Vol.39, No 9 (2006)

Katja Podlipnik

Gregorčičeva ulica 11, 1230 Domžale

Boštjan Gomišček

UM FOV

Abstract

Background/Purpose: Enterprise risk management (ERM) is widely accepted as an effective management tool by companies all over the world. The survey centered on the ERM’s use was, in December 2005, carried out among Slovenian medium and large chemical companies. Questionnaires were sent to 41 companies focused on production of chemicals and chemical products (NACE 24). A total of 24 (59 %) completed questionnaires were returned. The results show that only a third of them have an integrated ERM in their business operations. Companies that have implemented at least two standardized management systems (e.g. ISO 9001 and ISO 14001) use ERM as well. The surveyed companies see the most important risks in the field of financial risks, health and safety risks, strategic risks and environmental risks. Majority of the companies have noticed a significant increase in business risks over past three years. They believe that companies should invest more resources in risk management. Almost all surveyed chemical companies have encountered at least one event that could lead to a higher damage in the company. Accidents at work and financial damages are the most frequent event

Mateja Rek

UL FDV

Abstract

Background/Purpose: The information and communication technologies are an important ingredient of virtually every successful knowledge management program. Nevertheless, successful implementation of ICT for knowledge transfers depends on giving appropriate focus to the non-technical factors, such as human factors, organizational characteristics, processes and culture in reliance to characteristics of knowledge as socially constructed, intangible and dynamic asset. The aim of this paper is to analyze and empirically test the implications of applying participatory method in a form of community of practice in cyber space for the creation and dissemination of organizational knowledge.

Dan Podjed

UL FF

Abstract

Background/Purpose: Author of the article analyses anthropological and sociological aspects of organizations, adapted to contemporaneous individual, which should end the tradition of modern, bureaucratic or mechanistic organizations as conceived by 20th century management theoretics. Key factors of success in modern organizations were planning, hierarchy, centralized control and standardization, while in new, postmodern organizations these factors are speed, integration, inventiveness and flexibility. Design of postmodern organizations is presented on three cases. The first case shows Japanese companies, which changed linear work into more flexible form using systems kanban and nenko and management rotation. The second case is Wikipedia, a very stable and simultaneously very flexible on-line encyclopedia, which can be edited and revised by every user. The third case is Al Kaida, a terrorist organization with clearly defined goal and successfully based on flexible and undefined structure

Martina Miklavčič Šumanski

Alcan Tomos

Igor Kolenc

Alcan Tomos

Mirko Markič

UP FM

Abstract

Background/Purpose: Change is the most significant factor influencing our lives and dominating the world we live in. There are rapid changes emerging from all spheres of human activities. The complexity and pace of change, which is difficult to handle by an individual, demand the need for creative team work. The global market encourages the need to develop new products, new solutions, new services, which all require creativity.Moreover, creativity can be developed where mutual effects, high flexibility and speed of learning, collegial friendship and collegial inner culture are present. The aim of our research is to establish if the reason why team work is not more popular can lie in the high number of group members. We administered questionnaires, which were filled in by 172 employees who cooperated in different organizational units of a medium-sized company. From calculations based on the group cohesion index, we established that the number of isolated individuals in larger groups is higher than in smaller groups. We designed a model of improvements to assist a company’s management with improving the quality of operations.

Ivan Rebolj

Ministrstvo za promet

Abstract

Background/Purpose: Discussions on electronic toll systems mainly look at how to provide a toll system which would be appropriate to both the highway and high-speed way operator, and the users. In an attempt to solve this issue, this contribution has illustrated factors impacting on the modern toll systems. While taking into account theoretical positions and findings made by various international authors addressing the elimination of the classic toll system, the reduction of never-ending and unnecessary traffic congestion before toll stations, and the reduction of negative phenomena related to the collection of tolls, we would do well to consider introducing and modernizing electronic toll systems. Analysis is mainly oriented towards modern information and electronic technology which, in closed toll systems, allows for a fair toll system with optimal costs and benefits. The result of this article has been expressed to upgrade the existing toll systems with a computerized traffic management system which would determine appropriate tolls in relation to the density and types of traffic flows

Valter Rudež

Autocommerce Auto d.o.o.

Abstract

Background/Purpose: To date intellectual capital definitions have not dealt systematically with intellectual capital challenges. The paper takes a step further in the evolution of intellectual capital and defines intellectual capital according to its challenges. Market-to-book value, increasing returns and competitive advantage enable an asset to be defined as intellectual capital. Further, the ownership transformation of volatile intellectual capital is essential to the definition of owned intellectual capital. The paper divides intellectual capital challenges into two categories: (a) basic challenges that refer to the definition of intellectual capital and (b) ownership transformation challenge. Such an approach enables us to present the MICO model of intellectual capital.

Bojan Burgar

Kolodvorska 2, 2270 Ormož

Abstract

Background/Purpose: The article presents results of a research carried out among primary school teachers with a purpose of finding out the principal’s personality characteristics and types of personalities, which are expected and accepted by teachers. In this research average values of separate characteristics and personality types, through which the need for abandoning the traditional views is proved, were graded. These traditional views are obstructing the changes and achievement of the correct balance among the goals, needs and the personality expression of the principal, which is interfering into mutual relations with teachers, who are the key educational programme performers. It should point out the possible changes of carrying out manager tasks in an educational institution. It was established that teachers want a personality of highly emotional intelligence, having the key characteristics as: audio and oral communication skills, the ability of accommodation and creative response, self control, confidence, endurance and attitude towards a meaningful, goal centred function, effective cooperation and team work with proactive communication. This is the management which could release professional and personality potential of each individual and offer direct movement towards goal centred function and responsibility, which will be constructive according to the content and time, coordinated with expected results of all process participants

Jože Zupančič