Strategic thinkers and their characteristics: toward a multimethod typology development

Objective We aimed to explore the strategic thinking concept by searching for differences within the population of strategic thinkers to contribute to the development of the “strategic thinking” concept. Methods applied To answer the research questions and achieve the research aim, we implemented the following research methods: a systematic literature review and biographical studies. Findings (1) As the first stage in researching strategic thinking, the qualitative approach is recommended. (2) The main features of strategic thinkers are a strategic perspective and a reflective style of thinking. (3) Two groups of differentiating features have been identified: features concerning the content of strategic thinking; and features concerning the process of strategic thinking. Originality/value Most academic research on strategic thinkers concentrates on the common characteristics and similarities, while little attention has been paid to features that internally differentiate the population of strategic thinkers. Our main contribution to the literature is filling this knowledge gap.

The importance of emotional intelligence for the sales associates profession: Between job stress and job satisfaction

Sales associates need emotional intelligence (EI) in dealing with job stress and perceived job satisfaction. So far, there has been no research that explains the effect of job stress on job satisfaction with EI as a mediating variable in the sales associate profession. This study examines EI's role in managing job stress allows sales associates to achieve job satisfaction. The population in this study is comprised of sales associates in Jakarta-Indonesia, who work in malls that target middle to upper-class level customers, with a sample size of 100 respondents. The sampling technique used was accidental sampling; the analysis uses the simple mediation model with the macro process through SPSS process 22.0 for Windows using ordinary least squares and logistic regression path analysis modeling. The finding reveals that the higher the level of EI, the stronger the extent to which the relationship between job stress and job satisfaction is mediated.

The effect of uncertainty on negative discounting

The preference to receive benefits as early as possible and delay costs as much as possible is natural for people. That means a positive discount rate in the intertemporal choice, which is a common assumption in economics. However, as research in behavioral economics proves, in certain situations a negative discount rate occurs. The purpose of this paper is to show that the assumption of positive discounting is not always true. The presented experimental study shows how a decrease in probability increases the chances of negative discounting. According to the results, the expected large, uncertain profit is more likely to be deferred over time than a certain profit of the same value. On the other hand, the expected large, uncertain loss is more willingly experienced earlier than a certain loss of the same value. In both cases, it means an increase in the frequency of negative discounting due to increased uncertainty. The results of the study broaden the existing knowledge about the impact of probability on discounting in a situation of expected losses and the area of negative discounting.

Role of the state in implementation of strategic investment projects: The SaHo Model for nuclear power

The purpose of the paper is to present an innovative business model, the SaHo Model, designed specifically to enable the Polish government to implement nuclear power development plans, which can be possibly used in other countries and in sectors requiring high capital expenditures. The SaHo Model solves the problems identified in the nuclear energy sector, which are related to high investment risk and high costs of capital at the investment stage, and ensures revenues after connection to the grid. Since the state is the investor at the initial stages, it takes over most of the risk in the short term. Selling the shares before connection to the grid, the state significantly reduces the financial involvement in the long term. From then on, the SaHo Model works similar to the Finnish Mankala or American electric cooperative models, producing and selling energy to their shareholders at production costs. None of the models used so far in nuclear energy provides such opportunities. The SaHo Model allows to enhance the competitiveness of the national industry and to increase public acceptance for nuclear power. Thus, it is not only a business model but also a concept for the functioning of the nuclear industry.

Conscious shopping of middle-class consumers during the pandemic: Exploratory study in Mexico, Nigeria, Poland, and Sri Lanka

This study aims to identify middle-class consumers’ habits in four countries during the pandemic of 2020, with special attention to analogous consumers’ reactions to extraordinary circumstances during the recession of 2008. Furthermore, this study tried to detect the impact of the pandemic on conscious shopping. Although the consequences of the ongoing pandemic were unforeseeable, the paper opened new avenues for further research on factors responsible for conscious consumption during the unprecedented externality and its significance on the middle-class consumers in culturally diverse markets. To achieve the aforementioned goals, between June and December 2020, computer-assisted web interviews (CAWI) based on pilot stage research were conducted to answer the following questions: How did the pandemic influence the buyers’ shopping habits in terms of conscious consumption? What were the reasons for the changes in shopping habits? What kind of consumer behaviors would middle-class buyers recommend to others? One general conclusion, inter alia, should be stressed remarkably: during the pandemic, irrespective of the cultural differences, the middle-class consumers’ behaviors did not vary significantly with regards to most of the investigated variables.

Impact of economic conditions on (restricted) immigration to the United States: The Polish case

Throughout the twentieth century, United States has been the most desirable destination for international migrants, primarily due to its economic performance and also to American values – work ethics and tolerance of ethnic diversity. This paper aims to test if selected economic indicators might influence international migration. To this end a time series analysis was performed with time series regression model, where lagged values of various macroeconomic indicators were tested for a significant impact on migration flows. This paper also cast a light on U.S. labour migration's legislation and history, as well as current migrant stock characteristics. It gives specific attention to Polish migrant population, as Polish Americans constitute the largest Polish diaspora worldwide. The results of the analysis show that U.S. immigration volumes are sensitive to American unemployment rate and American GDP growth (pull factors). However, analysing Polish migration volumes to the U.S. a significant correlation with selected American indicators was not revealed. On the contrary, Polish migration flows to the U.S. were correlated with Polish economic growth and the Polish unemployment rate fluctuations (push factors).

An attempt at defining the impact of financial crises on changes to the models of corporate governance

This study aims to define the impact of two largest crises of 1997–1998 and 2007–2008 on changes to the models of corporate governance. In order to achieve the assumed aim, a critical analysis of specialist literature and relevant legal regulations has been applied. The analysis is focused on changes in the main models of corporate governance, namely: in the Anglo-Saxon (monistic) model and in the German (dualistic) model. Generally, they can be defined as of evolutionary nature but some deeper changes have taken place under the influence exerted by the above-mentioned crises. The latter crisis has emphasized the important role of corporate governance in banks and other financial institutions. Changes in corporate governance are largely affected by international institutions or organizations, such as the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) or the European Commission. Their recommendations and guidelines have contributed to the dissemination of so-called good practice codes. The considerations presented below allow the author to state that in both analyzed models of corporate governance, changes occur in the same or similar direction lines (the phenomenon of convergence). It can be also observed that the first analyzed crisis has caused larger changes in the monistic model, whereas the second crisis has affected the dualistic model in a more significant way.

A study on audit report timeliness: The Macedonian Stock Exchange

Financial statements reflect important information about the entity's financial position, operating performance, and cash flows and must be made available in a timely fashion to all interested factions to stimulate opportune business judgments. Ergo, this paper examines the association of the audited annual report delay with eight entity and audit firm attributes. The sample includes 396 observations of 99 nonfinancial firms listed on the Macedonian Stock Exchange (MSE) for the period 2014–2017. The regression results designate a statistically significant relationship between the audit opinion, company liquidity, size, and industry with the audit opinion lag. Moreover, the publication period ranges from 43 days to 374 days suggesting that timeliness may be a significant concern for Macedonian entities regarding financial reporting policy. This is the first study to thoroughly assess the relationship between entity, auditor characteristics, and audit report timeliness on the developing Macedonian market.

Efficiency and equity – The Swedish economy in comparison to other countries at the beginning of the 21st century

Referring to economic ideals of efficiency and equity, we are comparing the state of the Swedish economy in the early 21st century to the situation in other countries, especially the other Nordic countries, the United States (US), and Poland. After presenting the basic facts about Nordic countries we examine the issue of economic efficiency. In addition to gross domestic product (GDP) we use the Human Development Index (HDI), the findings of the economics of happiness, and the number of registered triadic patent families as measures of efficiency. Then we analyze the issue of equity. We use the Gini coefficient, the extent of poverty, the level of unemployment, and the level of intergenerational mobility of earnings as measures of equity. The analysis reveals that inhabitants of Sweden and the other Nordic countries have been achieving some of the best economic results in the world. This applies to the level of GDP per capita in these countries, to the capability of inhabitants to utilize their full potential, and to their life satisfaction. These countries’ ability to create innovation is impressive. At the same time, Nordics have successfully reduced the scale of social inequalities and ensured relatively equal opportunities for all citizens. This is evidenced by low income inequality, low unemployment, and low poverty rate in these countries. Sweden and the other Nordic countries are superior to the US both in terms of efficiency and equity. Poland, on the other hand, lags far behind Nordics, as well as the US, in terms of efficiency, as exemplified by the relatively low GDP per capita and very low innovation in Poland. In terms of equity, however, Poland loses to Nordics but seems to win to the US.