Vol.42, No 4 (2009)

Miroljub Kljajić

University of Maribor, Faculty of Organizational Sciences, 4000 Kranj, Slovenia

Abstract

Background/Purpose: The relationship between systems development and systems methodologies is discussed in this paper. As the measure of system development on the macro level, Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is assumed to be the consequence of systems Research and Development (RD), which is estimated indirectly by the number of published articles in the last 40 years. It was supposed that profit and governmental organizations are systems comprised of Production, Management and Information Systems (IS), and that their quality performance is related with its income generation, which in the future would impact the overall GDP of a country. Under such view, we also assume that such organizational processes are qualitatively improved by the application of knowledge generated by research publications, and in this study, we research for the specific case of the Systems Approach (SA), Systems Engineering (SE), Operational Research (OR), Information Systems Development (ISD) and Simulation, as the research topics for coping with organizational improvement. We looked for the articles containing the afore-mentioned variables as topic keywords, which indicate sufficient correlations with GDP and carrying information on sustainable development. We found a positive trend in the evolution of research methodologies, such as SE, ISD and OR, towards a Systems Approach and Simulation as a holistic methodology. As a result, we have proved the dynamic hypothesis of a high correlation between GDP of Top 10 + Slovenia and RD expressed by the above-mentioned variables.

Marko Jakšič

University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Economics, Ljubljana, Slovenia, Kardeljeva ploščad 17, Ljubljana; School of Industrial Engineering, Eindhoven University of Technology, The Netherlands

Borut Rusjan

University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Economics, Ljubljana, Slovenia, Kardeljeva ploščad 17, Ljubljana

Abstract

Background/Purpose: There is a growing trend of information sharing within modern supply chains. This trend is mainly stimulated by recent deve­lopments in information technology and the increasing awareness that accurate and timely information helps firms cope with volatile and uncertain business conditions. We model a periodic-review, single-item, capacitated stochastic inventory system, where a supply chain member has the ability to obtain advance capacity information (‘ACI’) about future supply capacity availability. ACI is used to reduce the uncertainty of future supply and thus enables the decision-maker to make better orde­ring decisions. We develop an easily applicable heuristic based on insights gained from an analysis of the optimal policy. In a numerical study we quantify the benefits of ACI and compare the performance of the proposed heuristic with the optimal performance. We illustrate the conditions in which the procedure is working well and comment on its practical applicability

Dušan Gošnik

University of Primorska, Faculty of Management, Cankarjeva 5, 6000 Koper, Slovenia

Matej Hohnjec

Šest Sigma Akademija, Resljeva cesta 40, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Abstract

Background/Purpose: Researches reveal that successful six sigma implementation is related to proper six sigma project prioritisation and selection. This research is limited to the selection of six sigma projects in some manufacturing companies in Slovenia. The purpose of this study is to identify what criteria are considered for prioritisation and selection of six sigma projects and how six sigma projects are selected. A research sample is limited by the number of companies which have implemented six sigma so far. The results indicate that Slovenian manufacturing organisations tend to select six sigma projects based on criteria such as customer satisfaction, connection with a business strategy financial benefits, and growth of the organisation. Several tools and techniques such as quality cost analysis, brainstorming and interviews are used to identify and prioritise projects. Identification of the most commonly used criteria to select six sigma projects can help practitioners to select projects based on multiple criteria by using tools and techniques identified in this study. This topic has not been applied in the field of Slovenian manu­facturing companies and thus it presents the first study in this field in Slovenia.

Etelka Korpič-Horvat

Faculty of Law, University of Maribor, Mladinska ulica 9, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia,

Bojan Tičar

Faculty of Criminal Justice and Security, University of Maribor; Faculty of Management, University of Primorska, Cankarjeva 5, 6104 Koper, Slovenia

Rado Bohinc

Faculty of Management, University of Primorska, Cankarjeva 5, 6104 Koper, Slovenia

Abstract

Background/Purpose: In the article the authors discuss the salary system in the private sector in the Republic of Slovenia. They present relevant legislation dealing with remuneration, in particular the Employment Relations Act, which regulates individual employment relations and in a separate chapter regulates remuneration. Remuneration includes a salary and other additional payments. The authors treat all the components of a salary, i.e. the basic salary, extra payments, the part of the salary based on job per­formance, and the payment for positive business performance. Other additional payments are payments in kind or in money, in securities, or profit-related pay, i.e. the participation of employees in profit sharing. The authors also treat other income of employees laid down in the Employment Relations Act and collective agreements as well as the reimbursement of expenses related to work. The authors also focus on the obligatory content of an employment contract with reference to remuneration. Finally, they address open issues regarding types of other additional payments and possible solutions for determining indivi­dual remuneration instruments in collective agreements and in employment contracts.

Milan Pagon

University of Iowa, Henry B. Tippie College of Business, CIMBA Campus Italy, Via Collegio 40, 31011 Asolo (TV), Italy

Uroš Bizjak

Kontrola zračnega prometa Slovenije, d.o.o., Kotnikova 19 a, 1000 Ljubljana

Abstract

Background/Purpose: Relationships among different aspects of romantic relationship quality, the usage of information and communication technolo­gies (ICT), characteristics of a relationship, demographics, and personality were examined on a sample of 407 students in the Republic of Slovenia. The findings suggest that the most important factor in determining the quality of a romantic relationship is companionship (joint activities of a romantic couple). Romantic couples who generally spent more time in joint activities also spent more time using ICT in maintaining their romantic relationship. The usage of ICT in a romantic relationship itself does not influence the quality of that relationship. The general usage of ICT, however, deteriorates the quality of the romantic relationship. Once we take into account the impact of companionship, personality variables do not provide any unique contri­butions to romantic relationship quality.

Alenka Kopina

Podbreznik 110, 8104 Novo mesto

Franci Čuš

Univerza v Mariboru, Fakulteta za strojništvo, Smetanova 17, 2000 Maribor – SI

Abstract

Background/Purpose: As the scope of logistics operations in the company increases from day to day it is necessary to provide quality and reliable IT support to operational work. Selection, implementation and the usage of the support tools is one of the critical tasks. The main tpoic of the article is upgrading the ERP system SAP R3 with the new system of advanced planning and optimization (Advanced Planning and Optimization – APO). In the company Krka, d.d. the business information system SAP R3 is used for to support most processes. For the management and control of production, the system Werum PAS-X is used. In the Supply Chain the APO, which is an upgrade of SAP R3 and is also a leading system for planning in the company has been implemented. All the three systems which are also integrated with each other constitute the basis of a new modern, efficient and transparent Supply Chain system.

Miran Šik

Cesta na Markovec 73, 6000 Koper, Slovenija,

Abstract

Background/Purpose: This research paper presents a development of decision support model for investments in IT infrastructure. Using the system dynamics methods the research was made on causal relationship of investments in IT infrastructure and profit. The proposed model represents influences of investments in IT infrastructure on profit through increased strategic flexibility of the company. The presented simulations of the model use different values of external variables and different functional relationships between variables. The present research paper also shows a lack of knowledge in relationships between system variables, which can be overcome with further research, thus improving the quality of the presented model.

Gabrijel Devetak

Maja Konečnik Ruzzier

Univerza v Ljubljani, Ekonomska fakulteta, Kardeljeva ploščad 17, SI-1000 , Ljubljana, Slovenija

Abstract

Background/Purpose: The paper analyses the internal perspective on developing a new brand for Slovenia, I feel Slovenia. The results of creating the identity of Slovenia from the viewpoint of 30 Slovenian experts are presented. Their opinions were collected as the first step of the whole process in building an identity of Slovenia, conducted in year 2007. We invited experts to express their opinion through Delphi method, which was repeated in two iterations. Results of both iterations are presented in the paper. Experts’ opinion from key area presented initial, but extremely important basis in developing identity elements of Slovenian brand. According to their opinion the key idea of brand identity should be related to Slovenian nature, which should be reasonable incorporated also in other brand identity elements.