Vol.51, No 3 (2018)

Richard SZANTO

Corvinus University of Budapest, Department of Decision Sciences

Abstract

Background/Purpose: Many studies have explored the differences in the management of corporate social responsibility (CSR) of multinational companies across the globe. The main question of the study was, are there differences between CSR practices between home country and host country operations? Design/Methodology/Approach: This study investigates the differences in online CSR communication between global corporate websites and the webpages of local subsidiaries in Hungary. The sample contains 70 multinational companies (MNCs) and their Hungarian subsidiaries. All the subsidiaries of the sample are listed amongst the larg­est 200 companies (based on turnover) in Hungary. Both the local (Hungarian) and the global internet sites of these MNCs were visited, and pre-defined categories were sought on the corporate websites. The presence/lack of these CSR themes and topics on the websites were recorded. Results: The findings show that online CSR disclosure of the subsidiaries is usually more limited than the global communication. Moreover, distance from the headquarters seems to matter, the farther the headquarters of the MNC is located, the narrower CSR presence on the websites of the local subsidiary can be observed. Conclusion: The paper’s main contribution is to deepen our knowledge about the CSR strategies of the multinational companies across their operations. It was confirmed that their CSR practices significantly differ between the host and home countries. Keywords: CSR; local subsidiaries; multinational companies; online communication

Petra GRAH

University of Maribor, Faculty of Economics and Business, Razlagova 14, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia

Vesna ČANČER

University of Maribor, Faculty of Economics and Business, Razlagova 14, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia

Borut BRATINA

University of Maribor, Faculty of Economics and Business, Razlagova 14, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia

Abstract

Background/Purpose: In Slovenia, few management buyout (MBO) studies have been carried out. The focus was mostly on the motives for acquisition of companies and the success rate of the acquisitions. This paper aims to analyse the indicators which suggest an impending bankruptcy or financial restructuring of companies and explore how these indicators are different for successful and unsuccessful MBOs. Methodology: In the survey, we included 23 selected MBOs in Slovenia between 2005 and 2008, using the following financial and non-financial indicators: profitability, performance, solvency and liquidity, using the analytic hierarchy process method. The key aim of the survey was to use financial and non-financial indicators to study if target compa­nies where bankruptcy or financial restructuring has not yet been initiated prevalently have higher aggregate values compared to those in which bankruptcy or financial restructuring procedures have already begun. Thus, we used the selected indicators to demonstrate one of the possible methods to predict the success of a particular MBO. Results: We found that in most examples of unsuccessful MBOs, target companies have poorer results in terms of performance, solvency and liquidity, when compared to successful MBOs. Based on the selected areas, we divided the results into four quarters. We found that most target companies where MBOs had been unsuccessful are ranked in a lower quarter than most of the target companies where the MBOs had been successful. Conclusion: The papers main contribution is the finding that the selected financial and non-financial indicators differ in cases of successful and unsuccessful MBOs. This knowledge helps us to find ways of avoiding these situations in the future. Keywords: Management buy-outs; Management; Bankruptcy models; Financial and non-financial indicators; the an­alytic hierarchy process

Milos MARYSKA

University of Economics, Prague, Faculty of Informatics and Statistics, W. Churchill Sq. 4, 130 67 Prague 3, Czech Republic

Petr DOUCEK

University of Economics, Prague, Faculty of Informatics and Statistics, W. Churchill Sq. 4, 130 67 Prague 3, Czech Republic

Abstract

Background/Purpose: The purpose of the article is to analyse results of entrance exams and of regularly exams for foreign students in the Czech language undergraduate study programs at four faculties of University of Economics, Prague (UEP) with the intention to investigate the dependency between the results of Entrance exams from English and mathematics and (1) results of regularly exams during the study and between (2) completion rate of the study. Design/Methodology/Approach: We have analysed 4.381 records for applicants from foreign countries who ap­plied for studies between years 2009 and 2015. We used standard statistics methods and the method of logistic regression in the form of logit model. Results We identified weak statistical correlation between entrance exam results from mathematics and results of regular exams. The correlation coefficient varies between 0.078 – 0.283 for investigated faculties of UEP. The same indicator for English language exams presents better values and it varies between 0.218 – 0.312. If an entrance exam result is higher by one point, the probability of successful completion of studies is multiplied by values between 1.017 – 1.042 for individual faculty per one additional point. Conclusion: The results of the research in mathematics and English language show that excellent results in entrance exam cannot not guarantee successful regularly exams. Conclusion for the probability of completing studies is that the acceptable level of points for admission foreign students is between 150 and 170 points, depending on the faculty. Keywords: knowledge; foreign student; university; english language; mathematics

Vesna NOVAK

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

Anja ŽNIDARŠIČ

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

Abstract

Background/Purpose: We are living in a time of accelerated globalization, which has a far-reaching impact for youth employment. Therefore, the paper presents the problem of the transition of tertiary educated young people into the working environment in terms of the importance of education and gaining work experience during their studies. The main purpose of the study was to analyze the attitudes and thinking of students regarding the selection of studies and work experience that young people are gaining during their studies with student work in connection with their job prospects. Design/Methodology/Approach: The data used in our research come from a broader research on Slovenian Youths (SY) dating back to 2013. Among all the respondents of SY we selected those who classified themselves as students aged between 19 and 24, who filled out the part of the questionnaire pertaining to employment. The research hypoth­eses were tested with the analysis of variance (ANOVA) and independent samples t-test. Results: We found that among students who chose to study for different reasons there were differences in the belief that they will immediately find employment after graduating. We also found that between those students who sup­ported themselves during their studies and those who only studied there were differences in individual statements regarding their transition from education to employment. We concluded that work during their studies, especially in the field of the profession they were studying for, had a positive impact on the thinking of students pertaining to the transition toward employment. Conclusion: The analysis of employment issues faced by young people with tertiary education was supported by empirical data, while in conclusion suggestions for improvement were presented. The article also deepens the un­derstanding of the problems of youth employment in a broader perspective and the understanding of the observed developments in society. Keywords: youth employment; tertiary education; work experience; job search

Tanja BALAŽIC PEČEK

Fakulteta za organizacijske študije v Novem mestu, Novi trg 5, 8000 Novo mesto, Slovenija

Marija OVSENIK

Fakulteta za organizacijske študije v Novem mestu, Novi trg 5, 8000 Novo mesto, Slovenija

Abstract

Background/Purpose: Eternal challenge to researchers of organization theory is how to develop a suitable organization for increasingly more complex internal and external processes, and how to set a simple definition for it. Demanding environment of organization and civilization is under constant pressure of competition for profit. This dynamics of profit is blinding humans so that they are drawing away from themselves and from creativity in organiza­tions. A human too often reacts automatically, meaning that they do not use all the potentials which is a paradox of organization. Therefore, the contribution of autopoiesis – as a complete intertwinement of processes of characteristic characteristiccontinuous movement in the area of creativity and holistic human culture – is important. When speak­ing about paradigm of tomorrow’s organization, we are speaking about a person in organization, interpersonal self/ co-dependence and self/co-dependence on micro and macro level. The purpose of our contribution is to research – inside this more and more virtual organization – the position and role of an individual, humanity and human potential as a creative potential of organic-humane organization. Design/Methodology/Approach: Research is based on qualitative approach. For more comprehensive study of autopoiesis in organization we used mixed methods. When forming the concept, we used the natural law as life circle and compared it with organization. Results: We developed a concept of autopoietic building blocks as life circle, presenting a concept of organization of future. The concept can be a comparative tool for perceiving processes in an organization. With results we substan­tiated that organization is losing processes of emotions and thinking of a human. Conclusion: Accepting autopoiesis on all levels of human activity and consequently increasingly more conscious organizations and society as a whole, results in processes, when autopoises influences the cultural development of society in the sense of connecting science, art, high technologies and spirituality. Results can serve as a guideline and challenge to humane organizations. Keywords: organization; autopoiesis; human potential; concept of autopoietic building blocks

Janez Zeni

Samostojni svetovalec, Spodnja Besnica, Trata 9, 4201 Zg.Besnica

Vladislav Rajkovič

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