Vol.53, No 1 (2020)

João P. SERRANO

Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL), Lisbon, Portugal

Rúben F. PEREIRA

Instituto Universitário de Lisboa (ISCTE-IUL), Lisbon, Portugal

Abstract

Background/Purpose: This research aims to investigate which benefits one may expect using Maturity Models in Configuration Management (CM) domain. CM is a support process that helps organizations have better manage­ment of their infrastructure. Its importance, in the Information Technology (IT) domain, has increased in recent years, despite this process not being technologically new, and the fact that many organizations implement this process in a haphazard way, which results in it not producing the benefits that it should produce. With the intention of assessing and improving the organizations’ IT processes practices and capabilities, MMs have been developed and imple­mented. However, the application of MM in the CM domain is yet to be explored. Design/Methodology/Approach: Two Systematic Literature Reviews (SLRs) and a Critical Analysis were per­formed. In sum, 80 scientific articles of the most rated conferences and scientific journals were analyzed and con­clusions were drawn. Results: This research concludes that despite the CM process being badly implemented, using a MM this process could decrease operational costs and increase the quality management of the infrastructure. Conclusion: However, no MM has been developed so far for the CM process practices. This MM would be a viable support tool for the IT organizations providers since this would help organizations have a mature CM process and better control of their IT infrastructure. Therefore, the existence of a MM for the CM domain would be a welcome advancement that should be developed in the future. Keywords: Configuration Management Process, Maturity Models, IT Services Providers, Systematic Literature Re­view 

Hafezali Iqbal HUSSAIN

Taylor’s Business School, Taylor’s University Lakeside Campus, 1 Jalan Taylors, Subang Jaya 47500, Malaysia, and Visiting Professor, University of Economics and Human Sciences in Warsaw, Poland

Sebastian KOT

Czestochowa University of Technology, The Management Faculty, Armii Krajowej 19B,42-201 Czestochowa, Poland and Faculty of Economic and Management Sciences, North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, PO Box 1174 Vanderbijlpark 1900, South Africa

Hassanudin Mohd Thas THAKER

Sunway University, Sunway University Business School, Department of Economics and Finance, Bandar Sunway, 47500 Petaling Jaya, Selangor, Malaysia

Jason J TURNER

Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation, Graduate Schools of Business, Jalan Teknologi 5, Taman Te­knologi Malaysia, 57000 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Abstract

Background/Purpose: This study investigates the impact of environmental reporting on speed of adjustment and adjustment costs which is evaluated based on the ability of firms to adjust to target leverage level for non-finan­cial firms listed in the Malaysian Stock Exchange (Bursa Malaysia). Design/Methodology/ Approach: The study selects Malaysian firms based on the contracting and political cost of the economy which is seen as a relationship-based economy. This in turn influences a firm’s ability to obtain external financing and thus has an important impact on capital structure decisions. In addition, the method employed allows for a direct measure on adjustment cost for firms. The current study utilises a dynamic regime switching model based on the DPF estimator to estimate rate of adjustment to optimal target levels based on the distinction of environmental reporting of public listed firms. The approach allows statistical inferences to control for potential serial correlation, endogeneity and heterogeneity concerns which accounts for firm specific characteristics. Results: The empirical findings suggest voluntary disclosure on environmental reporting increases a firm’s ability to access external financing at a cheaper cost as evidenced by a more rapid rate of adjustment. The findings are consistent across differing endogenous and exogenous factors indicating that these firms tend to face lower adjust­ment costs. Conclusion: The current study provides a direct measure on the ability of firms to adjust to target levels via security issues and repurchases in the capital markets. This in turn is a reflection of perceived riskiness and value from the investors’ point of view in an emerging market. Prior studies have focused on environmental reporting and equity risk premiums and have not evaluated the direct impact on firm value given that the trade-off theory of capital structure predicts that firm value is maximised at target i.e. optimal levels of leverage. This study addresses the current gap in the literature by evaluating the impact on firms’ value, based on the adjustment cost. Keywords: Environmental reporting, capital structure, speed of adjustment, DPF estimator, dynamic panel data

Milja MARČETA

Ministry of Education, Science and Sport, Masarykova 16, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Štefan BOJNEC

University of Primorska, Faculty of Management, Cankarjeva 5, SI-6001 Koper, Slovenia

Abstract

Background/Purpose: The main purpose of this study is to find the key drivers of Global Competitiveness In­dex (GCI) in the European Union (EU-28) countries from the aspect of country’s global competitiveness: institutions, macroeconomic environment, infrastructure, higher education, market effectiveness, market size, technological readiness, innovation and business sophistication. Methodology: This paper investigates global competitiveness of the EU-28 countries with the use of GCI in the periods 2014-2015 and 2017-2018. The correlation analysis and regression analysis are applied for testing the set two hypotheses. Results: The empirical results confirmed our hypotheses that GCI is particularly significantly positively correlated with innovation and business sophistication, and universities-industry collaboration in researches, and clusters de­velopment. Conclusion: The paper contributes to the literature of global competitiveness, by examining the relationship of sub-indexes of competitiveness of the EU-28 countries, pointing out the influence of universities-industries collabo­ration in researches and cluster development with geographic concentration of companies. The results and findings can be relevant for science, economic and research policy, and managerial practices that enhance innovation and business sophistication for research in collaboration of companies, universities, higher education institutions, and decision makers. The implications of this study can be important for better understanding of drivers of the EU-28 countries global competitiveness. Keywords: competitiveness, economic activities, global competitiveness index, innovation

Jernej BUZETI

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

Abstract

Background/Purpose: Statistics of sickness absenteeism in public administration in Slovenia is considerably higher (7.1% in 2018) than the percentage that applies for the whole of Slovenia (4.5% in 2018). The data also shows a similar pattern in the public sector in other countries. According to that, the main purpose of our research is to in­vestigate the connection between fields of work, years of service, and sickness absenteeism in public administration in Slovenia. Methodology: Research data was collected with the help of an online questionnaire, which was designed for em­pirical research and consisted of several sets of questions. The collected data was processed using the SPSS statistical program. Results: The research was conducted in 2015 in public administration institutions, and 3,220 employees from public administration were included in our research sample. The results of the research show that there is a statistically significant connection between sickness absenteeism in public administration and years of service and the field of work of employees in public administration. Conclusion: The survey helps us to understand the connection between sickness absenteeism and years of ser­vice and field of work of employees in public administration. With regard to the results, it would be reasonable to adopt measures focused on groups of employees in public administration (older employees with a greater length of service, employed officials and professional-technical public employees) where sickness absence may be reduced. Sickness absenteeism in these groups of employees could be reduced by providing employees better leadership and conditions for satisfaction in the workplace. Keywords: sickness absenteeism, public administration, years of service, field of work

Andrej JERMAN

University of Primorska, Faculty of Management, Koper, Slovenia

Andrej BERTONCELJ

University of Primorska, Faculty of Management, Koper, Slovenia

Gandolfo DOMINICI

University of Palermo, Dep. SEAS, Polytechnic School, Palermo, Italy

Mirjana PEJIĆ BACH

University of Zagreb, Faculty of Economics and Business, Zagreb, Croatia

Anita TRNAVČEVIĆ

University of Primorska, Faculty of Management, Koper

Abstract

Background/Purpose: The aim of the study is to develop a conceptual key competency model for smart facto­ries in production processes, focused on the automotive industry, as innovation and continuous development in this industry are at the forefront and represent the key to its long-term success. Methodology: For the purpose of the research, we used a semi-structured interview as a method of data collection. Participants were segmented into three homogeneous groups, which are industry experts, university professors and secondary education teachers, and government experts. In order to analyse the qualitative data, we used the method of content analysis. Results: Based on the analysis of the data collected by structured interviews, we identified the key competencies that workers in smart factories in the automotive industry will need. The key competencies are technical skills, ICT skills, innovation and creativity, openness to learning, ability to accept and adapt to change, and various soft skills. Conclusion: Our research provides insights for managers working in organisations that are transformed by Industry 4.0. For instance, human resource managers can use our results to study what competencies potential candidates need to perform well on the job, particularly in regards to planning future job profiles in regards related to production processes. Moreover, they can design competency models in a way that is coherent with the trends of Industry 4.0. Educational policy makers should design curricula that develop mentioned competencies. In the future, the results presented here can be compared and contrasted with findings obtained by applying other empirical methods. Keywords: competencies, conceptual key competency model, smart factory, Industry 4.0, automotive industry

Lucia SVABOVA

University of Zilina, Faculty of Operation and Economics of Transport and Communications, Department of Econom­ics, Univerzitna 1, 010 26 Zilina, Slovakia

Katarina VALASKOVA

University of Zilina, Faculty of Operation and Economics of Transport and Communications, Department of Econom­ics, Univerzitna 1, 010 26 Zilina, Slovakia

Pavol DURANA

University of Zilina, Faculty of Operation and Economics of Transport and Communications, Department of Econom­ics, Univerzitna 1, 010 26 Zilina, Slovakia

Tomas KLIESTIK

University of Zilina, Faculty of Operation and Economics of Transport and Communications, Department of Econom­ics, Univerzitna 1, 010 26 Zilina, Slovakia

Abstract

Background/Purpose: Models of identifying and predicting earnings management in companies by using ac­cruals are in general based on the dependence between total assets of companies and various profit measures. In this paper, we focused on an initial dependency analysis between these business indicators in the Visegrad group’s business entities. We explore the mentioned relationships, verify, and quantify the strength of the dependencies between earnings levels of companies (in terms of economic evaluation of the return on business capital in absolute terms) and the value of their total assets (i.e. business capital tied in the assets without its further classification and analysis). Methodology: We use descriptive statistics as well as a correlation analysis based on the real business data on almost 300 thousand companies in the V4 countries from the Amadeus database, covering the period from 2013 to 2017. Finally, we use a comparative analysis to identify disproportion among the results that were found out for each of the analysed countries. Results: The analysis showed that Slovak companies have the average values of profit measures and total assets comparable to Hungarian companies. Czech and Polish companies have several times higher average values of profit measures and also of total assets than Slovak and Hungarian companies. The analysis of the development of the profit measures and the total assets of the companies over the years showed significant differences across the four countries during the period covered by this study. Conclusion: The analysis of relationships between total assets of the companies and their profit measures showed that the strength of these dependencies among countries is very similar, and over the years, these results did not change. The results of this study can be further used in the creation of the earnings management model in enterpris­es, both in Slovakia and in other V4 countries. Keywords: profit measures; total assets; earnings management; correlation