Regional Disparities and Features of Solar and Wind Energy Potential of Bulgaria

Global climate fluctuations and projections of deteriorating sustainable human development since the beginning of the 21st century have highlighted the need to look for alternative energy sources to carbon fuels. The utilization of solar and wind energy has become a challenge for engineers and technologists to develop new technologies for more efficient development of renewable energy sources. The purpose of this paper is to present the territorial features in the utilization of renewable energy sources – solar radiation and wind in Bulgaria. The study focuses on the regional features of the solar- and wind energy potential. Based on statistical data, the utilization of the RES potential is considered through a review of the installed capacities

Exploring the Effect of National Culture on Corporate Environmental Proactivity

The aim of the paper is to analyze if and in which way the national culture acts as a driver toward the implementation of corporate environmental strategy. An environmental proactive strategy seeks to reduce environmental impact and manage the interface between business and the nature beyond imposed compliance. It is recognized that the introduction of environmental protection can be used to develop successful strategy to reach a competitive advantage. The Organization and the natural environment literature identify several drivers able to push toward ecological engagement. One of the most important is the ethical attitude of organizations. Ethics could vary among different organizations because of different circumstance; in particular ethical values are strictly embedded to culture. The most of literature focused the analysis on the broader issue of Corporate Social Responsibility, analyzing the effect of national culture on Corporate Social Performance. Conversely, only few studies have analyzed the relationship that occurs between the national culture and the environmental proactivity, employing national environmental indicator rather than firms’ performance scores. Previous studies, which used Hofstede’s framework, have found out that the national culture is able to influence the overall national environmental performances, missing to analyze cultural impact on company’s environmental behaviour. Does the national culture influence the company’s attitude to implement a proactive environmental strategy? Which cultural dimension is able to represent this pressure? The study is based on a quantitative analysis aimed at statistically measuring how national culture could influence corporate environmental proactivity, measured using the CDP Global 500 report.

Role of Non-Governmental Organizations on Rural Areas in Poland

The idea of the civil society is characterized historically in the past and currently in modern times by on the one hand participation in civil organizations, and on the other hand the extent and form of social self-organization. Therefore, due to the fact that nowadays a more common occurrence is a tendency to express civil society in terms of non-governmental organizations. This article concentrates upon civil society in rural areas of Poland through the prism of NGOs. Therefore the aim of this paper is to describe the process of shaping the civil society in Poland’s rural areas.

Boosting Team Performance with Leadership Development

Have you ever wondered that there’s a leader within you? On a daily basis we face situations that are outside the scope of our control but we are, most of the times, forced to deal with it. Sometimes there is no escape allowed and we knowingly or unknowingly display leadership qualities in our behaviour. Moreover, it is not wise to run away from situations but logical to face them boldly. In this sense, I believe that we are the leader of our actions. However, one cannot be simply termed as a leader unless one strives to develop the qualities. This article speaks about developing the leader in you. It makes us aware about the leadership development programmes and building leaders at the workplace.

Boosting Team Performance with Leadership Development

Have you ever wondered that there’s a leader within you? On a daily basis we face situations that are outside the scope of our control but we are, most of the times, forced to deal with it. Sometimes there is no escape allowed and we knowingly or unknowingly display leadership qualities in our behaviour. Moreover, it is not wise to run away from situations but logical to face them boldly. In this sense, I believe that we are the leader of our actions. However, one cannot be simply termed as a leader unless one strives to develop the qualities. This article speaks about developing the leader in you. It makes us aware about the leadership development programmes and building leaders at the workplace.

Exploring the Effect of National Culture on Corporate Environmental Proactivity

The aim of the paper is to analyze if and in which way the national culture acts as a driver toward the implementation of corporate environmental strategy. An environmental proactive strategy seeks to reduce environmental impact and manage the interface between business and the nature beyond imposed compliance. It is recognized that the introduction of environmental protection can be used to develop successful strategy to reach a competitive advantage. The Organization and the natural environment literature identify several drivers able to push toward ecological engagement. One of the most important is the ethical attitude of organizations. Ethics could vary among different organizations because of different circumstance; in particular ethical values are strictly embedded to culture. The most of literature focused the analysis on the broader issue of Corporate Social Responsibility, analyzing the effect of national culture on Corporate Social Performance. Conversely, only few studies have analyzed the relationship that occurs between the national culture and the environmental proactivity, employing national environmental indicator rather than firms’ performance scores. Previous studies, which used Hofstede's framework, have found out that the national culture is able to influence the overall national environmental performances, missing to analyze cultural impact on company’s environmental behaviour. Does the national culture influence the company’s attitude to implement a proactive environmental strategy? Which cultural dimension is able to represent this pressure? The study is based on a quantitative analysis aimed at statistically measuring how national culture could influence corporate environmental proactivity, measured using the CDP Global 500 report.

Regional Disparities and Features of Solar and Wind Energy Potential of Bulgaria

Global climate fluctuations and projections of deteriorating sustainable human development since the beginning of the 21st century have highlighted the need to look for alternative energy sources to carbon fuels. The utilization of solar and wind energy has become a challenge for engineers and technologists to develop new technologies for more efficient development of renewable energy sources. The purpose of this paper is to present the territorial features in the utilization of renewable energy sources – solar radiation and wind in Bulgaria. The study focuses on the regional features of the solar- and wind energy potential. Based on statistical data, the utilization of the RES potential is considered through a review of the installed capacities.

Role of Non-Governmental Organizations on Rural Areas in Poland

The idea of the civil society is characterized historically in the past and currently in modern times by on the one hand participation in civil organizations, and on the other hand the extent and form of social self-organization. Therefore, due to the fact that nowadays a more common occurrence is a tendency to express civil society in terms of non-governmental organizations. This article concentrates upon civil society in rural areas of Poland through the prism of NGOs. Therefore the aim of this paper is to describe the process of shaping the civil society in Poland’s rural areas.

Corporate Governance in EU Agencies: The Europol Case

There is a trend in government to establish semi-autonomous public organizations, “Agencies”, to carry out public tasks, implement policies, regulate markets and policy sectorsor deliver public services. Once an Agency is established, it is necessary to ensure proper governance. Object of this paper is to answer three Research Questions. RQ1: “Is EU Agencies governance subject to change over time”? If the answeris “Yes”, a second question (RQ2) pops up: ‘Why EU Agencies’ governance is subject to change?” Last but not least, change has to be implemented. The topic is developed in relation to the choice made by the European Union,the one-size-fits-all modelthat makes the work of controllers simple. Are we sure that such a model“is the best choice for EU Agencies’ governance?” (RQ3). If RQ1 is self-evident, more interesting are RQ2 and RQ3 because explain the nature of change (Why) and How change was introduced. In this quest, the tasks assigned to the Board of Directors and the Executive Directorare mapped against Agencies’ mission. In the case of the European Police Office, in eight years three founding acts-an international Convention, a Council decision and a Regulation - have changed the tasks of the Board of Directors and of the Executive Directorin line with the evolution of the political scenari: from intergovernmental cooperation to a policy assigned by the Lisbon Treatyto the European Union.

Region as a factor changes on a Global Scale

The term "region" originating from a Latin word: regio, has two meanings in itself in terms of etymology – first, it is a movement in a fixed direction, and the second one denotes space. Combination of both results in: “movement in a fixed direction, which defines space”. The meaning generally relating to the area, has over time dominated the vernacular understanding of the whole word. Currently, the concept is in principle used to exclusively describe a given territory. However, nowadays, the return to the primeval meaning of the word seems to be more and more justified as well as there should be more attention paid to changes in the specific direction which result from transformations taking place within regions. For a long time, regions were most of all and exclusively treated as the largest units of administrative division of individual countries. The most important subject within the pursued regional policy was a fast and efficient integration of areas indicating development inequalities. The particular attention was paid in this scope to equalize cultural distinctions and the level of their economic growth. Despite the multi-billion expenditure, the established goals have not been fully achieved. Progressing globalization have allowed local authorities to go beyond the narrow framework of inland structures. Currently, the regional authorities have become an essential factor and entity of policies in transnational dimension. In many cases, it has become the cause to radicalize social attitudes. In extreme cases, increase in importance of regions has resulted in local disputes of economic and political nature, and in some situations it has even led to military conflicts. It is to be assumed that we are witnesses to a broader phenomenon which may disturb the fragile balance created on international arena still in the second half of the 20th century. Attempts of specific regions emphasizing their autonomy to achieve greater or even total independence, are currently taking place in nearly every corner of the world. In turn, the lack of flexibility of national authorities in the face of demands placed by local communities creates a dangerous situation of an outbreak of new conflicts on a larger than local scale. With interest in inciting unrest and with active engagement of some world powers, it may lead to geopolitical changes on a great scale. Regions, as a simple tool remaining in specific hands, may in this manner become a factor of serious and dangerous transformations in an international dimension.