Front Matter: Volume 2

This PDF file contains the front matter of the Proceedings of CBU in Proceedings of CBU in Economics and Business Volume 2 including the Title Page, Copyright information, Table of Contents, Introduction, and Conference Committee listing.

DETERMINANTS OF SME ACCESS TO PUBLIC PROCUREMENT: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM THE VISEGRAD GROUP COUNTRIES

This article aims to investigate the factors influencing the success of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in public procurement in the Visegrad Group Countries. According to the European Union, tools such as the division of contracts into smaller lots or the evaluation of tenders based on the most economically advantageous tender (MEAT) increase the chances of SME’s winning contracts in public procurement. In particular, the evaluation of tenders based on MEAT rather than the lowest price is a tool favoring SMEs, as it boosts their innovative potential, which creates the preconditions for achieving the best value for taxpayers' money. By analyzing more than 150,000 contract award notices published in the Tenders Electronic Daily in 2019, we found a positive effect on SMEs' chances of winning a contract when using framework agreements or dividing contracts into smaller lots. Moreover, the results of multinomial logit regression suggest that the evaluation of tenders based on MEAT rather than lowest prices increases the chances of SMEs to win the contract by more than 50%. However, the findings that the share of SMEs in the total financial value of contracts is less than 20%, with SMEs winning more than 60% of all contracts, suggest that some obstacles of SMEs' access to public contracts, such as financial, administrative or technical complexity of projects may persist and require further research.

THE IMPORTANCE OF DIGITIZATION AND INNOVATIONS FOR SMALL AND MEDIUM-SIZED ENTERPRISES

The importance of new disrupting technologies and innovations is crucial for Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs). SMEs are critical to large factories because, in many cases, they are their suppliers. Therefore, there is a need for digitization solutions, innovative approaches, and disruptive technologies in these factories. These areas significantly disrupt the usual processes in SMEs. SMEs thus have to deal with significant changes in their business in a relatively short time. The benefits of new approaches for SMEs are described in the second half of the article in the case study. This study deals with the possibility of using a software tool from previous research on the workplace for the production planning and logistics systems team in the selected Slovak factory. The paper itself focuses on the Slovak engineering industry, digitalization and innovations. The selected factory manufactures compressor technology. The factory did not hesitate to use the possibility of cooperation and verification of various functionalities. The cooperation aimed to analyze the current state of production of the selected product and the subsequent design of increasing productivity and economic efficiency concerning improving its internal conditions.

MANAGING RISK WITH THE USE OF COMPUTER SIMULATION

Internal and external risk management has become an important issue in today's global business environment, which is fraught with health, natural, political, economic and technical threats. This article deals with the design of a methodology for problem-solving and risk management in connection with computer simulation. The risk management methodology proposed by us consists of individual steps, which are summarized into three stages - risk assessment, risk analysis and risk management. The proposed computer simulation methodology consists of several steps, for example creating a parametric simulation model, designing experiments, analysis of the simulation model results or the evaluation of the simulation results. These steps are described in the article. After completing the previous steps, we describe the points of an action plan and what it must contain to avoid consequences and the impact of risks at the lowest possible level. An example of the use of computer simulation is the risk situation associated with the fluctuation of employees. In the end, the proposed methodology is supported by the results of our research and its further direction.

ASSESSMENT OF THE IMPACT OF INCOME INEQUALITY ON ECONOMIC GROWTH IN RUSSIAN REGIONS

Inequality in the distribution of income of the population has a certain impact on different aspects of the economic and socio-cultural development of countries and regions. This inequality arises due to a number of factors as the current nature of the production specialization, the availability of production and economic infrastructure, the achieved level of development of the social sphere, socio-cultural, demographic, and other factors. The main objective of this study is to assess the nature and extent of the impact of income inequality in the Russian regions for the subsequent justification of the directions of socio-economic development. We conducted an econometric analysis of the impact of intraregional income inequality (the Gini coefficient), fixed capital investment per capita, and average per capita consumer spending on one of the main indicators of regional economic growth (GRP) per capita was carried out. The model is based on panel data for the period 2012-2018 for 85 regions of the Russian Federation. The results of the study confirm two of three hypotheses. As prospects for further research, it is proposed to consider the impact of inequality in the distribution of household income on economic growth for different groups of regions, including resource-type regions and regions with a predominance of manufacturing industries, as well as for leading regions and regions with a relatively low level of socio-economic development.

USAGE OF ADVANCED DATA ANALYSIS IN AUSTRIAN INDUSTRIAL COMPANIES

Data has become one of the most valuable resources for companies. The large data volumes of Big Data projects allow institutions the application of various data analysis methods. Compared to older analysis methods, which mostly have an informative function, predictive and prescriptive analysis methods allow foresight and the prevention of future problems and errors. This paper evaluates the current state of advanced data analysis in Austrian industrial companies. Furthermore, it investigates if the advantages of complex data analyses can be monetarized and if cooperate figures such as the turnover or company size influence the answers of the survey. For that reason, a survey among industrial companies in Austria was performed to assess the usage of complex data analysis methods and Big Data. It is shown that small companies use descriptive and diagnostic analysis methods, while big companies use more advanced analytical methods. Companies with a high turnover are also more likely to perform Big Data projects. On an international comparison for most Austrian industrial companies, Big Data is not the main focus of their IT department. Also, modern data architectures are not as extensively implemented as in other countries of the DACH region. However, there is a clear perception by Austrian industrial companies that forward-looking data analysis methods will be predominant in five years.

SALES EXPERIMENT OF A NEWSPAPER PUBLISHER: "PAY WHAT YOU WANT"

Digitalization poses great challenges for companies and especially for newspaper publishers. Due to the large number of digital competitors on the advertising market, media companies are forced to proactively win customers. A major German media company has thus dared to experiment and put the question of pricing for booking newspaper advertising in the hands of its customers. With the so-called "pay what you want" (PWYW) payment model, customers can be won and additional budgets spent. This paper explores the question of whether PWYW is a suitable sales model for newspaper companies and which factors have an influence. The results of the interviews with those involved show solutions, opportunities, problems and that additional turnover can be generated.

IT SOLUTIONS, PLC.: INTRODUCING A BIG DATA CASE INTO THE ACCOUNTING CURRICULUM

By bridging the accounting and data science domains, this paper introduces an interdisciplinary Big Data case study for accounting students that implements a specific methodology framework. It is supported by clear learning objectives and detailed instructor’s implementation guidance that complement a fascinating scenario, representing a real-world situation in the data-led world of business. The participants’ assignment is to propose a strategy for improving financial position and performance of a particular company by attracting new customers selected among companies, listed on the London Stock Exchange. The data sources of the proposed case study are publicly available and comprise of historical financial and non-financial data, disclosed in companies’ annual reports. By performing their assigned roles under the case study scenario, future graduates will build upon their technological competences as well as raise their awareness on the new roles and job tasks of the future accountant. They will also gain understanding on the new advisory function of the accounting specialists and their responsibilities as management consultants in the data-let business world. From a research perspective, this interdisciplinary work demonstrates how expertise in text mining and financial reporting might be combined for revealing new investment opportunities and enhancing management decisions.

SECURITY AND SAFETY OF TOURISTS AS A FACTOR FOR SUSTAINABLE TOURISM, BASED ON THE EXAMPLE OF BULGARIAN BLACK SEA RESORTS

Different types of crimes are factors negatively affecting tourism worldwide. However, managers and even tourists themselves are refraining from submitting crime reports and whistleblows. The main goal of the study is to analyze the attitude of the hotels’ managers on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, regarding the submission of whistleblows to the competent authorities. In particular, managers of hotels in Albena, Golden Sands, Dunes, St. Constantine and Helena, and Sunny Beach are studied. The main research hypothesis is that hotel managers should ensure the safety of guests by reducing gaps in the control environment, preventing financial frauds, helping for environmental protection, and supporting the process of reporting crimes and suspicious behavior in the hotels. However, the current management policy relies mainly on the installed security devices and the Security Department staff. This results in applying no specific internal rules, procedures, and training for non-security department employees, regarding crime identification and timely reporting. The adopted research methods are based on the logical, deductive, and comparative methods, as well as on the methods of analysis and synthesis. For the empirical study, the method of in-depth interviews is used. The results of the study support the literature by presenting more in-depth data regarding the used security devices and assets by Bulgarian Black Sea resort hotels. Also, more data on the attitude of hotel managers on the safety and security of tourists and the submission of whistleblows, as a factor for sustainable development of tourism on the Bulgarian Black Sea coast, is presented.

STRATEGIC AND OPERATIONAL FOCUS OF HEALTH PREVENTION IN PRIVATE AND PUBLIC SECTOR ORGANISATIONS

In this paper, with a view to the high levels of absence due to sickness and presenteeism, it is explored how management and team leadership can be integrated on a more sustained basis in health prevention. Private sector enterprises on one hand, and organisations in the public sector, on the other, pursue and prioritise in this aspect different approaches, which are traceable to their different traditions. Specifically in Germany in the public sector, the principle of due care has had a long tradition that grows out of social responsibility, which contrasts with the perspective of commercial enterprises that emphasises the economic aspect. The study undertakes to determine the particular strengths of each of the sectors and to demonstrate their different approaches. The examination refers in its methodology to qualitative social research. In the systemically structured survey design, Seventy six experts were approached with questions concerning different aspects such as corporate culture, business processes, organisational integration, qualification, risk assessments, and concrete actions in health prevention. Complementary to the expert survey, documents such as corporate guidelines and policies, management tools, results from risk assessments and employee surveys or quality offensives were referred to. This analysis supplied insights on how the declared health prevention policies in an organisation can be effectively implemented at the strategic and operational level in corporate culture and leadership culture with a long-term continuity, and which organisational prerequisites in the corporate hierarchy and corporate decision making and business processes may reinforce and sustain successful implementation of health prevention. Of particular importance in the process is operative management. For the sake of effective team involvement in own and team-specific health prevention, an eight-stage team feedback was devised, which includes elements of self-reflection and perception by others in an iteratively structured process.