ARE CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ACTIVE FIRMS LESS INVOLVED IN EARNINGS MANAGEMENT? EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM CHINA

This paper investigates whether corporate social responsibility active (CSR active) firms operate dissimilarly from other firms in their financial reporting. Specifically, we examine whether the corporate social responsibility (CSR) attitude of a firm sways its reporting incentives, in respect of the extent of earning management. To test our predictions, we use a sample of 25,861 year-company observations, corresponding to 3538 Chinese listed companies, for the period 2009–2019. We find a significant positive association between CSR activity and earning management assessed by the level of discretionary accruals in Chinese listed companies. Moreover, we document that Chinese CSR active firms engage more in earnings management through discretionary accruals than CSR inactive firms. These findings are consistent with the opportunistic financial reporting hypothesis: advances in CSR used by managers to safeguard their position by evading scrutiny from stakeholder activists. This study contributes to the growing awareness among investors, stakeholders and researchers that we should distinguish between CSR active firms and socially responsible firms and that being the latter entail something more than just mechanically produce CSR reports.

BEHAVIORAL MODEL OF BUSINESS CHANGE MANAGEMENT IN RELATION TO BUILDING COMPETITIVENESS IN MARKET ECONOMY CONDITIONS

In the current market environment, the actual dynamics of the application of internal corporate factors is differentiated. The company thus tries to influence customers’ shopping behavior as effectively as possible. Therefore, it is important for the company to be able to adapt to these changes as effectively as possible. The purpose of the article is to analyze the factors influencing consumer behavior in the market conditions of the Slovak Republic. We described the current situation by a survey, which we conducted in 2020–2021. Among the selected categorical variables, we verified the dependence in two hypotheses by the statistical method of Pearson’s Chi-Square test. Using the method, we pointed out the factors that influence consumer behavior and can be important for change management. We compared the results of the survey with the results of similar surveys conducted abroad. Accepting the results of the survey, we proposed a general model of change management in the discussion part of the article. The model is thus a practical implication for companies with a differentiated subject of business. It also takes into account the behavioral characteristics that the company should adapt to in the current situation in order to achieve its strategic goals.

THE MEDIATING EFFECT OF PROACTIVE KNOWLEDGE SHARING AMONG TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP, COHESION, AND LEARNING GOAL ORIENTATION ON EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE

The background of this study is based on the controversial relationship between transformational leadership and employee performance. Empirical and theoretical models resolve the controversy by building a new concept based on proactive knowledge sharing. The study established the influence of transformational leadership, cohesion and learning goal orientation on proactive knowledge sharing and employee performance. A total of 7 hypotheses were developed to solve the study problem, while purposive sampling was used in data collection. The respondents consisted of 6 employees of Sharia Banking in Indonesia. The SEM results indicate that five hypotheses were significant, while 2 were insignificant. Furthermore, proactive knowledge sharing strongly mediates the relationship between the studied variables. These results confirm the withdrawal of the new concept in improving employee performance.

17 YEARS OF SERVICE-DOMINANT LOGIC: VARGO AND LUSCH’S CONTRIBUTIONS

This article aims to examine the contribution of Vargo and Lusch (V&L) to service-dominant logic (S-D logic) thinking from the first time it appeared until now. No previous study has specifically analyzed all contributions of V&L since the phenomenon appearance of their article about this perspective in 2004. We identified a total of 146 titles of scientific publications by V&L with other authors on the S-D logic perspective over a period of 17 years (2004–2020). Each publication was analyzed through content analysis in several key aspects. This study found that the types of publications were dominated by journal articles and book chapters. There are 95 names of authors who have collaborated with V&L, mostly from the Americas and Europe. Based on the organization of origin of the researcher, 64 organizations have collaborated with V&L. All V&L publications are spread across 44 scientific journals, which include marketing and non-marketing journals or those from other social sciences. As a novelty, this study succeeds in explaining the evolution of S-D logic research over time based on V&L works through a systematic investigation. In this study, V&L’s efforts to institutionalize S-D logic can be traced.

FEATURES OF THE CONTRACT FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES IN CIVIL LAW OF UKRAINE: WAYS TO IMPROVE THE PROCESS IN THE CONTEXT OF IMPROVING BUSINESS

The current state of regulation of the engineering services market in the world is at the level of constant development and improvement. The formation of a system for concluding contractual relations in the field of engineering services is no exception. The imperfection of the system for concluding the contract for engineering services indicates the weak state of the current management system in the field of innovation and intellectual property in the field of doing business both in a single country and throughout the world, which necessitates revising and improving the principles of concluding contracts in the field of engineering services. The contract for engineering services appeared in the world legislation relatively recently, in science there is still no unity in understanding the nature of this contract, as well as in the terminology used to designate legal relations arising on its basis. There are different, sometimes polar, approaches to the essence, features and elements of the contract for engineering services. In addition, there is still no single mechanism for forming a contract. Given this, an important step towards improving the contract for engineering servicess in civil law will be the formation of a systematic sequence of steps using the IDEF0 functional model. In this regard, the main goal of the article is to form the basic principles of consistency and algorithmization of the process of concluding the contract for engineering servicess on the basis of a functional model IDEF0.

Y–Z IN THE LABOUR MARKET: EMPLOYEE PERCEPTIONS IN DIFFERENT CULTURES (HUNGARY–PAKISTAN)

Research on generations examine and analyse the similarities and differences between various age groups, and their opportunities for cooperation in the labour market, from various perspectives. According to the research, the behaviour and preparedness of each generation are different, the coordination and proper management of which poses challenges for all organisations. This is especially true when staff from national cultures with very distant values work together. The recognition of this problem was the pretext to the present research. The aim of the research is to examine the perception of the under 30 age group socialised and employed in two largely different cultures (Hungarian–Pakistani). Contrary to our assumption, the results of the quantitative research based on an online questionnaire confirm that the respondents do not perceive differently the behaviour, attitudes, expectations regarding work, workplace and employers of Pakistani and Hungarian young people at work. Employers’ perceptions of this age group play a significant role in choosing the tools that affect their retention in the workplace. In this respect, the employees of the studied cultures find similar solutions expedient.

A STUDY ON GREENISH PATTERN OF INDIAN CONSUMERS WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO THEIR PLASTIC BAG USAGE BEHAVIOR

The Population explosion has led to excessive consumption and exploitation of natural resources resulting in degradation of the biophysical environment. Many agitations have gained momentum in various parts of the world to protect it from environmental degradation. Many governments have banned the usage of plastics in their endeavor to protect the environment. This descriptive research has attempted to study the greenish pattern of 320 Indian consumers with special reference to their plastic bag usage behavior while carrying their purchases back home. The Results of the study have revealed that customers accord importance to the environmental impact of goods and services before purchasing such goods and they prefer to visit shops that are eco-friendly while they do not attach much importance to the environmental reputation of companies dealing with such goods and services. They prefer green products due to their good quality and reliability and are willing to pay a premium price for such products.

MICROPLASTICS RISK AT THE INTERFACE OF CIRCULAR ECONOMY, QUALITY AND FOOD SAFETY IN POLAND: A CASE STUDY

The purpose of this paper is to explore the scope of undertaken and planned actions related to microplastics risk in one of the biggest polish food sector company for better understanding the relations between quality management, food safety management and circular economy. To explore the planed and undertaken actions in relation to microplastics risk a case study was performed. It was performed in one of the leading polish organization producing and selling food products of an international range of operation. During the study representative of the leadership of the organization was interviewed as well as relevant instructions and records provided by the organization were analysed. Results indicate that the issue of microplastics for studied company is a marginal problem, that has not been given much attention so far. On the other hand, significant changes at the global level such as circular economy strategy lead to changes in the design of products (mainly packaging). To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study to examine the microplastics risk from the perspective of the management systems implemented in food sector organization with the circular economy context. This study enriches current knowledge about circular economy and its integration with other management systems in the microplastics elimination context.

A PROPOSED MODEL OF VALUE CO-CREATION THROUGH MULTI-STAKEHOLDER COLLABORATION IN DOMESTIC PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

This study illustrates the collaborative value co-creation process that involves multi-stakeholders in developing domestic products and services design in Indonesia. Although the value co-creation process performed effectively, the new product is still experiencing obstacles in term of commercialization and sustainability. The purpose of this research is to construct a model to encourage the process of value co-creation in the commercialization phase of domestic products. The qualitative method with a single case study approach is conducted in this research. Data collected with in-depth interviews, observations and archival. The informants are representatives of stakeholders that interact and participate in the IKKON program. Data analyzed with DART model (Dialogue, Access, Risk Assessment and Transparency) to examine the process of value co-creation in the IKKON program. This approach constructs an analysis that involves stakeholder’s experience during the value co-creation process as a basis for innovation. The results showed with collaboration; stakeholders could learn from each other to understand the needs. The collaboration with multi-stakeholder will increase the values of the product by combining local and public needs. The finding proposed a collaborative model to optimizing domestic product in terms of commercialization. This research enlarges a practical perspective in managing value co-creation and decision making.

RELATIONSHIP MARKETING IN CUSTOMER LOYALTY OF COMMERCIAL GALLERIES IN TIMES OF COVID-19

The main objective of the study is to determine the level of dependence between relationship marketing and the level of customer loyalty to the brand. The study was conducted through a quantitative approach using the CAWI method. Relationships were determined by several factors. The loyalty factors are: Differentiation, Personalization, Satisfaction, Loyalty, usually. The relationship marketing indicators are: Trust, Commitment, Customer Satisfaction, Intention to renew the relationship. The survey results were processed using statistical methods. In particular, internal consistency checks performed on the questionnaire with questions to use Cronbach’s alpha. The use of such criteria allows to draw conclusions about the high level of consistency. The coefficient of determination was used for statistical verification of dependence. The results of the calculations confirmed a high level of dependence. Dependence was also confirmed by calculating p-values with a high level of probability. Conclusions were drawn according to the results of the empirical investigation.