Digital Model of Bench-Marking for Development of Competitive Advantage

The chapter deals with the problems of digital modeling and the study of the interaction of the companies competing within the framework of the bench-marking process for definition, understanding and working out the strategy of effective functioning and increasing competitiveness. The companies are considered in the organizational field, representing iterative aggregate system of a big order with a nonlinear feedback where the order is defined by the number of differential equations. The system is described by coupled Van Der Pol differential equations with random right parts and a time lag. The model is built on the example of the market interaction of the two largest retailer networks. The developed model shows the mechanism of competition of the companies' pairs which are suggested to be investigated within the framework of the bench-marking concept.

Digitalisation as a Strategic Opportunity and Co-Creation Value With Users

This work focuses attention on the area of the smaller grocery retailers and their digitalisation strategy. The information will be acquired through in-depth interviews with two smaller grocery retailers that have implemented a social media marketing activity by joining an online cashback website. This information help to understand the underlying reasons and the results that entrepreneurs have achieved and which they expect to achieve through use of the Web. An additional analysis will also be conducted via implementation of a questionnaire to be filled out by consumer customers of the two smaller retailers in order to obtain data about the reasons, expectations and results gained by the same in terms of satisfaction and greater value achieved.

Cost Control Strategy for the Implementation of the User Innovation Potential in the Digital Economy

Currently there is a change of economic model associated with the transition from the stage of industrialization to the post-industrial economy. Emphasis shifts from production to the provision of services. In the digital economy, where the major resources required for the production of quality products are time and information, should be reconsidered the concept of cost management. The new paradigm of cost management should take into account the changes in the approaches to the management of material, labor and financial costs, and include approaches, tools and methods of cost management of resources, updated by digital post-industrial economy. Sectoral and territorial specifics of the process of change of economic model requires a strategic approach to cost management. The typology of costs, which provides optimal decision making in the implementation of the innovative capacity of the user is proposed by authors. Approaches to the formation and implementation of cost management strategies at the present time are developed.

The Control of Continuing Education Based on the Digital Economy

The chapter deals with the methodology of creating a unified information educational environment, providing the implementation of continuing education, the development and implementation of educational models, programs, environments, implemented with the use of digital technologies. The concept of “open educational system” was determined. The necessity of system analysis at the macro and micro levels with views of subsystems, which are its elements, was sufficiently justified. The notion of “system of continuous education” was determined. The related problems were analyzed and the solutions for the management of system of continuous education in the market economy and in terms of accession to the digital economy, were proposed. Were classified digital learning technologies in order to implement them in the open education systems. The paper shows that shaping of creative potential of future specialists can be performed through the introduction of digital technologies on the basis of educational technology and information and telecommunication technologies.

Digital Marketing

Despite the fact that the branding of football is not a new phenomenon, the emergence of new media has provided the means and the opportunity for the widespread promotion of football club's brands. At the same time, the growing popularity of social media among football fan has empowered them to express their opinions and has granted them unlimited resources for information search and exchange. This chapter aims to examine the relationship that exists between Real Madrid's digital marketing actions and its promotion as a brand and the loyalty of its supporters. An online questionnaire was distributed among sports and football fans in order to identify their profile, their preferred communication channels, their use of social media and their knowledge about Real Madrid.

About Russian Regional Users' Innovation Based on Digital Information

Research and development are increasingly becoming global and implemented on a collaborative basis. This leads to the need for the search of partners, resources and ideas outside the company. Moreover, end-users of innovations are being considered as key actors in the regional innovation process. Thereby, innovation intermediaries serve to establish or improve the relationship between all stakeholders with complementary skill sets or interests. These intermediaries pursue the aim to support the generation and diffusion of innovation. Due to the active development of information and digital technologies in the international practice have gradually emerged new forms of innovation intermediaries, which have not been applied yet in Russia.

Smart City, IT Systems, and Sustainability

With the rapid increase of the urban population worldwide, cities nowadays face complex challenges to guarantee a sustainable development and the quality of life of their inhabitants. The concept of “smart cities” is a response to these challenges. This chapter explores how three Italian smart cities have developed a fertile environment for innovative and high-tech projects. In particular, the research describes some of the main projects implemented by Italian smart cities and the impacts on the sustainability pillars. The research is based on a qualitative method and, in particular, on multiple case study analysis, where theory and empirical research are intertwined. This work shows some interesting implications as it contributes to increase the existing literature on smart city and sustainability and it provides ideas for further reflections about the effects of ICT-oriented projects on sustainable development.

TEAMNET

This chapter presents the TeamNet analytical tools and methodology that was created in the framework of the international EUREKA project. TeamNet presents a new approach to the evaluation of the project and working teams. New web-based information system and new methodology were developed. The system is capable of providing online analysis of the efficiency of a team and its members. Specific psychodiagnostic tools (such as the colour association method) were used for a powerful analysis of the interaction characteristics of the team to maximize the objectivity of results. Web portal for total support of the diagnostic is presented at www.hrteamnet.cz. The whole team diagnostic is realized online and the team and individual results are immediately available. The system can significantly help the project and personal managers to create high-efficiency project teams.

The Entrepreneurial Spirit Based on Social Values

In this work, within the framework of Institutional Theory and based on the socially responsible values, we analyzed the entrepreneurial spirit of the future entrepreneurs of Generation Z, (the digital generation) (Scott, 2013). This was an exploratory and quantitative study developed between January and May in 2016. The data were analyzed using the statistics software SPSS and using a descriptive analysis with a multivariate factor analysis. The objective of this study involved discovering what motivates and influences the future entrepreneurs of Generation Z in the implementation of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) practices. The results that present this work, seek to help the institutions to receive a greater rate of return on investment from the actions that influence future entrepreneurs.

The Educational Use of Digital Storytelling in Virtual Classes of Entrepreneurship

Nowadays there is a consensus on the importance that is given to entrepreneurship in the creation of wealth and employment in countries. In this context, entrepreneurship education is particular relevant. In fact, although there are currently several studies that investigates teaching methods of entrepreneurship in classroom, this subject continues understudied with regard to virtual classes where physical distance can difficult or even make impossible the use of some of the methodologies reported in several studies on this matter. Therefore, this chapter gives some background on the notion of Digital Storytelling, enhancing its relevance to the development of entrepreneurial skills, taking into account their particularities and the appropriate technologies. It also presents a study on the application of this methodology in a virtual class of entrepreneurship at Universidade Aberta (UAb). The results of virtual class students' perception on the use of Digital Storytelling in entrepreneurship teaching, suggests benefits in the use of this methodology.