Vol. 58 No. 1 (2025)

Department of Organizational Management, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana Cali, Faculty of Economics and Administrative Science, Colombia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/orga-2025-0001

Abstract

Background/Purpose: The purpose of this study is to investigate how various types of innovation impact sustainability measures within manufacturing companies; these sustainability measures include minimizing raw material usage, reducing energy consumption, and optimizing waste management. The research further evaluates the linkage between innovation types and job creation, focusing on how innovation fosters new employment opportunities and enhances sustainability in the manufacturing sector.
Methodology: The methodology involves a hierarchical regression analysis conducted on a sample of 1,570 manufacturing companies in Colombia using SPSS software. This approach aims to quantitatively assess the effectiveness of innovation, sustainability, and employment policies in these industrial organizations.
Results: The findings of the study reveal significant insights into the innovation policies of industrial companies and their management of environmental sustainability. These results underscore the practical implications of embracing innovation and sustainability for long-term benefits, despite the immediate costs.
Conclusion: This research provides a comprehensive examination of the diverse types of innovation and their consequential impacts on sustainability and employment in the manufacturing sector. Additionally, it suggests directions
for future research that could further refine and enhance innovation and sustainability practices within this industry.

Keywords: Innovation, Sustainability, Employment, Manufacturing sector

University Medical Centre Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia

Mirko MARKIČ

University of Primorska, Faculty of Management, Koper, Slovenia

Annmarie GORENC ZORAN

Faculty of Organisation Studies in Novo mesto, Novo mesto, Slovenia

Tamara ŠTEMBERGER KOLNIK

Faculty of Health Sciences in Celje, Celje, Slovenia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/orga-2025-0002

Abstract

Background/Purpose: The aim of the study was to review national and international professional literature on the impact of knowledge management factors on the quality of care in healthcare systems.

Methodology: A review of national and international professional literature was conducted using Scopus, CINAHL, ScienceDirect, and ProQuest databases to search for freely accessible scientific articles and doctoral dissertations. We searched for doctoral dissertations in the Slovenian language of the University of Primorska, the University of Ljubljana, the University of Maribor, and the electronic library of the Faculty of Organizational Studies in Novo Mesto. We further searched for doctoral dissertations in English in the PQDT Open database. We identified 201 articles and 9 doctoral dissertations. After the screening phase, we included 19 full-text articles in the study.
Results: We identified the following key knowledge management factors that impact the quality of patient care in the healthcare system: knowledge acquisition, knowledge sharing, knowledge application, knowledge storage, and leadership.
Conclusion: The literature review showed that the application of knowledge management factors contributes to more productive and efficient work within the healthcare system. Additionally, these knowledge management factors have a positive impact on the implementation of improvements, job performance, job satisfaction, and the quality of healthcare services.

Keywords: Knowledge acquisition, Knowledge sharing, Knowledge application, Knowledge storage, Leadership

Ivo MIJOČ

Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Economics in Osijek, Osijek, Croatia

Matija KUZMIĆ

Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek, Faculty of Economics in Osijek, Osijek, Croatia

Matej VUJANIĆ

Inter Capital Asset Management Ltd., Zagreb, Croatia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/orga-2025-0003

Abstract

Background/Purpose: This paper examines the significant differences in market returns between the US and EU banking sectors following the 2008 financial crisis. The analysis reveals that the profitability of US banks, measured by return on equity, is higher than that of European banks, partially explaining the observed differences in returns.

Methodology: The study employs two unbalanced panels of data for EU and US banks covering the period 2008-2022. Static and dynamic estimators were used to identify significant determinants of bank profitability that include the impact of the profitability trend in the observed period on future profitability.
Results: Based on a sample of 250 banks, operational efficiency, diversification, and risk were found to influence the profitability of banks in both regions. For European banks, past profitability, the share of deposits and loans in assets, and inflation were also found to exert influence. On the other hand, American banks exhibit a higher predictive power for these variables, confirming the differences in determinants between the two markets. Although risk partially explains the higher profitability of American banks, other results did not confirm the original hypothesis.
Conclusion: The main contribution of the paper is a direct comparison of the determinants of profitability for EU and US banks using static and dynamic models in the post-2008 financial crisis period. In addition, the existing methodology of static models with dynamic estimators has been extended by WLS models and robust estimators, and it was shown that there are certain determinants influencing their profitability that should be extended and subsequently examined.

Keywords: Profitability, EU/US banks, Panel data, Static models, Dynamic estimators

University of Maribor, Faculty of Economics and Business, Department (Institute) for Quantitative Research Methods, Maribor, Slovenia

Polona TOMINC

University of Maribor, Faculty of Economics and Business, Department (Institute) for Quantitative Research Methods, Maribor, Slovenia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/orga-2025-0004

Abstract

Background/Purpose: This paper aims to analyse the nexus between selected growth determinants and the financial performance of high-growth companies (HGCs) in relation to their ownership. In line with principal-agent theory, we try to determine if the differences exist between managers who are also (co)owners and those managers who are not (co)owners. Also, we analysed if additional equity-based compensation, through different growth determinants, could increase HGC’s financial performance.

Methods: The study was conducted on a sample of 119 HGCs from the Republic of Slovenia and was carried out in 2022. The empirical analysis was performed using regression analysis based on exploratory factor analysis (EFA). Analysis was performed using IBM SPSS Statistics 27 software.
Results: Results showed that considering the importance of organisational networking capability for HGC’s financial performance, there are statistically significant differences between owner-managers and managers, implying that ownership (and equity-based compensations) could positively shape HGC’s financial performance. In addition, results show that when analysing the owners-managers group of HGCs, risk-taking and organisational networking capability positively and statistically significantly impact HGC’s financial performance.
Conclusion: Our paper highlights the importance of organisational networking capability as a growth determinant through which equity-based manager compensations can positively influence HGCs’ financial performance. The study contributes to diverse literature related to HGCs and contributes to relevancy for the policymakers aiming at enabling better financial performance of HGCs.

Keywords: High-growth company, Entrepreneurial orientation, Network capability, Financial performance, Principal-agent theory, Equity-based compensation

Tom OKOT

Graduate Business School, Universidad Latinoamericana de Ciencia y Tecnología, Tournón, Costa Rica

Monica RAMIREZ

Graduate Business School, Universidad Latinoamericana de Ciencia y Tecnología, Tournón, Costa Rica

Ronald DECKERT

Dean at HFH Hamburger Fern-Hochschule, Hamburg

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/orga-2025-0005

Abstract

Background/Purpose: This study explores key factors Costa Rican workers consider when applying to or staying with a company, aiming to inform effective employer branding strategies.
Method: Surveying 385 mid/senior-level professionals, the research focuses on five dimensions: interest value, social value, economic value, development value, and application value.
Result: Findings reveal that Costa Rican professionals prioritize Interest Value, Application Value, and Development Value, emphasizing growth opportunities, engaging roles, and alignment with company values. Competitive compensation is also crucial.
Conclusion: The study suggests that employer branding strategies should highlight development opportunities, meaningful work, and value alignment to attract and retain diverse talent. Limitations include the survey’s design, which may restrict response depth, and its exclusive focus on Costa Rica, potentially limiting generalizability. The results offer valuable insights for organizations in Costa Rica to enhance recruitment and retention by aligning with job seeker preferences.

Keywords: Employer branding, Employer attractiveness, Diversity, Equity & inclusion, Talent attraction, Costa Rica

Ibrahim Mohamed TAHA

Sadat Academy for Management Sciences, Tanta, Egypt

Rajaa Hussein Abd ALI

University of AL-Zahraa for Women/ College of Health and medical Techniques/ Radiological Technics Department, Kerbala, Iraq

Ali Abdulhassan ABBAS

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

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/orga-2025-0006

Abstract

Background/Purpose:  This study examines the relationship between students’ cybersecurity vulnerability behavior and e-learning obstacles. With the rapid growth of online education, ensuring the security and privacy of digital platforms has become crucial. In this background, the current study is a first-of-its-kind attempt to understand the relationship between these two variables in the background of higher educational institutions in Iraq.
Methods: For this study, the researchers collected data during 2023 from students aged between 19 and 25 enrolled in the University of Karbala, Iraq, using a semi-structured research questionnaire, who were selected through a random sampling method. The questionnaire comprised questions pertaining to the dimensions of both the dependent and the independent variable. A total of 350 valid responses were considered for the analysis in which PLS-SEM was conducted.
Results: The outcomes revealed that the professional and human obstacles have a high association with cybersecurity vulnerability behavior. The study also found that the overall obstacles have a significant effect on the cybersecurity vulnerability behavior. All hypotheses were verified and the outcomes confirm that there is an effective relationship between cybersecurity vulnerability behavior and e-learning obstacles
Conclusion: Based on the study outcomes, the authors proposed a few recommendations for all the stakeholders of the e-learning process, such as educational institutions, governments, faculty members, students, and their parents. Though the current study has been confined to a single university in Iraq, future researchers can focus on expanding the study to other higher educational institutions so that a nationwide policy-level initiative can be brought based on the research evidence.

Keywords: Cybersecurity Vulnerability Behavior, E-Learning Obstacles, Higher education, PLS-SEM, Student motivation, Learning behaviour