Regional Formation and Development Studies

and motherhood in the academic environment become a relevant issue of work organization and career opportunities. The aim

of the article is to reveal the preconditions for unequal career opportunities for employees with children in academic organizations.

The study is based on a qualitative interpretative design, and data were collected through semi-structured interviews. The study highlighted three interrelated processes that take place in the academic environment, which form unequal career opportunities. These are

the transfer of professional requirements outside the formally defined working hours, conditionally applied and unequally accessible

flexibility, and the impact of these processes on employees professional pace, engagement and career decisions. It has been established

that employees‘ experiences differ and this depends on gender, career stage and available support resources. The article shows how everyday academic work practices become a prerequisite for the formation of unequal career opportunities.

management. The aim of the study is to empirically reveal how leaders lead in constructing and implementing participatory

decisions, and what significance they acquire in management practice. The study is based on a phenomenological approach, applying

a qualitative research strategy and semi-structured interviews with six managers of educational institutions. The results reveal that

participatory decisions function as process-based management tools that strengthens the organisational culture, trust and employee

engagement, contributing to the effectiveness of management. However, their development is constrained by structural factors in

the educational system, time limitations, and internal cultural restraints, such as employee passivity. It was found that the leader’s

leadership is an essential factor determining the success of participatory management in the face of structural contextual and internalorganisational PDM risks.

The study was conducted using semi-structured interviews with principals of general education schools. The research results revealed that educational institutions are increasingly facing cyberthreats, such as phishing emails, malicious links, or misleading messages about alleged dangers. These threats can disrupt the educational process, pose risks to data security, and damage the institution’s reputation. The findings show that school leaders’ activities in ensuring cybersecurity focus on organising preventative and interventional measures, mobilising the community, developing internal procedures and response algorithms, and cooperating with institutions. It was observed that principals often lack experience and feel psychological stress and legal responsibility for potential consequences. Different perspectives on the principal’s role emerged, from that of a key leader to one in which there is a shared community responsibility model. However, there is agreement that effective cybersecurity assurance is based on the principal acting as an educator, threat manager, prevention organiser and community mobiliser, actively involving the entire school community in building a culture of security.

aim of the work is to analyse the theoretical specifics of electronic sales, and develop a theoretical model for introducing an electronic

sales channel and to improve it for experts. Scientific problem: How to effectively introduce an electronic sales channel in an

organisation? Research methods: comparative analysis, systematisation, and generalisation of scientific literature sources, qualitative

(expert interview) survey. The results of the study show which segments the experts supplemented the theoretical model with and

indicated the problems of introducing the theoretical model. According to experts, the main problem in introducing an electronic

sales channel is finding qualified personnel, leading personnel to understand what an electronic sales channel is. These are the main

problems from which other problems arise, which are: cost management, the regularity of selected intermediaries, compatibility, and

integration difficulties.

the fragmentation of the construct. This article examines the transformation of the concept of employee engagement, from early

notions of organisational effectiveness to modern complex multi-dimensional constructs. A systematic analysis of scientific sources

revealed that the concept of engagement has evolved from a limited, results-oriented approach to a holistic (full engagement) model.

The review highlights fundamental theoretical frameworks, including the job demands-resources model, social exchange theory,

and the caring human resource management approach. The lack of consensus indicates the complexity of the phenomenon under

investigation, and contemporary trends emphasise the need to align organisational goals with employees’ personal needs and values.

about the evolving role of patent systems in digital innovation ecosystems. This article examines the historical development

of patentology, and analyses how digitalisation has reshaped the functions, scope and economic significance of patents. Using a systematic

literature review (n = 74, 1962–2025), comparative institutional analysis and thematic synthesis, the study explores four key

issues: the historical foundations of patent theory, transformations driven by digital technologies, emerging challenges in innovation

ecosystems, and implications for innovation management and policy. The findings reveal major shifts: software patents redefine patentable

subject matter; standard-essential patents introduce licensing complexities and hold-up risks; and open-source models challenge

traditional exclusivity principles. Patents have evolved from simple exclusion rights into strategic assets in licensing networks,

platform ecosystems and collaborative innovation environments. This study contributes by integrating fragmented perspectives into

a coherent framework that combines technological, institutional and strategic dimensions of patent system transformation. It highlights

the implications for innovation management, regional development and policy reform, arguing that patentology must adopt

interdisciplinary approaches, combining economics, management, technology studies and law, to remain relevant in the digital era.