Vol.43, No 2 (2010)

Mitja Dečman

University of Ljubljana, Faculty of Administration, Gosarjeva 5, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Abstract

Background/Purpose: The use of information and communication technology and its widespread presence cause a vast amount of data to be created in the public and private sectors every day. The widespread presence of e-government sites, services and communication in the developed world add even more data. This digital data does not only represent the accountability and reliability of the processes, steps and decisions taken by organisations, but also a source of information for future generations. This paper discusses the issue of long-term digital preservation with a special focus on long-term digital preservation in public administration. It analyses problematic issues, current development trends in this area, and principles and solutions that can be found around the world. The paper focuses on Slovenia as one of the EU countries that has most effectively developed its e-government during the last decade. It analyses the situation in Slovenia through legal, organisational and other changes that have appeared over the last few years, and considers this as a model for possible long-term digital preservation. To describe the situation for digital preservation in Slovenian public administration, the results of empirical research made in 2007 are used. The paper uses theoretical background from the field of digital preservation and empirical results to show the important link between e-business, e-government, e-governance and digital preservation. It demonstrates that since Slovenian public administration has strictly specified business processes, the task of implementing digital preservation is much easier. The same concepts can be transferred to the private sector in Slovenia or anywhere else in the world.

Mateja Karničar Šenk

Polycom Škofja Loka d.o.o., Poljane nad Škofjo Loko 76, 4223 Poljane nad Škofjo Loko, Slovenia

Peter Metlikovič

Ptica – Institution, Ješetova ulica 25, 4000 Kranj, Slovenia

Matjaž Maletič

University of Maribor, Faculty of Organizational Sciences, Laboratory for Quality Management, Kidričeva 55a, Kranj, Slovenia

Boštjan Gomišček

University of Maribor, Faculty of Organizational Sciences, Laboratory for Quality Management, Kidričeva 55a, Kranj, Slovenia

Abstract

Background/Purpose: The result of our research is a developed and implemented set of activities for new process or product development (NPD procedure) for SMEs environment in the plastic processing industry, which enables the production of products and services with a high value added. The developed NPD procedure consists of five consecutive and overlapping steps: attracting orders, designing a project, developing a product, developing a process and zero production series. Each distinct step is further divided into sub-activities supported by adequate methods and managed in an information system. Investigated and included were three different meth­odologies use for NPD procedure in the automotive industry such as Advanced Product Quality Planning (APQP), Design for Six Sigma (DFSS) and Stage/Gate methodology. The results presented in the paper show that the developed NPD procedure significantly improved NPD in terms of cost management and time-effectiveness.

Miha Marič

University of Maribor, Faculty of Organizational Sciences Kidričeva 55a, 4000 Kranj, Slovenia

Jasmina Pavlin

University of Maribor, Faculty of Organizational Sciences Kidričeva 55a, 4000 Kranj, Slovenia

Marko Ferjan

University of Maribor, Faculty of Organizational marko.ferjan@fov.uni-mb.si Sciences Kidričeva 55a, 4000 Kranj, Slovenia

Abstract

Background/Purpose: This article presents our findings about the factors influencing educational institution’s image. Based on the literature review we composed a web questionnaire which was send to all current students at University of Maribor’s Faculty of Organizational Studies. Based on our research results we found out that eight factors influence educational institution’s image which have various amounts of influence on the educational institutions image. The factor with the most influence is the quality of profes­sors and of their lectures and the second most important factor is the learning content. These two factors come before all of the others in the matter of influencing the educational institutions image. Our basic recommendation is to build on these factors starting with the most important ones first.

Lovro Lončar

Vir, Čufarjeva 10, 1230 Domžale

Leo Semaško

Ramon Podreka

Sanofarm d.o.o., Šmarska cesta 5c, 6000 Koper, Slovenija

Roberto Biloslavo

Univerza na Primorskem, Fakulteta za management Koper, Cankarjeva 5, 6000 Koper

Abstract

Background/Purpose: The subject of this paper is based on the definition of competence as the individual’s ability to activate, utilize and merge the knowledge acquired when faced with complex, diverse and unpredictable situations. The first part of this paper presents an outline of the fundamental hypotheses dealing with the subject of interpretative typology of competences, which does not regard the worker and the job as two separate identities, but rather as one single identity that is formed through the work experience. The goal of this research is to find an answer to the question, whether the differentiating competences that are necessary for a job in marketing depend on the work context of the specific organization within which they are put into practice. The subjects of our research were the employees of three medium-sized Slovenian enterprises, who function in three different work contexts, according to our findings. The results of the research show that the differentiating competences that separate superior job performance worker from an average one, who holds the same position as marketer, depend on the nature of the work context within which the employees perform their jobs.

Ksenča Bokovec

Sapphir d.o.o., Rožna dolina, cesta I/15, 1000 Ljubljana

Talib Damij

Univerza v Ljubljani, Ekonomska fakulteta, Kardeljeva ploščad 17, 1000 Ljubljana

Tanja Rajkovič

Sapphir d.o.o., Rožna dolina, cesta I/15, 1000 Ljubljana

Abstract

Background/Purpose: The implementation of complex ERP systems in global business environments requires a sound methodological approach. Companies have been experiencing many project failures in the past, since the projects by far exceeded their time and budget frameworks and/or did not render the expected results. In the article is presented a study of critical success factors (CSFs) which the companies should take into account in every ERP project. Presented are case studies of five anonymous companies belonging to the international corporation. The focus is on the definition of the global efficiency factors or GEFs which allow us to design a global concept of the whole ERP system and are more broadly defined than CSFs. Thus are ensured efficient and productive roll-out implementations in all subsequent companies of the group. Developed was a multi-attribute evaluation model based on these factors which focuses primarily on the content of the system and not that much on the project management CSFs. GEFs namely allow us to efficiently manage the complexity of the ERP implementation projects while the multi-attribute evaluation model makes it possible to evaluate the project in its different project stages, thereby measuring whether the project is on track in terms of its global content design. The results of the evaluation were also analyzed by positioning the five case study projects on the maturity curve for both being implemented with or without the use of GEFs.

Andrej Raspor

HIT, d. d., Nova Gorica, Delpinova 7a, 5000 Nova Gorica, Slovenija

Abstract

Background/Purpose: The article analyses how tips are regulated in the countries of the former Yugoslavia, United States and some countries with casinos in the European Union, America, Africa and Asia. The key finding is that in the majority of them, tips are not a part of casino revenues, therefore they are taxed totally. Their sharing is agreed with employees in collective contracts of their companies. They are fully taxed. In most countries tips are distributed among other employees. Tips of slot machine departments, treasury departments and receptions are not governed by the law. Employees are entitled to them directly. Paying taxes and contributions is then distinctive for the countries with properly law ordered area (USA and UK). Gaming tips are not part of the gaming service in any the countries included in the analysis.

Anton Zidar

Bobovo 3.a, 3240 Šmarje pri Jelšah, Slovenija

Roberto Biloslavo

Univerza na Primorskem, Fakulteta za management, Cankarjeva 5, 6000 Koper, Slovenija

Abstract

Background/Purpose: Neural networks are a relatively young developmental area. They represent an important tool for solving various problems from different fields. For this reason they are interesting for solving management problems. This paper gives an answer to the following basic question: Is the (feedforward) neural network a better method for forecasting (food retail) than the traditional regressive method? The results have shown that the regressive method became a competitive method only when the regressive model reached a high explanatory variance. When the regressive model had a lower explanatory variance the neural network proved to be a much better method than the regressive method. The method of neural network has proved to be a better method for forecasting the food retail then the traditional regressive method. This has additionally been confirmed by the results of estimating methods and conclusions of same researches.

Silvana Markič Hrast

ZZV Zavod za zdravstveno varstvo Koper, Vojkovo nabrežje 4, 6000 Koper,

Mirko Markič

Univerza na Primorskem, Fakulteta za management Koper, Cankarjeva 5, 6104 Koper

Abstract

Background/Purpose: The purpose of the paper is to deal with the organizational support of project management in institutes of public health at secondary level in terms of training, organizational structures and motivation. On the basis of the findings, we aimed at designing an organizational structure that supported a more effective implementation of projects. In the empirical part of the paper, a quantitative study into the views of employees in nine institutes of public health in Slovenia involved in projects (institutes of public health in Ljubljana, Maribor, Celje, Kranj, Nova Gorica, Koper, Novo mesto, Ravne na Koroškem and Murska Sobota) is presented. The questionnaire was completed by 83 employees who were involved in project planning, implementation and controlling in a public institute. It was concluded that the training of the contractors as well as motivation positively affected the successfulness of project realization. We designed a proposals for the organizational support environment of project management in institutes of public health at secondary level. The results of our research are useful for change makers and contractors in institutes of public health and other organizations.