Vol.53, No 2 (2020)

Eva BOŠTJANČIČ

Faculty of Arts, Department Psychology, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva cesta 2, SI-1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Fayruza ISMAGILOVA

Ural Federal University named after the first President of Russia B.N. Yeltsin, Ural Institute of Humanities, Depart­ment of Psychology, Lenina, 51, 620083 Ekaterinburg, Russian Federation

Alexey MALTCEV

Ural Federal University named after the first President of Russia B.N. Yeltsin, Ural Institute of Humanities, Depart­ment of Psychology, Lenina, 51, 620083 Ekaterinburg, Russian Federation

Abstract

Background/Purpose: Trust is embedded into the national culture. It is a tool that helps create strategic part­nerships and facilitates deals that carry certain risks. Cultural differences and norms can affect business relations, but more often focus is on the obvious differences. Although trust in a business partner may be due to non-obvious differences, for example, which part of the deal the partner wants to control himself and which part of the deal he wants to give to the partner to control. If the difference between the real and desired levels of the partner’s control over the deal is large, then is trust possible, especially in intercultural business relations? Objective: One aim of our study is to find out whether trust may be considered as moderator of control in a business deal. In other words, if the level of trust in a business partner is higher, are the partners more open to sharing their control over the deal with each other? The other aim is to identify the links between these indicators (trust and con­trol) in business partnerships of partners from different cultures. Design/Methodology/Approach: The study investigated the answers of 103 Slovenian and 124 Russian business partners. The Organizational Trust Inventory (OTI) and the 5-items questionnaire on control over deal were used to collect data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to process the data collected. Results: The probability that the business partner will not fulfil their obligations in the deal negatively relates to the level of trust. The difference between degree of desired control and degree of control negatively relates to the level of trust. Conclusion: As our results showed, trust cannot be considered as a strong moderator of control between partners. In response to greater trust, the respondents only agree to increase their partner’s control, but are not willing to re­duce their own. Moreover, this finding is stronger in the group of Russian partners than in the Slovenian ones. Keywords: Trust, Business Relationships, Business Partner, Control Over Deal, Obligations, Slovenia, Russia

Petra LESNIKOVA

Technical University in Zvolen, Department of Economics, Management and Business, 960 01 Zvolen, Slovakia

Jarmila SCHMIDTOVA

Technical University in Zvolen, Department of Mathematics and Descriptive Geometry, 960 01 Zvolen, Slovakia

Abstract

Background/Purpose: The research paper identifies practices and tools to support corporate sustainability concept that can lead to increased business competitiveness in a dynamically developing business world. The pur­pose of the paper is to provide insight into the practices and tools of corporate sustainability applied by the Slovak industrial enterprises and which barriers do exist. Moreover, the aim is also to identify factors influencing the appli­cation of tools such as company ownership, importance of sustainability concept, and company vision. Design/Methodology/ Approach: In order to obtain the necessary data an online questionnaire was used. The sample of enterprises was selected on the basis of the enterprise size and the industry focus (n = 336). The following statistical methods were used 1) one-way ANOVA, 2) the Kruskal-Wallis test, and 3) the Wilcoxon rank-sum test. Results: This paper revealed some key insights: 1) foreign-owned enterprises are better at application of sustain­ability practices and tools, 2) still quite a few enterprises attribute the importance to the concept, 3) the existence of barriers, particularly in the form of a lack of financial resources, 4) one of the key drivers of sustainability is enterprise vision. Conclusion: The paper created and analyzed quite a comprehensive list of practices and tools suitable for enter­prises in Slovakia. There was an effort to find out point at the ways how enterprises contribute to sustainable devel­opment. It was also found out that they attach importance to vision as a major trigger for the application of the tools. Keywords: Corporate sustainability, Practices, Tools, Barriers, Company vision

Mirjana PEJIĆ BACH

University of Zagreb, Faculty of Economics and Business, Trg J. F. Kennedy 6, Zagreb, Croatia

Nikola VLAHOVIĆ

University of Zagreb, Faculty of Economics and Business, Trg J. F. Kennedy 6, Zagreb, Croatia

Jasmina PIVAR

University of Zagreb, Faculty of Economics and Business, Trg J. F. Kennedy 6, Zagreb, Croatia

Abstract

Background/Purpose: Data mining techniques are intensely used in various industries for the purpose of fraud prevention and detection. Research that focuses on the leasing industry is scarce, although frauds in the field of leasing occur rather often. First, we identify clusters of business clients in one leasing company by using the method of self-organising maps based on leasing contract attributes. Second, we compare clusters based on the presence of fraudulent clients, in order to develop fraudsters’ profiles. Methodology: For detecting characteristics of fraudulent clients, we use a client database containing leasing con­tract attributes of one Croatian leasing company. In order to develop profiles of fraudulent clients, we utilise a clus­tering procedure with the Kohonen Self-Organizing Maps supported by Viscovery SOMine software. Results: Five clusters were identified and labelled according to the modal values of attributes describing the leasing object and the industry in which the client operates: (i) New cars / Trade; (ii) Used trucks or tugboats / Other services; (iii) New machinery / Construction; (iv) New motors / Trade; and (v) New machinery and tractors / Agriculture. Conclusion: Self-organising maps have proved to be a useful methodology for developing profiles of fraudulent cli­ents in leasing companies. Companies can use our results and make additional efforts in monitoring clients from the identified industries, buying specific leasing objects. In addition, companies can apply our methodology to their own databases, in order to develop fraudster profiles for their specific purposes, and implement fraud alert mechanisms in their client database. Keywords: fraud, leasing, self-organising maps, Viscovery SOMine, Ward algorithm, Croatia, data mining

Nikolaj LIPIČ

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Marija OVSENIK

Alma Mater Europaea, Evropski center, Maribor, Slovenska 17, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia

Abstract

Background/Purpose: Due to constant social, technological and economic change, social actor, interacting with environment, is constantly faced with the need to acquire new knowledge and develop different competences – field of statistics included. The latter, with development of statistical literacy, enables one to reflectively analyse environment and respond to its changes. The aim of this paper is to determine response effectiveness of a better statistically literate social actor to environmental changes from perspective of different generations in Slovenia. Design/Methodology/Approach: Empirical data was collected through a survey questionnaire, processed and analysed using chosen descriptive and inferential statistical methods. 1239 respondents of all three Slovenian gen­erations participated. Two research questions were asked, one relating to the whole sample and the other to three subsamples according to age groups and generations. Results: Based on whole sample of all three generations, it can be concluded that statistical literacy influences responsiveness of social actor to environmental changes. Survey results show that better statistically literate social actors are more completely and actively involved in working environment, personal and social life and respond to environmental changes more effectively. Conclusion: More attention, on urgency to develop statistical literacy individually in professional and everyday life, should be put on raising awareness of statistical knowledge importance to cope with environmental changes and improving supply and accessibility of formal and informal forms of statistical education for all generations. Research results will also contribute to better planning and implementation of statistics education at the level of educational institutions and teachers of all three generations. Keywords: environmental change, statistics, statistical literacy, social actor, education, generations

Hussein Hurajah AL HASNAWI

University of Kerbala, College of Administration and Economics, Kerbala, Iraq

Ali Abdulhassan ABBAS

University of Kerbala, College of Administration and Economics, Kerbala, Iraq

Abstract

Background/Purpose: Many organizations suffer from an increased in the paradoxical behaviours of leaders, leading to followers to feel lonely and the workplace ostracism, which negatively effects the emergence of organiza­tional inertia. The main purpose of this study is to examine direct and indirect effect of paradoxical leader behaviours on organizational inertia through the mediating role of the workplace ostracism. Design/Methodology/Approach: Using the convenience sampling technique, a self-administered survey was con­ducted at the level of a sample (n = 564) of employees in the factories of the State Company for Textile and Leather Industry in Iraq. Structural equation modelling (SEM) was employed to test the proposed research model using the AMOS v.24 software. Results: The findings revealed that paradoxical leader behaviours have a significant effect on workplace ostracism and organizational inertia. Further, workplace ostracism significant effect on organizational inertia. In addition, the study empirically supports the mediating effect of workplace ostracism on the relationship between paradoxical leader behaviours and organizational inertia. Conclusion: When paradoxical behaviours arise in the behaviour of an organization’s leaders, it will have an influ­ence on the emergence of workplace ostracism amongst employees, hence the subsequent emergence of organi­zational inertia in general in the work environment. Based on these results, this study should be of help to leaders in avoiding paradoxical behaviours in terms of maintaining a certain equilibrium in dealing with employees to find a positive work environment that reduces staff ostracism, and thus organizational inertia. Key words: Paradoxical Leader Behaviours, Workplace Ostracism, Organizational Inertia