Reconsidering HR competency models: entrepreneurship and digital competency

Drawing from related empirical studies, the paper critically analyzes previously validated HR competency models and their effectiveness to address the current pandemic situation all around the globe. These HR competency models have not been tested or examined in uncertain and chaotic situations like the COVID-19 pandemic we have been facing now. It is definitely time for HR professionals to set new standards for employees’ well-being, performance, and communication style in the workplaces and support organizations by leading employees to adjust to the smooth transition to the technology-intensive business and the digital workplace. Based on the literature that is reviewed by researchers, it may be reasonable to assume that previously validated HR competency models in different contexts are not being fully applicable and supportive to HR people, who are getting challenged to solve the enormous number of workplace-related problems, caused by the pandemic all around the world today. This study suggests that the globally accepted HR competency models should be updated and redesigned based on the concept of “digital skills”, HR relations skills” and “entrepreneurship” as a competency of HR professionals because businesses need to restart and reshape their operational structure in order to fit the virtual and technological-based business world. As a conclusion, we can state that due to the current global health issue and economic situation, redefining the most important HR competencies that support businesses to overcome obstacles and difficulties, is vital in this time of our history in life.

Field research in the sphere of taxpayers’ equality

corruption in any social system. At the same time, taxes are a measure of social justice and should not only ensure the economic stability of the state, but also instill in members of the taxpayer society a positive tolerance to the state. The term for defining the state as "social" implies meeting the social needs of each member of society. According to the author's view, this does not mean that the state should sponsor people, who do not want to work. At the same time, the state must provide an appropriate level of support to society members who, due to objective circumstances, need it. Taxes are a source of social benefits for society. At the same time, they are a form of fair treatment of citizens by the state. Inequality or injustice in the collection of taxes contributes to social inequality and significantly reduces the tolerance of society members to the state.

Student’s socialization: problems and mechanisms of implementation through the development of a linguistic identity

This article announces the results of a study conducted within the framework of the Uralym project, revealing topical issues of youth socialization. The purpose of this article is to record the intermediate results of a comparative analysis and determine the areas of interaction and mutual influence of issues and problems of youth socialization. Particular attention is paid to promising opportunities for youth adaptation through the development and education of a linguistic personality. As part of the professional training of specialists, the parameters of the expansion and deepening of their linguistic worldview are investigated using the objects and methods of comparative sociolinguistics. The connection between new approaches to the formation of a linguistic personality and the socialization of youth through tourism, local history, history, culture, traditions of the region is revealed, and the possibilities and mechanisms of excursion rhetoric are used.

Analysis of religious tourism in Ukraine: challenges of time and prospects

The main objectives of tourism business management are to develop and implement new strategies for promoting the product in the tourism market with the help of new technologies, as well as improve the existing ones due to using the main management functions. The article aims to improve the religious tourism sector in the modern tourism market and draw attention to religious tourism management. Research methods include analysis, synthesis, comparison, generalization, forecasting, as well as the use of systemic, activity-oriented, historical and culturological approaches. The article offers some ways of solving the issues of religious tourism, taking into account the specifics of this sector. It also covers some problematic issues in religious tourism in the context of the main management functions. The article proves that the potential of religious tourism is unrealized in terms of management and marketing research on tourism. The crisis of the global tourism industry, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, has done significant harm to the entire tourism sector of Ukraine’s economy. But it opens a unique window of opportunities for Ukraine to become a world-famous religious destination. The WTTC drew attention to this, urging public and private sector leaders to work together to pave the way for the economic recovery, needed for the travel and tourist industry and create millions of jobs.

Experience of public procurement under COVID 19

2020 has become a global societal challenge for the whole world. The global pandemic, caused by COVID 19 has become threatening to the well-being of society and its sustainable development in virtually all spheres of human activity. The sphere of public procurement is not an exception not only in Ukraine, but also in European countries. The new conditions of social reality set such conditions for the implementation of public procurement, for which the world was not ready, but they required the necessary and urgent transformations. The article examines the experience of Ukraine and the European Union in the formation of public procurement and its operation under COVID 19 and strict quarantine restrictions. The Ukrainian economy was largely unprepared for the new social realities, but it was the sphere of public procurement, the development of which occured in the last 5 years, that surprised with its functional and regulatory security. The author draws attention to the peculiarities of the implementation of the system of electronic public procurement, their gradual formation and transformation. The analysis and qualitative differences of the new system of public procurement, which allowed to ensure the necessary transparency and publicity of the state order in the medical sphere, are given. A comparison of the Ukrainian system of functioning of public procurement and European transformations in this sphere is given. Because the experience of European countries in the difficult transition phase of the society of the pandemic era is very important for the countries of the post-Soviet space, as the countries of the European Union are in many respects the example to follow for such countries. The author cites the key features of the transformation and improvement of the public procurement system in accordance with the critical conditions of society

Holistic assessment of competitiveness of Bulgarian farming enterprises

The problem of determining the level of competitiveness of various economic organizations is among the most topical academic and practical issues. However, there is no widely accepted and comprehensive framework for understanding and assessing the competitiveness of farming enterprises in different market, economic, institutional and natural environments. This presentation suggests and applies a holistic approach for assessing the competitiveness of Bulgarian farms as a whole and different specializations. This novel framework includes appropriate criteria, indicators and reference values for the four pillars of farm competitiveness – Economics efficiency, Financial endowment, Adaptability and Sustainability. The multi-criteria assessment of farm competitiveness in Bulgaria has found that the level of competitiveness of farms is at a good level, with low adaptive potential and economic efficiency, to the greatest extent contributing to lower competitiveness. More than a third of all farms in the country has a low level of competitiveness. The most competitive are the farms in the beekeeping, followed by field crops, mixed livestock and crop productions, and the lowest in grazing livestock. The proposed approach should be improved and applied more widely and periodically, increasing accuracy and representativeness.

Studies on competence in a multinational environment

In today's multicultural world and at the age of globalization it goes without saying that possessing language skills, intercultural competence, cultural intelligence, knowledge, skills, mindset, awareness and other essential skills, attitudes and competencies for effective communication is imperative. The article introduces the basic concept of competences, supporting and emphasizing the importance of linguistic and cultural competence with examples. The aim of this paper is to describe the process of the development of sociocultural competence and its components based on the analysis of many sources in the international literature. In the first part of the study, social, cultural, and linguistic competencies, as well as their diversity are analysed. Cultural diversity is underpinned by a variety of factors, including age, disability, ethnicity, gender identity, origin, race, religion, and gender, among others. Conceptual definitions of culture are also presented. We also deal with linguistic diversity that accompanies cultural diversity. The analysis of language, culture, and communication follows a brief description of communication competence. Cultural and linguistic competence is vital, as today peoples and nations are intensely intermingled, living in the same society and interacting in the workplace, so the problem of developing socio-cultural competence is currently of particular importance. The developed socio-cultural competence guarantees effective communication between cultures, i.e. proper interaction with representatives of other cultures. At the end conclusions are drawn and recommendations are made.

Features of insurance risks’ classification as the basis of risk management of insurance companies in the financial crisis

Since the global financial crisis had impacted on all aspects of insurance companies' activities, it became necessary to focus on the activities of insurers and further improve the integrated risk and capital management of global and regional insurers. The purpose of the research is to analyze differences between national and European standards for risk identification in Ukrainian insurance companies, and to provide suggestions for improving the mechanism of risk insurance management. Using the method of comparative analysis and the method of content analysis of national and international solvency standards for insurance companies, the national characteristics of the types of insurance risks and the organization of the implementation of European legislation in domestic practice were determined. By the method of generalization and deduction, the key challenges for improving the effectiveness of insurance risk management in Ukrainian practice were identified. The results of the study shows the necessity to implement a unified system of insurance risk management in Ukrainian practice, which contents national and global characteristics of the functioning of insurance markets. The results of the research have significant practical implications for insurance companies and state government insurance market and can serve as a basis for improvement of theoretical principles concerning the identification of insurance risks and implementing European experience of insurance companies in national practice.

Employees’ assessment of motivation factors

The focus of this present study was the ranking of factors (assessment of importance) by employees and managers. Studying these factors is of special importance in concluding which of internal and external motivators are mostly evaluated by employees. It recommends to managers where to put emphasis to meet employees’ expectations. Factors that are mostly evaluated by public sector employees involved in the study include: good salaries (10), employee loyalty (9), feeling that the job is diverse and interesting (8); and those factors which are less evaluated include: supervistor’s help with personal issues (1) feeling of being included in organization (2). Meanwhile, factors that private sector employees evaluate most include: good salaries (10), feeling of being recognized (9), job guarantee (8), and less evaluated are: supervistor’s help with personal issues (1) diverse and interesing job (2).

Management control systems case study from the national commercial bank in Albania

This paper analyzes the Management Control Systems (MCSs) of the National Commercial Bank (NCB), operating in Albania, through the relevant framework of Object of Control [1]. The aim of this paper is to examine whether the MCSs help in aligning the actions of the management and employees with the strategies of this bank. Semi structured interviews were conducted to the managers of two branches of NCB in the city of Korça in order to understand the presence of this approach. The results of the interviews confirmed the presence of the components of the object of control (results, actions and personnel/cultural controls) in NCB. The bank controls the results of its employees and managers through the Performance Appraisal Systems. Employees’ and managers’ performance evaluation is the instrument, through which the bank plans their career and bonus. The budget constitutes the financial results control system. NCB has well-defined action controls through strict written rules, procedures and policies that restrict its employees’ actions. Personnel controls are exercised selection, training, evaluation, sustainability and development of human resources. Cultural controls are created through codes of conduct, ethic codes and socialization among employees at various events and parties, organized by the bank.