Regional Formation and Development Studies

Expression of business environment in trading company is being analysed in this article. Theoretically it was determined, that by supervising own business environment the companies must accordingly react to its changes and envisage what influence one or another factor of business environment have on them as insufficient attention to this area may determine inability to adapt to changing business environment. Therefore it may be baneful for trading companies and this topic must be analysed as much as possible. After quantitative research was made and 65 users of trading company were interviewed (customers of services or production), it was determined that alternation of supplies, employees and financial institutions as well as changes in legal, political and technological environment have the greatest influence on the environment of trading company. Obtained results of the research showed practical significance when solving management tasks of changes in business environment under development conditions. In accordance with this information, more rapid and better reaction of trading company into satisfaction of needs of the users is possible. The most important aspects, which must be considered, and which are necessary for managers of trading companies in order to make effective decisions are having of such information, accuracy of information, effectiveness of existing measures to receive and transfer information.

The purpose of this article is to highlight the aspects of application of Fast Track Solution SAP Business One Model to the business curriculum of a university study programme. With the SAP Business One, students gain knowledge and understanding on how different areas of business interact and integrate and how information technology-based infrastructure simplify business operations. In addition, this research article introduces and identifies the SAP Business One modules that can be applied to the present business curriculums of university studies, which leads to a blended learning approach when education addresses the needs of industry. Blended learning, as a learning approach that applies the SAP Business One modules, complements the skills required by industries thus fostering the industry-based learning approach. Theoretical knowledge and hands-on experience will make business students gain competitive advantage and competency in innovativeness.

Straipsnyje atskleista etiško vadovavimo svarba organizacijų veikloje. Etiškas vadovavimas – tai asmeniniu, teigiamu pavyzdžiu, remiantis asmeninėmis vertybėmis ir visuotinai priimtinomis etikos normomis, formuojama elgsena, kreipianti darbuotojų veiklą, pasitelkus pasitikėjimą, siekiant sėkmingai įgyvendinti tikslus: savo, darbuotojų, organizacijos, visuomenės. Sprendžiama mokslinė problema, kaip pasireiškia etiškas vadovavimas organizacijoje, siekiama išsiaiškinti, teiraujantis apie vadovavimo etiškumą, ar vadovo ir jam tiesiogiai pavaldžių darbuotojų požiūris sutampa. Atlikti du kokybiniai tyrimai organizacijoje: interviu su vadovu ir diskusijų grupės interviu su tiesiogiai vadovui pavaldžiais darbuotojais. Tyrimo rezultatai atskleidžia, kad iš dalies dirbama esant etiškam vadovavimui, vadovas laikosi etikos principų, bet jo ir jam tiesiogiai pavaldžių darbuotojų požiūris į etišką vadovavimą dažnu atveju skiriasi.

The development of higher education is amongst topical issues. The modern society realizes that the most valuable capital is a humanbeing with his/her intellectual potential and this has become the main resource for social and economic development. Over thelast decade, all developed countries have introduced national education system reforms, which have received significant financialsupport. National development strategies attempt to focus on the development of adequate education system supported by state policiesbecause it is becoming more and more evident that the quality of education determines further development of a country. Thedevelopment of a strategy for the sustainable development must presuppose the identification of the mission and aims for short-termand long-term activities. The purpose for this article is to analyse the main trends of higher education in Latvia in order to identifythe mission and strategy for sustainable development of higher education institutions in Latvia. There were applied such researchmethods as analysis and synthesis of scientific literature, normative acts and documents that regulate the development of highereducation in Latvia and EU, methods of grouping, comparisons, classification, summarizing, description and prediction.

Strateginio mąstymo sąsajos su priimamais verslo sprendimais straipsnyje analizuojamos teoriniu ir praktiniu aspektais. Akcentuojama,kad strategiškai mąstantys vadovai, priimdami verslo sprendimus, didelį dėmesį skiria aplinkai ir jos teikiamoms galimybėms,pasekmių ir rezultatų analizei apie ateitį ir galimas jos kryptis, grįžtamajam ryšiui ir mokymuisi; visai organizacijai bei santykiųtinkamumui organizacijos viduje. Rengiant straipsnį išanalizuoti ir apibendrinti moksliniai šaltiniai, apklausti Vilniaus, Klaipėdos,Kauno, Šiaulių, Telšių regionų įmonių vadovai, kurie vadovauja rinkoje įsitvirtinusioms ir tarpusavyje konkuruojančioms prekybosbei gamybos pobūdžio paslaugų įmonėms. Tyrimo rezultatai patvirtino hipotezę, kad vadovai, strategiškai mąstantys priimdamiverslo sprendimus, pasiekia aukštų veiklos rezultatų.

Straipsnyje atskleidžiamas įvairiapusis požiūris į verslumo atmosferos problemas Lietuvoje. Steigiant „startuolius“ susiduriama su veiksniais, kurie susiję tarpusavyje ir lemia verslo aplinkos pokyčius. Sudarytas adaptyvumo modelis gali sistemiškai padėti „startuolių“ steigėjams geriau suprasti verslumo aplinką, įvertinus verslumo atmosferos veiksnius, ir greičiau prisitaikyti prie verslo sąlygų sprendžiant problemas. Atliekant kiekybinį tyrimą 226 respondentai („startuolių“ steigėjai) įvertino verslumo atmosferos veiksnius, kurie daro įtaką „startuolių“ steigimui Lietuvoje. Nustatytos pagrindinės „startuolių“ steigimo problemos: nepakankamos kreditavimo galimybės steigti „startuolius“; „startuolių“ steigimo regionuose rėmimas nėra prioritetinė Vyriausybės veikla; švietimo ir mokymo įstaigose nesuteikiama pakankamai informacijos apie verslumo svarbą, naujų įmonių ir inovacijų kūrimo galimybes; nepakanka organizacijų, kurios padėtų sėkmingai steigti „startuolius“; nepakankama intelektinės nuosavybės apsauga; kūrybiškumas ir inovatyvumas dar nėra svarbiausi verslo kultūros bruožai Lietuvoje; kyla problemų ir bendradarbiaujant su viešosiomis organizacijomis bei kitais verslo subjektais. Šioms problemoms spręsti siūlomas adaptyvumo modelis, kurio privalumas – funkcionalumas ir sisteminis požiūris į analizuojamas „startuolių“ steigimo problemas.

The European Union data surveys give evidence of the growing trend of population ageing in the Member States. The aim of the study was to analyse the social structure of population in Latvia, Lithuania and Poland in comparison with the average population in the EU-27 and present recommendations for policy makers for further improvement of the social policy development in these countries. The authors used monographic method to study theoretical aspects of society aging and welfare and statistical data analysis of secondary data aggregated by Eurostat reports, Eurobarometer survey and databases of national institutions. The analysis of the society aging indicators in Latvia, Lithuania and Poland clearly shows that the policy makers of these countries so far have been mainly focusing on unpopular measures – either increasing taxes or raising the retirement age, which have caused citizens’ dissatisfaction with the existing social policy that does not provide any hopes for the existing and becoming pensioners to approximate to successful aging. The authors consider that the national institutions responsible for society’s welfare issues should further encourage socially innovative solutions by finding unusual ideas for obtaining multidimensional support, including the assistance provided by policy-makers and involving local agents to enhance inclusion of the aged population in the labour market, especially in creating jobs for themselves, being able to retain employment as temporary workers or being encouraged to work in other professions.

Quality is the important issue in today’s competitive world. In modern institutions, regardless of the type of business, it becomes the basis for its effective functioning; it is a determinant of organizational culture and the success factor. The organization, which offers products or services of poor quality – has no reason to exist as the consumers are becoming more aware of their needs and decide not to purchase products and services of poor quality. The article presents another proposal to assess the quality of maternity services, using the SERVQUAL method.

Countries and businesses focus on processes optimization aiming to cut cost and increase profit. The main keyword for achieving it is usually “innovations”. Innovations is one of the most popular trends in most economies and businesses. The paradox is that there is the lack of understanding the concept both in business and science. The term of innovations is not a new topic in the research literature. However, the problem is that the definition of the concept of innovations is constantly evolving and there is no clear definition. The paper aims to define the concept of innovations and identify the changes in the concept by reviewing the scientific literature.Literature analysis revealed that the development of innovations concept started in 1934, approaching the concept from the novelty perspective. Later new perspectives were introduced such as interaction processes, value creation and social progress. Today the concept can be defined as following: innovation is a company or consumer-initiated economic, managerial, psychological or technological process of renewal within a company, which results in greater added value and a competitive advantage.

The paper presents the corruption issue by highlighting the actual situation of corruption in the Slovak society. This problem has a historical background when after 1993 the Slovak Republic was separated from the Czech Republic. The author offers theoretical attitudes which are necessary to apply in practice for to improve situation in Slovakia. Theoretical information was gained from relevant sources. The author tries to apply official results from Transparency International and other institutes. The media has great effect on public opinion and therefore investigative journalism should be developed which could uncover media property and corruption in the whole society. Journalism should be independent of politicians. It should be objective, full of truthful information with verifiable sources. In the last part of the paper some solutions are suggested which should be applied in practise as they can help to address corruption solutions. In other words, necessary measures may support the healthy environment with social welfare and spur development of the society.