Let. 41, Št. 3 (2008)

Anastasia A. Katou

Department of Technology Management, University of Macedonia, 540 06 Thessaloniki, Greece

Povzetek

Background/Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to investigate the pathways leading from innovation to organisational performance by using structural equation modelling. Specifically, we used this analytical tool to test a research framework that is constituted by a set of causal relationships between organisational contingencies, innovation, HRM policies (resourcing, training, rewards, relations), HRM outcomes (skills, attitudes, behaviour), and organisational performance. Employing data from organisations operating in the Greek manufacturing sector, results indicate that the impact of innovation on organisational performance is positive and mediated through HRM policies and HRM outcomes, and moderated by organisational context (management style, organisational culture).

Danijel Bratina

University of Primorska, Faculty of Management Koper, Cankarjeva 5, 6000 Koper, Slovenia

Armand Faganel

University of Primorska, Faculty of Management Koper, Cankarjeva 5, 6000 Koper, Slovenia

Povzetek

Background/Purpose: Market research often uses data (i.e. marketing mix variables) that is equally spaced over time. Time series theory is perfectly suited to study this phenomena’s dependency on time. It is used for forecasting and causality analysis, but their greatest strength is in studying the impact of a discrete event in time, which makes it a powerful tool for marketers. This article introduces the basic concepts behind time series theory and illustrates its current application in marketing research.We use time series analysis to forecast the demand for beer on the Slovenian market using scanner data from two major retail stores. Before our analysis, only broader time spans have been used to perform time series analysis (weekly, monthly, quarterly or yearly data). In our study we analyse daily data, which is supposed to carry a lot of ‘noise’.We show that – even with noise carrying data – a better model can be computed using time series forecasting, explaining much more variance compared to regular regression. Our analysis also confirms the effect of short term sales promotions on beer demand, which is in conformity with other studies in this field.

Ozlem Aydin

Baţkent University, Faculty of Science and Letters, Department of Statistics and Computer Sciences, 06530, Bađlýca, Ankara, Turkey

Fatma Pakdil

Baţkent University, Faculty of Engineering, Department of Industrial Engineering, 06530, Bađlýca, Ankara, Turkey

Povzetek

Background/Purpose: This study is aimed at measuring and summarizing the perceived and expected service quality of passengers of an international airline and to provide the passengers’ opinions to the decision makers employing fuzzy logic. The appropriate fuzzification procedure was determined to be the trapezoidal membership function. Using SERVQUAL methodology, the optimal fuzzy interval of the gap scores was determined for each item. The interpretations of these fuzzy intervals were categorized into three areas – optimistic, neutral and pessimistic passenger views – to assist the decision makers in identifying which items of services are satisfactory and which are in need of improvement.

Andrejka Mevc

Splitska ulica 46, 3320 Velenje

Milan Pagon

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

Povzetek

Background/Purpose: This paper presents the results of a study that investigated the attitudes of civil servants in public administration units in Slovenia regarding corruption at work. The results show that civil servants employed in public administration units take corruption seriously. The employees’ perceptions of corruption and their willingness to report the offender are closely connected to their opinion on how others – their colleagues – perceive it (i.e., how serious they find corruption and whether they are willing to report the offender). There are important gender differences regarding the perceptions of corruption, as well as differences in the function they have and their membership in organizational units. The authors conclude that it is necessary to develop and strengthen the feelings of the employees’ security and increase the link between perceiving corruption and one’s own judgment of the seriousness of corruptive behaviour, as well as to decrease the tolerance regarding corruption.

Damjana Jerman

Intereuropa Ltd. Co., Vojkovo nabrežje 32, 6000 Koper, Slovenia

Goran Vukovič

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

Bruno Završnik

Faculty of Economics and Business, University of Maribor, Razlagova 20, 2000 Maribor, Slovenia

Povzetek

Background/Purpose: The role of public relations is dealing with the identification of organization’s strategic public and developing communications programs for building solid, open and trusting relations with them. Many companies have taken a limited view of the impact that public relations can have on company’s overall effectiveness. This paper consists of two parts: the theoretical framework for the role of public relations in the overall effectiveness of the company and an empirical analysis based on the primary data collected.We classified and analyzed different public relations factors (i.e. factors related to managing and implementing public relations) that influences the effectiveness of the company.We explored the correlation between public relations and a company’s effectiveness and argued that public relations factors play a critical role in that effectiveness. We used linear regression and we found a significant linier relationship between the independent variable (public relations) and the dependent variable (company effectiveness).

Boštjan Aver

Vzajemna, d.v.z., Vošnjakova 2, 1000 Ljubljana

Simon Čadež

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

Povzetek

Background/Purpose: The role of management accountants in strategic management processes has traditionally been limited to information provision for decision makers. In the last two decades however their role in a company has changed dramatically. Contrary to their conventional counterparts, modern accountants are not just information providers, rather they are an integral part of decision-making processes. The study herein explores the state of contemporary Slovenian management accounting practice concerning accountant’s participation in strategic management processes.The survey results based on a sample of 193 large Slovenian companies reveal that Slovenian accountants in general are relatively amply involved in the process of strategic management, however the level of participation varies intensely across industries. The level of participation is relatively high in manufacturing industries, trade and hospitality services whereas it is relatively low in public services and utilities and construction industries.

Tanja Arh

Institut “Jožef Stefan”, Laboratorij za odprte sisteme in mreže, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenija,

Dejan Dinevski

Univerza v Mariboru, Slomškov trg 15, 2000 Maribor, Slovenija

Borka Jerman Blažič

Institut “Jožef Stefan”, Laboratorij za odprte sisteme in mreže, Jamova 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenija

Rok Kokalj

Nevron d.o.o., Stegne 21c, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenija

Povzetek

Background/Purpose: In comparison to the other European countries and the general status of the development of information-communication technology in education and training, Slovenia has been traditionally lagging behind. In the same sense, the awareness of the importance of e-learning has not been sufficiently recognized. With this in view we can summarize that the concrete activities on the implementation level on the national level started with the present period. The article thus focuses on the presentation of the past research activities and iniciatives dealing with the e-learning market structure in Slovenia and assesment of the current e-learning situation in Slovenian companies and higher educational institutions.The framework of the National E-learning Strategy 2006-2010 is presented, where special attention is given to that part of the strategy aimed at establishing the most effective and ICT based national educational systems with the objective of increasing economic growth and the competitiveness of Slovenian society, as well as the quality of life of Slovenian citizens.