmost importance is the organisational culture where the communication which gives the communicational momentum enables to incorporate innovation and creativity into every single action. The article concludes with the model of a three-level concept of managing changes (self-restoration, self-development, state of the mind) where it is found out that internalisation of the paradigm of self-actualisation represents the key factor as well as the third dimension and the lever for the improvement of the first two. Key words: change management, human resources management, self-actualisation

Margareta Benčič

UP TURISTICA, Senčna pot 10, 6320 Portorož

Abstract

Background/Purpose: The article deals with tourism at the local community. The author draws attention to the fact that the importance and role of tourism at the local community in Slovenia are still unsatisfactorily appreciated. Namely, the local community is becoming an element of the contemporary tourism and has equal place among the tourist partners. In her investigation the author establishes the relation and support to the tourist development from the local population in ten local communities of the Upper Carniola. Key words: tourism, local community, policy of development, local tourist potential

Polona Novak

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

Abstract

Background/Purpose: Successful companies strive for the satisfaction of consumers and excellent companies adapt themselves to the changing market on the basis of market oriented strategic planning.We will presuppose the successfulness of higher education institutions, which are striving for the biggest rate of knowledge in the market of education and are adapting themselves to the changes of inner and outer environment of higher education institutions. At the same time we will examine possibility of shaping the strategy in higher education institutions.We will have to consider the question of the competition of traditional universities, the subject of a higher education field and the market of a higher education field, which will be the basic premise of the realization of marketing discipline in higher education institutions. Key words: strategy, marketing, higher education institution, competition, commercialization of higher education

Mario Sajko

University of Zagreb, Faculty of Organization and Informatics, Pavlinska 2, 42000 Varaždin, Croatia

Kornelije Rabuzin

University of Zagreb, Faculty of Organization and Informatics, Pavlinska 2, 42000 Varaždin, Croatia

Željko Hutinski

University of Zagreb, Faculty of Organization and Informatics, Pavlinska 2, 42000 Varaždin, Croatia

Abstract

Background/Purpose: Better use of time, decreased educational costs, more effective learning and learning management from the user’s side stimulate changes in the transmission of knowledge and learning. The Faculty of Organisation and Informatics (University of Zagreb, Croatia) was one of the places where a project for developing an e-learning system was started in accordance with user (student) demands and teaching process. Within this project, the production of a system for managing e-learning as well as adjusting teaching materials was started. This paper presents our achievements and results of using the developed elearning management system in our institution. Key words: e-learning, SCORM, LMS

Mitja Pucelj

B2-izobraževalni center d.o.o., Tržaška cesta 42, 1000 Ljubljana

Borut Likar

Univerza na Primorskem, Fakulteta za management Kope

Abstract

Background/Purpose: The objective of the research was to determine which areas of the modern social organizational theory and practice are of a key importance for creating an innovative culture.The research was performed in line with the features of the ever-changing modern society, which fails to allow a multitude of measures being taken in order to improve the current state. Through the analysis of the open poll questionnaires submitted by people employed in both, the profit organizations and in government, it was determined that leadership is the key in creating an organizational climate, which encourages or discourages the employees to suggest improvements. The leaders should define clear objectives and a nonlinear approach for building a path towards those defined goals. Besides talent, today’s world demands from the leaders to acquire an adequate amount of knowledge, which has to be constantly upgraded if we want to achieve the organizational culture favorable for accepting suggestions on modifying tasks execution methods in connection with innovations (new or improved products, services, technologies, methods etc.), which are a key in boosting the added value. Key words: Suggestions for changes, innovative culture, key areas, leadership

Jože Zupančič

Ministerska Deklaracija

Vedrana Vidulin

Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Jožef Stefan Institute, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia