Analysis of food retail efficiency in Serbia

It is well known that the problem of analyzing the efficiency of all companies, including trading companies, is very topical, significant and complex. In the context of the above mentioned, mathematical methods and models are increasingly being applied. With this in mind, this paper explores the effectiveness of food retailers in Serbia using AHP and DEA methods. Of all the observed optimization criteria (cost of goods sold, operating costs, gross margin and net profit), the most significant one was the cost of goods sold. The most efficient food retailer in Serbia is Delhaize Serbia. Mercator-S is inefficient according to DEA analysis. In order to improve the efficiency of food retailers in Serbia, it is necessary to look up to the Western models and apply new business models (private brand, multichannel sales, organic food sales and others) and new concepts of strategic management accounting as well as strengthen the digitalization of business.

Regional planning: Concept, theories and models

The aim of this paper is to investigate regional planning, which is a very important factor in the development of each country and region. This research contributes to the possibility of improving the living standards of citizens and contributes to more complete and comprehensive study of some important legal and economic issues that may arise in connection with the growing role of regional planning in the economic and economic system of each region. The paper presents the concept of regional planning, as well as theories and models that can be applied in planning and that can give the best economic effects, depending on its characteristics and specifics. At the end of the paper, a conclusion indicates that regional planning is a necessary instrument for further development of each region, which represents an opportunity for employment of citizens and raising the level of their wellbeing.

Exports as a trigger of economic growth of the Republic of Serbia

In recent years, Serbian exports, accompanied by the inflow of foreign direct investment, have improved significantly, resulting in stronger economic growth. However, despite the positive predictions of the European Commission for further growth of exports and the increase of economic growth in Serbia, our economy is facing serious consequences caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which is affecting the whole world. The paper aims at presenting the current macroeconomic picture of the Republic of Serbia through the analysis of import and export policy, the volume of foreign trade and their impact on economic growth. In relation to the set goals, the paper is divided into four thematic units, with conclusions and possible recommendations at the end. Special emphasis was placed on exports, its development opportunities and improving competitiveness, as well as the presentation of recommendations within the Serbia's New Growth Agenda. The subject of this paper is based on theoretical data analysis, through descriptive and comparative methods as well as the synthesis of theoretical and empirical facts. For this research the primary empirical data were collected from various relevant sources.

Planning and conducting internal audit in practice in the private sector

During the data collection process to understand and assess risk, internal auditors gain significant insight into operations and opportunities for improvement that can be extremely beneficial to the organization. This paper presents valuable insights into practical work that will assist internal auditors in the process of planning and conducting internal audit in the private sector. In the process of internal audit, it primarily starts from planning through the creation of an audit universe that includes a list of all potential audits based on risk and exposure assessment. The chief audit executive develops an annual action plan based on the audit universe. The annual plan should be broken down into four quarters and each defined audit should be arbitrarily assigned to one quarter. The beginning of the process of the planned audit begins with preparatory activities that include defining the objectives of the individual audit, preparation of a detailed schedule of the individual audit, conducting a preliminary survey. What follows is that audit sampling techniques (defined as the application of audit procedures to less than 100% of items within a class of transactions or account balance so that each sample unit has a chance to be selected) perform sample selection from the population. According to the selected model, the audit is approached on the basis of which the opinion of the internal auditor is issued in the created engagement report.

Foreign direct investments as a means of financing the economic development of Southeastern European countries

The paper analyzes the sources of Southeastern European countries' economic development financing - Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Montenegro, Croatia, Romania, Macedonia, and Serbia in the period from year 2009 to year 2018. The research focus is on the one hand directed towards the analysis of the economic growth rate, the share of domestic savings and the current account balance. On the other hand, particular attention in the analysis is given to the data on the dynamics of foreign direct investment. The analysis in the paper indicates that due to the lack of domestic savings and difficulties with foreign borrowing, in the observed period, foreign direct investment was the most represented source of financing for economic development. The analysis for the SEE countries also shows that the lack of domestic savings caused the unfavorable structure of foreign direct investment flows with the end result of a low economic growth rate. When it comes to the relevance of foreign direct investment for the long-term economic development of Southeastern European countries, the paper concludes that a more active development policy is needed, aimed at increasing the share of domestic savings in gross domestic product as well as the growth of the domestic investment. Simply put, in present circumstances, it is unrealistic to rely heavily on foreign investments.

Analysis of factors that influence the employment of mothers with small children in Hungary

For women with young children, work and parenting are not mutually exclusive, but both are key. Together, the two help them live a full life. At the same time, they can still face a lot of job disadvantages, and those who manage to reconcile the two may have a privileged background. Based on the literature and its further reflection, we list the factors hindering the employment chances of women with small children.

Integrated performance management model of a company using an analytical hierarchy process

The aim of this paper is to test the application of an integrated performance management model on the example of a manufacturing company in the field of food industry in Serbia. The proposed model integrates performance quantification (objective and subjective) on the one hand, and performance improvement, on the other. Objective variables are presented in the form of cost and time dimensions, while analytical hierarchical process (AHP) was used to quantify subjective variables. The research results provide insight into the achieved and optimal performance of the company, which provides a basis for further performance improvements.

Resocialization and enterpreneurial initiative of employed convicted persons in penitentiary institutions in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina

The research in this paper focuses on the level of resocialization and entrepreneurial initiative of working convicts in penitentiary institutions, with a goal to point out how the expressed entrepreneurial initiative during the execution of a sentence can serve as a basis for employment and easier resocialization after release from prison. With a view to this fact, the aim of the research is to determine the differences in the level of resocialization and entrepreneurial initiative according to the work engagement of convicts. The sample consists of 286 randomly surveyed convicts from penitentiary institutions on the territory of AP Vojvodina. Data were collected and analyzed using the category of frequency to show the socio-demographic characteristics of convicts and the method of cross-tabulation to determine the differences in the level of resocialization and entrepreneurial initiative according to the work capacity of convicts. The results indicate that convicts who are employed more often have a higher level of pronounced resocialization compared to convicts who are not employed. Also, it was determined that working convicts have a higher level of entrepreneurial initiative, i.e. employed convicts exhibit higher level of readiness for additional engagement in order to improve living and working conditions in the institution, higher level of readiness for additional engagement in order to obtain a better classification in group and higher level of readiness for further education and professional training, compared to nonworking convicts engaged in the institution. The implications of the research indicate that it is necessary for employees to work more in correctional institutions, in terms of attending education and training programs for acquiring entrepreneurial knowledge and skills, which will lead to better prospects for social and work resocialization after leaving the penitentiary institution.

Analysis of the financial account of the Republic of Serbia in the period from 2010-2018

A country's balance of payments represents transactions between one country and the rest of the world. The subject of the research is the analysis of the period from 2010 to 2018 and the presentation of the impact of positions of goods, services, primary income and personal transfers on the current account of the balance of payments, as well as covering current balance positions through capital. The aim of the research in this paper is to examine the importance of opening the borders of the Republic of Serbia and enabling the entry of foreign investors. The expected results of the research should indicate the way to reduce the current account deficit, the balance of payments itself, as well as the economic development and stability of the country.

Possibilities of SIPOC model application in management of sports organizations

Modern tendencies in the management of sports organizations define that success in business predominantly depends on the efficiency and effectiveness of meeting the needs of clients/users of services. Entrepreneurial attitudes about the way of managing sports organizations are becoming recognizable in sports, where the competitive advantage is primarily based on the sentence - what the organization can do and what it can do better than others (and not on what it has and the others do not). With this regard, the implementation of modern methods to improve performance is set as a synonym for business success with the aim of satisfying the members of the organization and related stakeholders. The application of various tools and techniques of marketing management in sports organizations is based exclusively on the determinants of basic marketing functions. One of these functions is the promotion of products and services as a form of direct approach of the sports organization to its surroundings. One of the interesting tools with high applicability is the SIPOC model (created as an elaboration of Deming's PDCA system). It is characterized by managerial activity on efficient mapping and identification of the acute state of processes in the organization that are crucial for the relationship with clients. This is a tool that helps the management of the organization, as a supplier of products and/or services, identify customers (clients/users), identify their (but also its own) real needs. Based on this information, it optimizes all the processes necessary in the creation, production and delivery of products/services. The possibility of applying the SIPOC model in sports organizations can best be realized in activities aimed at improving the quality of sports services. It treats marketing activities as a process that seeks to meet the needs of three groups of related stakeholders: (a) direct service actors (sports organization with its resources), (b) end users (clients) and (c) external stakeholders.