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The effectiveness of higher education teacher’s (hereinafter in the text: teacher) work, the success of cadets in physical culture and sports events, the level of their somatic health and psychophysical state largely depends on the high level of professional training of physical education specialists, the leadership qualities of teachers, and their attitude to the educational and training process. The article considers the issue of leadership qualities of physical training teacher of a higher military educational institution in the process of physical education, special physical training and sports of future officers. The research was conducted jointly by specialists of the Department of Social Sciences and the Department of Physical Education, Special Physical Training and Sports of the Zhytomyr Korolov Military Institute in 2021-2022. In the study, which was aimed to research the leadership qualities of teachers of the Department of Physical Education, Special Physical Training and Sports, senior year cadets as future officers (n = 446) took part. According to the results of an anonymous survey of cadets regarding the determination of the leadership qualities of physical training teachers of the military institute and the relationship between future officers and teachers during physical training classes and individual work with cadets, it was stated that the majority of respondents consider the following to be the main leadership qualities: expertise (knowledge in professional field) (80.4%), organizational skills (75.4%), physical fitness (69.3%), willpower (62.1%), discipline (60.1%), admiration feelings (58.5%), kindness (57.7%). Mutual relations of respect and trust (69.6%), companionship (61.1%), friendly relations (48.9%), etc., prevail between teachers and cadets. Thus, the effectiveness of physical training classes at a higher military educational institution largely depends on the leadership qualities of the teacher and his authority.

The VUCA world is characterized by variability, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity of external factors that affect individuals and entire societies. In this world, man is constantly exposed to new dangers, which, due to the changeability of conditions, he must be able to perceive, define and prepare to confront them. The ephemerality of such an existence translates into a lack of sense of security, i.e. achieving a state in which the entity does not feel threats resulting from the use of information that does not meet quality standards and from the loss of all or part of its information assets. The VUCA world is a consequence of globalization processes, technological development, as well as the clash of civilizations and the interpenetration of cultures. The fluidity and variability of the environment resulting from these factors forces people to look for new methods of security and risk management, adapted to current needs. The VUCA world requires a change in information needs and information behaviors resulting from the increasing level of information awareness and the need to feel safe. This is a challenge for the authorities and the educational community looking for answers on how to shape active security entities for the country’s needs, aware of contemporary challenges and threats. The article discusses the factor responsible for sensitizing an individual to the threats generated by the VUCA world, which is education for information security. The aim of the article was to identify methods of implementing an education program for information security and the effectiveness of this education, which translates into immunizing educated people against the threats related to the consequences of information stress, information overproduction, failure to cope with risk, uncertainty, inability to manage information, insufficient digital competences, and therefore to those threats that make it difficult for an individual to cope with variability, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity. The article uses a qualitative method, content analysis of information security education programs. The article poses a research problem: does the information security education program effectively shape people’s resistance to information threats? A research hypothesis was also formulated: information security education programs dedicated to young people do not sufficiently shape their resilience in a pathogenic information environment. The conducted research revealed areas in information security education programs that require supplementation and the need for changes in the process of their implementation. The fluidity of the VUCA world requires developing not only technical but also social, emotional and information skills. It was recognized that the role of a teacher, pedagogue and school psychologist is crucial in shaping the information security culture of an individual and that the level of this culture translates into the individual’s objective sense of information security, and thus coping with the threats posed by the VUCA world.

The research question relates to main dilemmas of modern enterprises, which is to adjust to appropriate capital structure to make the best use mechanism of leverage operations and not bear excessive financial risk at the same time. Another problem faced by financial analysts is to make a choice of the most beneficial form of sourcing outside capital for a given enterprise. The goal of the study is to present the risk in terms of safe bond issue in order to gain funding source for the enterprise’s activities and to assess the effectiveness of bond issues of CCC S.A. company, which is the biggest footwear manufacturer in Poland. The main hypothesis was derived from the research question: As far bond issue may be a safe alternative for other forms of financing economic activity of the enterprises, taking into account the minimisation of the risk. There are two partial hypotheses deduced from the main hypothesis: (1) It is possible that financing through bond issue is safer than financing through share issues and taking out a bank credit; (2) If Polish copartnerships are properly prepared to seek financing through bond issue, what will the analysis of this process look like. The research used observation method, which was based on detailed analysis of the financial statements of CCC S.A. company, for the period from 2013 to 2020. Primary source materials included laws setting out bond issue according to legal acts, scientific and economic literature, as well as bond prospectus of CCC S.A. company. The conducted analysis and evaluation of bond issues as a source of safe financing in CCC S.A. company showed that enterprises opt more and more for bond issue, which constitute appropriately safe alternative to other form of financing activities of the enterprise and is important in terms of maintaining economic security. The assessment of bond issue in terms of funding source of CCC S.A. company was also positive, because the company used bonds effectively in order to obtain outside capital. Research was conducted on the analysis and evaluation of some legal acts.

Summary of issues and justification for taking up the topic The basic goal of the article is to emphasize the importance of Industry 4.0, which intersects with today's reality. The fourth industrial revolution combines the concepts of classical and digital technologies, using the industrial Internet of Things. Every activity carried out using technology requires an appropriate flow of all types of information to ensure data security. The article also shows the importance of the Information Security Management System, because the amount of data processed using information technology is huge. Nowadays, society systematically shares its data without thinking about the consequences. Increasingly, personal data is equated with currency, as in order to obtain a discount or future financial benefits, data is shared regardless of the consequences. The Information Security Management System requires continuous improvement of organizations processing data about identified or identifiable persons. However, independent verification and consent to data processing are also extremely important.

The research subject pertains to urgent matters concerning the evolving character of work, obstacles in regulations, and financial approaches adopted by organisations. The study is substantiated by its significance in the present-day business realm, its capacity to enlighten strategic decision-making, and its contribution to the ongoing discussions concerning the prospective nature of work. The research aims to thoroughly comprehend the monetary consequences of remote and hybrid work models. These aims encompass assessing financial metrics, examining the connection between work models and employee dynamics, and scrutinising the regulatory framework influencing financial decisions in the changing work environment. This qualitative study examines the financial implications of remote and hybrid work model trends. It focuses on the viewpoint of CEOs, CFOs, HR executives, and other critical management positions across various industries due to the growing remote work trend. The research conducted in-depth interviews with 20 management position holders to explore their experiences and decision-making processes. The study investigates how businesses integrate regulatory considerations into financial decision-making, address legal compliance, and adjust financial strategies to cater to remote work requirements. Furthermore, this research analyses the impact of tax implications on financial planning, necessitating closer collaboration between finance teams and tax experts. The research shows that adhering to regulations and labour laws directly impacts how much money is allocated for legal consultations and adjustments required for remote work. Tax implications are also important in financial decision-making, and organisations often seek expert advice to understand the financial impact. In addition, knowledge about government initiatives and incentives can help organisations make informed decisions about financial strategies, especially regarding technology investments and employee support programmes. The research presents significant qualitative viewpoints regarding the complex correlation among regulatory environments, financial decision-making, and the acceptance of remote and hybrid work patterns. The results provide applicable consequences for businesses dealing with the changing conditions of work models and add to the broader discussion on the future of work.

Current trends in the energy sector are related to energy transformation, the share of renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, security and continuity of supply. As a result of the events of recent years, resilience, i.e. the ability to resist disruptions, has become more critical. The article aims to attempt to formulate the assumptions of a resilient energy system and to illustrate the approach of the example of the heating system. The proposed approach presents resilience in three dimensions: structural, diversification and redundancy. In strategic planning, when decisions with long-term effects need to be made, in-depth analyses of development scenarios are performed, reflecting forecasted trends and threats. The research part of the article presents the results of simulation scenarios for the years 2020-2050, modelled using the OSeMOSYS system. The results allowed for comparison of changes in technology, CO2 emissions, and the investment outlays of the analysed heating system. The justification for undertaking research using the modelling method is the benefits of analytical work. By nature, they are not expensive and enable the definition of a wide range of tests and interpretation of results. The proposed framework of assumptions of a resilient energy system may be helpful for analytical studies of the sector and enterprises. It was assumed that it considers three dimensions: structural – technological and organizational; diversification – which concerns the diversification of fuel supplies and technologies used; redundancy – which involves fuel and technology reserves.

The paper tackles the issue of the selection of appropriate forms of internationalization on the EU market by Polish businesses. The objective of the article is to identify appropriate strategies for the internationali-zation of Polish businesses on the Euromarket, taking into account the assessment of SMEs and large enti-ties and enterprises attributable to the volume of foreign revenues. The theoretical part discusses issues related to the internationalization on the Euromarket and explains the importance of export, contract, co-operation and foreign investment forms. The research paper is based on the results of analyzes conducted on a sample model of Polish enterprises. Four research hypotheses were formulated. In order to verify them, statistical analyzes were used, i.e. the descriptive statistics method and the chi-square test of inde-pendence. Predicated on statistical tests, no relationship was found between the size of a business and the forms of internationalization on the Euromarket. However, it was proved that there are dependencies be-tween groups of enterprises depending on the volume of foreign revenues and internationalization strate-gies on the Euromarket, in particular regarding forms of cooperation and capital investments. In addition, appropriate expansion strategies on the Euromarket were identified, which, according to the respondents, include mainly export forms, to a lesser extent contractual forms and foreign investments, and less often cooperative ones. The least applicable strategies for the internationalization of Polish businesses are co-operative forms, both for small and medium-sized enterprises and for entities with high foreign revenues. The final part of the paper consists of conclusions and a summary.

The evolution of marketing activities over the years has shown that the activities of organizations adapt to new business models and, therefore, are a good inspiration for managers. The development of marketing is due to several reasons that are important in the operation of every enterprise. First, marketing has undergone a transformation from transactional to digital. Secondly, the number of Internet users is constantly increasing, both among individual and institutional clients. Another reason is the constant increase in the potential of using the global network. In the article, the authors tried to present an analysis of the evolution of marketing activities over several decades. Moreover, they presented a verification of the literature in this area, attempting to consider a new marketing paradigm.

A resilient society understands and is aware of the threats it is exposed to, prepared for their emergence and the changes that will occur along with negative events. Therefore, resilience is related to the ability to cope with sudden, unexpected changes and to recover smoothly. One of the foundations for building resilience in local communities is a high level of social capital. To achieve this, properly established and, more importantly, continuously maintained interpersonal relationships are needed. Building community resilience is a topic of great importance in the context of community safety management and social order maintenance. Activities related to building this resilience should be carried out both by community members, informal community leaders, services, inspections, guards and local authorities. The aim of this article is to establish the impact of interpersonal relationships on building resilience to threats in local communities. The research problem was presented in the form of the following question: What impact do interpersonal relationships have on building resilience to hazards in communities at the local level? In order to solve the above questions, a diagnostic survey method was used, implemented with a survey technique, using a survey questionnaire as a tool. In connection with the research, the general population were the inhabitants of the village of Nowa Iwiczna located in the Lesznowola commune in the Mazovian voivodeship, Poland.

Reinforcement learning focuses not only on teaching a single agent, but also the use of this method is reflected in multi-agent operation. This is an important issue from the point of view that the decision-making process and information management in the AML/CFT system for the obligated institution remains an increasingly complex process. Consequently, if we want to use the reinforcement learning method, we must also introduce a multiplicity of agents both in relation to the environment and in relation to each other. Given this type of solutions, it is possible to use multi-agent reinforcement learning or the concept of a semi-independent policy training method with a shared representation for heterogeneous, multi-agent reinforcement learning. Bearing in mind the fact that the AML/CFT decision-making process only derives solutions from artificial intelligence, the human factor also remains essential in this management system. Given these types of needs, the initial solution can be Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback, which ensures the human factor in learning.

The artificial intelligence environment (AI/Artificial Intelligence) changes how humans participate in business processes. Research predicts that in the second half of the 2020s, AI will be a critical factor, and legal regulations will be needed to control its autonomy. Observations indicate that AI can support innova-tion, but also carries risks related to job losses and difficulties in identifying responsibility. The Industry 4.0 technological revolution accelerates the development of AI, changing the structure of business pro-cesses. This work analyzes the usefulness of AI in improving business processes, paying attention to the benefits and threats associated with its implementation in modern organizations.

The rapid development and adoption of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is sparking numerous discussions about the pros and threats of AI technologies. Businessmen and entrepreneurs are beginning to increasingly use AI in healthcare, marketing, hospitality, science, art and education. In turn, lawyers, science fiction authors, academics, and select AI consumer groups are urging more and more caution. AI has also entered the practices of higher education. The purpose of the publication is to provide new scientific data that can serve as a basis for evidence-based planning and forecasting, as well as for multi-level management decisions. The main hypothesis of the study is the following: there are no students who think “Artificial Intelligence is a threat to the higher education services in the nearest 5 years”. The hypotheses of the study were transformed into a pair of statistical hypotheses: the Research hypothesis and the Alternative one. The authors adopted the Customer Service Theory as the theoretical basis of the study. Therefore, they surveyed 1744 consumers of educational services (students) from 8 universities in 5 Eastern European countries. The authors used reliable standard research methods. These are literature review, questionnaire survey of respondents using cloud technologies and AI tools, graphical representation of the results and statistical analysis. The primary processing and graphical representation of the survey results showed that 23.05% of the total number of respondents thinks that AI is a threat to the higher education in the nearest 5 years. Further, the authors investigated separately the opinions of students for each group of respondents. Verification of statistical hypotheses resulted in rejection of the research hypothesis for all groups of respondents. The alternative hypothesis was accepted for each group of respondents: the number of students who think Artificial Intelligence is a threat to the higher education in the nearest 5 years is greater than zero, if random variations are not taken into account. The alternative hypothesis is accepted with a high significance level of 0.01. This means that university governments and managers can make plans and forecasts, and make multi-level management decisions based on new scientific evidence. These plans, forecasts and management decisions will be made with accurate, predictable probability. The purpose of the following study is to explore in detail the threats that students see in the application of AI in higher education.

The article presents the essence and interrelation of competitive abilities and market competitiveness of enterprises. The aim of the article was to assess the influence of the degree of development of particular components of competitive abilities on the market competitiveness of the surveyed enterprises of the SME sector, expressed by an increase in their market share compared with their main competitors. The implementation of the assumed objective was based on the results of a survey conducted with the CAPI technique among 1286 enterprises of the SME sector in the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship. The results obtained in the empirical-analytical part indicate a significant influence of specific elements of the competitive abilities of enterprises in the SME sector, relating primarily to employee competence, research and development activities and possession of modern technologies on the increase in their market share compared with their main competitors. This leads the author to conclude that the market success of enterprises in the SME sector is determined by a clearly defined configuration of specific resources that form the desired competitive abilities.

Nowadays, consumers do not want to be just recipients of the market offer, but they want to influence it, which is why companies must change their business models to be more open, taking into account the activity and involvement of consumers. Prosumerism therefore refers to the activities of companies that are focused on cooperation with consumers. Prosumption, defined as consumer activity, takes various forms, from expressing one’s opinions, sharing one's experience, through adapting the offer to one's own needs, to participating in its creation. Prosumption activities are beneficial for both companies and consumers. However, they also involve certain threats and challenges for both parties.The article contains an analysis of the results of research aimed at finding out how respondents perceive prosumerism? What are their expectations regarding cooperation with companies? and what benefits and threats do they see related to prosumerism? Most respondents expect them to be included in the company's activities in various areas. They also undertake various prosumer activities themselves, focusing more on giving opinions on the market offer and testing products than on activities requiring greater involvement, such as designing or co-creating products and services. Prosumption enables consumers, among others, to: sharing their knowledge, ideas, access to information based on which they can make more informed decisions, thus reducing the risk of purchasing products that are inconsistent with expectations, also through the ability to modify and adapt products/services to their own needs. Prosumers also have the opportunity to stand out by submitting their own proposals for solutions that can be used by other consumers or companies. The respondents also emphasized participation in consumer networks, thanks to which they do not feel lonely, but have a sense of belonging to a group of people who share common interests. Apart from the benefits, the respondents also notice certain threats related to the prosumerism of companies, i.e. consumers doing work without remuneration, manipulating consumers by creating the appearance of cooperation, but in fact not taking into account their proposals and opinions, and thus underestimating their work by companies. Therefore, companies should create solutions that enable consumers to cooperate with them, as well as encourage them to be active and involved, because thanks to this they can prepare an offer in line with their expectations and thus strengthen their position on the market.

Justice is a category that significantly impacts corporate performance. It has been shown in many scientific publications that it affects, among other things, the motivation and commitment of employees, shapes the atmosphere in the workplace and influences employee performance. However, research has yet to be done on the effect of justice on the effectiveness of temporary teams (set up for a limited time to solve a problem or carry out a project), even though such teams are now a common form of teamwork. This study is intended to fill an identified research gap. Its purpose is to determine whether justice affects the effectiveness of temporary teams in an organisation and, if so, whether all types of justice affect that effectiveness to the same extent. A main hypothesis was formulated: All kinds of justice (procedural, distributive, interpersonal and informational) have the same effect on the effectiveness of the temporary work team. The modified Colquitt scale was used. Differences in the impact between types of justice on the effectiveness of teams have been assessed using the U-Mann-Whitney test. The paper uses the results of a survey conducted among 110 managers from high – tech industry with experience with temporary teams. Based on their information, it has been established that justice has a significant impact on the effectiveness of temporary teams, and the importance of different types of justice varies. The most important in this respect is informational justice. Interpersonal and distributive justice is slightly less important (there is no statistically significant difference between them). Procedural justice ranked third. Based on the results of the research, it can be pointed out that managers should pay attention to the perception of fairness of temporary team members. Above all, they should take care of the communication aspects, including in particular, the sharing of crucial information with employees of this type of team.

The main objective of this article is to identify students’ awareness of the possibilities of using process management in improving organisational operations. The study was conducted in the first and final year of study at the University of Warsaw, which simultaneously allowed for a comparison of the impact of the implementation of the study programme on the increase in awareness of these possibilities. The research was carried out using the CAWI method. The questionnaire prepared for this purpose was first validated with experts in the field of business process modelling and then made available to students for completion on the University of Warsaw servers. The research showed that interest in process management among students entering the University of Warsaw is not very high, and emerging innovations in this field are not known. What is crucial from the point of view of the University of Warsaw is the fact that more than 90% of the students gained basic information about process management at the university, so they excel at using it in their professional work. The most significant and encouraging information is that more than 35% of the surveyed students at the University of Warsaw use process management in their professional work. The completed study had its limitations – it was conducted in only two university departments. The recommendation is that the students themselves complement their interests with knowledge that almost guarantees their later employment and demonstrates their understanding and modern approach to the interpretation of economic phenomena. On the basis of the research, it was proven that despite the students’ average knowledge of process management, they consider it essential for use in their future work.

Reinforcement learning is a proposal for solving the problems of identifying and verifying customers of mandatory institutions who may be connected with money laundering or terrorist financing. Its application can take place both at the level of verification activities but also at the level of monitoring of the institution’s client. The reinforcement learning model allows the results of an agent’s actions to be obtained as not only a consequence of his learning, but also of his own decision-making aimed at obtaining the greatest possible reward. Supporting this type of action is not only the provision of technical data but also the collaboration with the human agent in Reinforcement Learning from Human Feedback. In addition to the very idea of incorporating this type of machine thinking model into the analytical level of the obligated institution, it remains to obtain results through it in the form of predictive threat detection related to the possibility of legalizing criminal funds and investing them in terrorist activities.

The article presents interesting new concept called Metaverse as a concept involving the coexistence of many virtual 3D worlds. The first part presents definition and history of the concept and moving forward some challenges related to MV. In next part some example of MV literature and main dimension has been developed by author of article. Next to summary and future of MV some opportunities has been presented. The main goal is to present new modern of concept in coexistence between the virtual world and human beings. The article brings: • overview of concept; • facts, statistic, numbers related to the topic; • opportunities and challenges; • future of Metaversum.

Today, digitalization of higher education has become a vital necessity for quality education of students. With the help of digitization, it is possible to significantly expand the competencies of students and teachers. This process is influenced by certain circumstances, the most important of which are technical and technological capabilities and a complex of problems that arise in the event of an imperfect or even non-existent digitalization strategy of the organization. A strategy that can be implemented involves the development of a clear plan of action, it is broken down into stages, its goal is achievable, and intermediate goals are simple and clear; problems should, if possible, be foreseen and methods of their leveling should be calculated in advance. The article considers three alternative directions of digitalization of higher education, tentatively named: “Intensive technological adaptation”, “Balanced digitalization” and “Innovative digital transformation”. Each of these directions requires specific aspects of implementation. The objects of influence of digitalization in the institution of higher education are: educational and administrative procedures; scientific research; international cooperation and student life. Ivan Franko Lviv National University has developed a long-term digitalization strategy, however, after an acute force majeure situation (the COVID-19 pandemic) arose, there was a need to accelerate the introduction of digitalization, online learning platforms, distance and blended learning; it was implemented in the shortest possible time. After the emergence of an acute armed conflict on the territory of Ukraine, the need for further digitization only intensified, today it concerns not only the educational process, but also the possibility of preserving traditional values and cultural heritage, expanding research opportunities and international cooperation. The use of interactive and practical elements of education (discussions, seminars, laboratory classes and workshops) remains very important, you should not completely abandon live communication.

E-prescription, introduced on February 16, 2018, as part of a pilot program in two cities, initially met many barriers (resistance and doubts of medical staff, incompatibility of IT systems and inappropriate computer equipment or its lack in medical offices), and is currently one of the most well-known and the most frequently used e-tools in medical services. The usage of e-prescribing was crucial during the COVID-19 pandemic, when forced isolation made contacts with medical staff difficult or even impossible. Patients, left without medical care, could use health care services to a very limited extent. Then, teleconsultations and digital prescriptions turned out to be an excellent remedy for such a problematic situation. In fact, we owe the development of many e-tools and the spread of their use to the COVID-19 pandemic. The importance of e-prescription for the system and medical service providers cannot be overestimated. Through it, the system and health care entities receive reliable and accurate information (e.g. about the number of prescribed drugs, the health condition of Polish patients, or the amount of reimbursement). An e-prescription is not only a record of what medicine the patient should take, but a set of data that, when used in an appropriate manner, can constitute a guide for the further development of medical services, preventive programs and directions of changes in the health care system. The article presents information on the implementation and use of e-prescriptions by medical staff in Poland in 2018-2022. The information contained in the article may constitute the basis for subsequent studies in Poland and abroad, for international comparative analyses, due to their timeliness and detail. The aim of the article is to present the degree of use of e-prescriptions by medical staff in health care entities. To achieve the goal, the fol-lowing research methods were used: critical analysis of literature and websites presenting digital solutions for the health care system, analysis of source materials and numerical data from the e-Health Center (CeZ).

Development of computational techniques, robotics, 3D printing and materials technologies enables the creation of advanced robotic systems that can autonomously reproduce and evolve. Emerging robotic evolution technology challenges existing AI ethics. The inherent adaptability, stochasticity and complexity of evolutionary systems pose numerous threats. It is difficult to underestimate the possible implications of two key functionalities of evolving robots: self-replication and random change of robot form and behavior. Self-replication allows robots to reproduce without human intervention. Mutations or random evolutionary changes can lead to undesirable and harmful behavior of robots, threatening human interests. Whenever a technology is developed that is not under direct human control and the process is unpredictable, questions of risk and liability arise. The article addresses both possible risk of harm and liability in connection with the key issue of human control over the process of evolution. The issue of responsibility for artificial intelligence was considered to be particularly important from both an ethical and legal point of view. In general, responsibility covers the full spectrum of events ex post (who is at fault, what was the reason), and ex ante (what actions should be taken to reduce the risk, i.e. what is negligence and who commits it), and usually rests with people. The problem, however, is the existence of gaps in the scope of liability for damages or adverse events involving people and artificial intelligence systems that cannot be filled with traditional concepts of assigning responsibility. The article indicates a method of comprehensively solving the problem of gaps in liability for artificial intelligence, proposed in the literature, based on the idea of designing social engineering systems that enable “meaningful human control”, i.e. systems adapted to human intentions and capabilities. The aim of the article is to indicate the urgent need for a continuous search for an answer to the question of how to responsibly control the evolution of robots.

The article presents the most current economic situation in United Kingdom of Great Britain. It shows cost of living which currently facing adults in UK, increase in young people not in training, employment or education, current social spendings, rising cost of living students in the UK, average wages, rise of inflation, retail volume raise, businesses suffer a drop in performance, GDP grow in last three months in England, long term sickness rise in economic inactivity. It was done comparison according to Economic Situation in Poland based on available data base. The information in the ONS report will help to: • see the strengths and data limitations; • learn about current uses and data users; • have a clear the used methods to data creating; • to decide appropriate apply for the data; • minimize the risk of data misusing.

The concept of a capital group is both, simple and complex. Taking into account the literal definition of this concept, we can agree with the thesis that a capital group is a simple situation when one entrepreneur having power over other entrepreneurs. However, if it is necessary to consider specific cases of staying in a capital group for the purposes of specific regulations, then due to the complexity of the analyzed facts, existing doctrine and case law, the status of staying in one capital group does not have to be unambiguous and obvious. In cases where staying in the capital group is not obvious due to the ambiguous rights of the parent company, it may be necessary to examine specific individual actions taken by the partners towards the alleged subsidiary in order to determine whether it is an actual subsidiary (stays in the analyzed capital group).

The concept of employee engagement and the research on engagement has emerged as one of the most frequently discussed issues both in academic studies and in the practice of human resource management. One of the crucial dimensions of employee engagement is leadership directly linked to the leader’s behaviours creating increased motivation and performance. The aim of this article is to identify and characterise the leader’s skills that provide high levels of engagement in crisis periods. Its most essential core is to build the author’s model of key leadership skills influencing employee engagement during a pandemic. It was designed based on comparisons of employee engagement models, including the 5Cs model considering the pandemic period, as well as reports from research institutions on the challenges employees faced when working under these specific conditions. The model is composed of four dimensions of a leader’s skills that are crucial to have during a pandemic such as work-life balance, communication and knowledge transfer, collaboration and motivation. The research used literature analysis and logical construction methods to explore multidimensional models of employee engagement with a focus on leadership. In addition, secondary data analysis from a variety of sources was used. The combination of these provided a new, holistic approach to multidimensionally construct employee engagement during a pandemic time using specific leadership skills. The results of the research showed that a particular skill that leaders need to have during the pandemic is communication, which is also the basis for the following skill dimensions. It has been shown that specific skills are required in this dimension, as leaders must learn to communicate their own emotions, private opinions and give employees access to part of their private life. It is also important to share failures, problems and applied solutions to support one’s own physical and mental wellbeing. An important skill for a leader during a pandemic is to create a feeling of security by permanently sharing information about the future of employees in both the short and long term. This should be done together with a flexible approach to a work organisation that is not suitable for the pandemic period and the introduction of changes that ensure a high degree of autonomy for employees in their role. The proposed model of a leader’s skills building employee engagement during a pandemic can provide a starting point for further research into the skills of leaders to manage teams in crisis situations. The research performed can be applied to the practice of managing organisation, as it makes one realise how many drivers increase the level of employee engagement and how they are complex. The results of the research make one aware of the direction of developing leader’s skills with a special focus on communication based on empathy, fairness, authenticity and trust.

The authors of the work take up the issue of changes in the approach to acquiring and maintaining human capital in the Polish Armed Forces in comparison with changes in the security environment. They point to the idea of the Territorial Defense Forces as an antidote to the “little green men” tactics used by Russia during the annexation of Crimea in 2014, as well as the solutions introduced by the Act of March 11, 2022 on defense of the homeland and the program to increase the size of the Polish Army, as an element of building military capability as an element of effective deterrence. To achieve the goal, i.e. to increase the size of the Polish Armed Forces to approx. 300,000 soldiers, a systemic change in the area of recruitment as well as the forms and principles of military service was necessary. Pointing to modern – keeping pace with the development of modern generations – solutions and increasing the attractiveness of service in an organization considered by many to be conservative is the essence of this study.

The article presents current digital consumer trends as an example of consumerism in the world. First part of the article shows general information and introduction in discussed topic including consumer trends researches provided by Ericsson. The next part shows some collection of examples articles provided by the author on the need of the work. Through further exploration based on the current empirical data from Deloitte Report from 2022 author presents diverse assessment and conclusion of collected empirical and substantive information’s. The main goal is to show digital consumers trends in: • possession and access to electronic devices; • wearables devices; • time to spend whilst using electronic devices; • comparing expenses on electronic devices 2022 to 2021; • decisions about buying new or used electronic device; • reasons excluding price to buy new or used electronic device.

The fusion of cutting-edge information technology and manufacturing, like cloud computing, the Internet of Things, big data fosters greater consumer involvement and engagement throughout the entire product life cycle. A shared vision for socially responsible, personalized, service-driven, smart, sustainable, and eco-friendly development is a global priority. The rapid progress of the „Internet +” and „intelligence +” scientific and technological revolution blurs the lines of various media channels, establishing an evolved environment that encourages expression, communication, creation, and sharing. This revolution launched the advent of prosumption, allowing consumers to take part in the production process via an „open + continuous” model that eclipses older, traditional media. This article endeavors to showcase the concept of prosumption during the era of digital transformation. Exploring recent prosumption case studies in enterprises, this article also utilized theoretical research methods. In addition to analyzing relevant literature through analytical-synthetic analysis, the study employed abstraction to focus on crucial elements for analysis. Furthermore, generalization and inference were utilized to draw conclusions from the findings. It should be stated as the main hypothesis that the prosumption has a great importance in the digital world. This article explores the notion of prosumption in the context of digital transformation. It’s important to note that digital transformation has revolutionized all aspects of businesses, especially the use of social media.

In spite of the strategic importance of agriculture to the development of nations, agricultural-based entrepreneurship (agropreneurship) seems to be an unfavoured option among youths schooling – and living- in urban settlements such as Lagos state, Nigeria. Despite the various agropreneurship initiatives being implemented by the Lagos State Government through its agencies and institutions, the youth or young entrepreneurs desire to pursue their careers in the service, technology, fashion and entertainment sectors where it is happening and trendy. Consequently, the push to become agropreneurs seems to be somewhat restricted to undergraduate students motivated by factors unknown to many researchers and policy makers. This study assessed the factors that motivate Lagos-owned tertiary institutions’ undergraduate students to become agropreneurs. Using the concurrent transformative mixed method research design, data were collected from young agropreneurs (campus farmers) who are undergraduates of the three tertiary institutions – Lagos State University (LASU), Lagos State University of Education (LASUED), Lagos State University of Science and Technology (LASUSTECH) – owned by Lagos State using the interview and questionnaire methods. Respondents were asked about their motivations to start a business in the agriculture sector, and results of the analysis using simple percentage and content analysis brought to the fore that, among the key motivators for the respondents to start their agro-based businesses were to challenge themselves to think out of the box, becoming independent with the ability to control their time, pursuing their dream, elevating their socio-economic status, and to solve the food crisis. Based on the results, this study recommended amongst others that, government through its specialized ministries, departments and agencies should create policies that encourages campus farming project and also, grants should be made available to campus farmers based on the quantity of their produce yearly.

Human resources management in the National Revenue Administration (NRA), as in other government administration institutions, is regulated by numerous legal acts. The key role here is played by the head of the civil service, establishing (and supervising) the basic framework for human resources management. The features and elements of the human resources management strategy in NRA are therefore very similar to other government administration institutions. It differs only in adapting certain areas to the specific tasks of this office. The analysis carried out by the author confirmed the thesis put forward in the introduction to the study that the effectiveness of NRA functioning is not favorable compared to other European Union countries. So the fundamental question arises: is this caused? After all, NRA staff is well-educated (over 80% have higher education), is relatively well remunerated, has a fairly long seniority and low fluctuation. Is the problem of relatively low NRA effectiveness due to the dysfunction of any of the elements of HRM or other management areas of this organization?

The development of Internet technology has had a vast impact on business processes, so it is a suitable platform for the activities of most companies. Today, exports are carried out internationally. Many organizations are aware of the elements of internet marketing. Since the handicraft industry of Iran and Asia has a long history, Internet marketing and the Internet provides an excellent opportunity to develop its exports. This research examines the elements of Internet marketing and its relationship with the export performance of handicrafts. The city of Isfahan in Iran is efficient in various fields of this industry. This research data was designed using a questionnaire consisting of 23 questions. Cronbach’s alpha coefficient is 0.94, and experts have confirmed its validity. SPSS software, inferential statistics, and Pearson correlation test were used to check research hypotheses. More complete analyzes of regression analysis have been used. The independent variable of this research is marketing mix elements, including promotion, transaction, exchange, and supply. The dependent variable of export performance has been examined in two dimensions, financial and strategic. After reviewing a central hypothesis and eight sub-hypotheses, there is a positive relationship between the Internet marketing elements related to advertising, exchange, exchange, and supply and the export performance of the investigated companies. Finally, the effectiveness of each of these elements was checked using regression analysis, and the ranking and importance of each parameter were introduced. The exchange had the most significant impact on internet marketing.

The article presents the possibility of using Automatic Valuation Models (AVMs), extended with technologies of Machine Learning algorithms and Neural Networks, for cognitive processing in the area of Facility Management. Experiments simulating, in the processes of operational management of real estate, of AVMs’s behavior in a cognitive reasoning machine, have been described. The correctness of operation of decision service algorithms, triggered by automated inference engines, has been examined for generalization of information on the property and the planning process using the algorithms. The key findings of the study confirm that the adoption of a cognitive perspective for AVMs and the application of algorithm technology and artificial neural networks in the operational management of real estate, increases the productivity of the processes, and, thus brings benefits the managing entity.

The aim of this paper is to analyze the use of the rainbow motif on the elements of material reality that surrounds us, such as clothes, accessories, furniture, decorations, but most of all in case of marketing communication of companies and brands. This analysis is based on the belief that things are important factors shaping social reality, which stems from Bruno Latour’s actor-network theory. Material products that transmit the rainbow motif sometimes acquire rhetorical value when the rainbow as a symbol becomes a means of persuasion. These situations, especially the use of the rainbow as a symbol of LGBTQ+ communities to shape the brand image, known as rainbow capitalism and rainbow washing, will be examined in this paper with the help of rhetorical concepts, especially from the point of view of visual rhetoric. This is because persuasion in this case does not take place through the verbal code, but the visual one. Rhetorical means such as the concept of identification and two elements from the triad of persuasive devices: ethos and pathos, will be used to explain these phenomena. The distinction between persuasion and manipulation will also prove useful in the analysis of the phenomenon discussed.

Niemniej jednak programy związane z zarządzaniem dobrostanem pracowników powinny być opracowywane i na bieżąco wdrażane przez firmy, aby utrzymać wysoki poziom zaangażowania i motywacji pracowników pracujących zdalnie. Autorki doszły do wniosku, że strategie employer branding powinny zostać zrewidowane zgodnie z nową perspektywą uwzględniającą potrzeby pracowników pracujących zdalnie w zakresie dobrostanu: psychicznego, społecznego i fizycznego. Na podstawie analiz przeprowadzonych w niniejszym opracowaniu rekomenduje się organizacjom włączanie kwestii zarządzania dobrostanem pracowników pracujących zdalnie do strategii employer branding, co według menedżerów znacząco wpływa nie tylko na zaangażowanie i motywację zespołów, lecz również na budowanie pozytywnego wizerunku pracodawców.

The priorities for next years are structural reforms (OECD, 2021): • education and skills: promote participation in lifelong learning; • labor market: increase the labor force participation rate of older workers and women; • environmental policy: reduce air pollution levels and carbon emissions; • healthcare: improve efficiency in health and long-term care; • competition and regulation: ease business regulations and improve bankruptcy proceedings. Recommendation for business policy for coming years in Poland should take following aspects under consideration: ensuring the coherence of fiscal and monetary policies (the so-called policy mix) and restoring credibility each of these policies, stabilization of public finances, strengthening free market approach in the economy, launching KPO, stimulating investments, including energy transformation, the independence of banks from politics. It has been shown the following threats for Polish economy: inflation, energy price rise, conflict between Russia and Ukraine, COVID-19, lower consumption, rising unemployment . To protect and to help Polish economy should take under consideration many different aspects in wide understanding areas in fiscal and macroeconomic policy. Cooperation of all institutions with government should be considered to pick up the best options to protect the Polish economy.

This article presents a very crucial scientific topic of benefits and costs of implementing talent management strategy (TMS) in the Polish Air Forces. The author described three benefits: interdisciplinary, general, and individual ones. Benefits result directly from planning, implementing and experience relate to talent management strategy (TMS). Implementing talent management strategy’s costs were classified as: individual and team ones. Describing strategy’s values may be directed not only the Polish Air Forces but also other army’s formations and modern organizations. The result is that the human resources management including talent management determines the key of effective and optimal management in many systems.

Purpose: The study intends to expand the current literature on Italian consumers’ brand preferences between local vs. global alternatives in the specific Italian food sector. Design/methodology/approach: This study draws on concepts largely investigated like cultural identity theory, consumer ethnocentrism, and product category involvement to examine the mechanisms that drive Italian consumers to prefer alternative local or global brands in the food sector. A non-hierarchical cluster analysis represents the core part of the quantitative research that involved 412 participants. Findings: By confirming the validity of existing studies, the present paper contributes to the food consumption literature by testing a conceptual model that integrates previous research concepts, thus deepening the analysis of the factors affecting Italian consumers’ food brand preferences. The cluster analysis allowed for dividing Italian consumers into two distinguished groups with characteristics coherent inside the same group. Research limitations/implications: This study emphasizes the key relevance of the investigated variables in the implementation of positioning and communication strategies aimed at meeting the needs of specific markets in which firms operate, and it highlights the importance of analyzing those variables together. The sample composed of Italian consumers did not allow the generalizability of the results. Furthermore, this study focuses on the narrow category of chocolate bar products. Therefore, this does not permit the results to be generalized to other food products. Originality/value: The novel research is based on signaling theory that contributes to the local and global branding domains from the Italian perspective. This work is also the first to analyze the food sector and the importance that Italians attribute to their food products and traditions through a cluster analysis approach.

Purpose: The article is a research paper. The aim of this study is to provide some insight into the consumption behavior of young Polish singles that conform to the idea of sustainable consumption and the fair trade movement. Design/methodology: The methodological part synthetically discusses the conceptualization of research and selection of the research sample. The empirical part, based on the research conducted by the author, examines young Polish singles’ pro-environmental behaviors that can be defined as sustainable consumption and are aligned with the fair trade idea. The analysis is based on a survey questionnaire administered from 1 October to 30 March 2022 in a sample of 2587 young singles who made independent decisions in the market. Findings: The methodological part synthetically discusses the conceptualization of research and selection of the research sample. The empirical part, based on the research conducted by the author, examines young Polish singles’ pro-environmental behaviors that can be defined as sustainable consumption and are aligned with the fair trade idea. The analysis is based on a survey questionnaire administered from 1 October to 30 March 2022 in a sample of 2587 young singles who made independent decisions in the market. The information from the survey shows that young Polish singles implement the idea of fully sustainable consumption to a small extent and that some of them interpret the essence of sustainable consumption incorrectly. The proportion of young respondents who declared that they acted in line with the idea of sustainable consumption was much higher among women than men as well as among university graduates, those earning a monthly income of more than PLN 4000.00, and mostly living in large urban agglomerations. Furthermore, the information obtained reveals that sustainable consumption is not fully understood by the respondents, as evidenced by the fact that nearly half of young singles indicated financial costs as the main barrier to sustainable consumption. In turn, for those with the highest income, the main obstacle in this respect was a lack of time. The results of the survey have confirmed that young singles have poor knowledge of labels referring to eco-friendliness, the environment and fair trade, showing that the sample surveyed is characterized by low awareness of eco-labeling, that is the idea of placing green labels on products that are least harmful to the environment. Research limitations/ implication: Given the limited financial capacity, the study of sustainable consumption and fair trade in the consumption behavior of young singles was confined to an online survey. This affected the research sample (N = 2587). Thus, the conclusions should not be treated as representative of the population of young Polish singles. They only provide some insight into their actual consumption behaviors as part of sustainable consumption and fair trade. Originality/value: Despite the indicated limitations, the obtained results allowed for partially filling the gap ensuing from the lack of primary research on sustainable behavior of young Polish singles.

Purpose: It is nowadays believed that the effective implementation of the principles of sustainable development in companies requires cooperation in entire supply chains. Companies are guided by various motivators and face various barriers to the implementation of sustainable supply chain practices (SSCPs); however, so far, no attention has been given to examining the relationship between them. Thus, the aim of the paper is to examine such relationships. Design/methodology/approach: The paper presents the results of a survey conducted on a sample of 500 companies. The aim of the paper is achieved by examining Spearman’s correlation coefficient. Findings: In most cases, a positive correlation is observed between the motivators for and barriers to SSCPs implementation. Additionally, such dependence occurs more often for external motivators, compared to internal motivators. Research implications: The activities supporting the implementation of SSCPs should concentrate on strengthening internal motivators in companies (e.g., by propagating relevant knowledge) as well as overcoming internal barriers. The importance of external motivators seems to be reduced by the coexistence of barriers. Originality/value: This paper contributes to supply chain and sustainable development literature by identifying a positive correlation between motivators for and barriers to SSCPs implementation. Such a finding may be important to policymakers, as it suggest that concentrating merely on motivating companies to implement sustainability principles may not be sufficient if it is not accompanied by barrier-breaking mechanisms.

Purpose: This study is aimed at measuring the efficiency of 37 OECD countries for 2020 using the Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) method. Besides, it is aimed at ranking the efficient decision making units by using the super-efficiency DEA model. Design/methodology/approach: In the study, analyses were carried out with input-oriented Charnes, Cooper and Rhodes (CCR), input-oriented Banker, Charnes and Cooper (BCC) models and super-efficiency models of these models by using 4 inputs and 3 outputs. Findings: As a result of the analysis, 14 countries in the CCR model and 20 countries in the BCC model were efficient. According to the results of the super-efficiency models, the efficient countries were ranked. Research limitations/implications: The limitations of the study are the analyses are based on input-oriented DEA models and the research was conducted in OECD countries. Originality/value: Performance evaluation of health systems has gained importance in recent years. Many countries are making efforts to improve their health systems. Due to epidemics such as COVID-19, OECD countries, like many countries around the world, have increased the share of health expenditures in GDP. Because of this situation, the evaluation of the performance of OECD countries in the field of health has emerged as a very important research topic.

Production systems are one of the main pillars of the enterprises. Their efficiency and principles of func-tioning determine the final quality of products, which recipients are institutions and end consumers. However, nowadays, in addition to the previously mentioned issues, new requirements related to the concept of sustainability have appeared. Production methods, impact on the natural environment, or respect for the human being have become as important aspects as durability or product price. The aim of the following paper is to present a comparison of two production systems which are very popular, especially in the automotive industry: Toyota Production System and World Class Manufacturing in the context of sustainable development. For this purpose, a comparative analysis based on four categories: system complexity, popularity, universality and connections with suitability. The collected material is diverse in nature, which allows for a wide spectrum of research and comparison of both solutions. As a result of the analysis, differences in the level of complication of both production solutions can be noticed. The Toyota Production System structure is less complicated than World Class Manufacturing. The model representation of the TPS system shows all the main components along with their most important features and applications. WCM is a system with a more complicated structure, specifying more aspects necessary for implementation and maintenance. In the case of the popularity of both solutions, the study showed that the most frequently searched phrase is Toyota Production System, but World Class Manufacturing has more publications and materials. Both systems are highly versatile production solutions. The analyzed case studies show successful implementations in manufacturing and service companies in industries not related to the automotive industry. Referring to compliance with the determinants of suitability, it can be stated that both systems contain elements responsible for the implementation of the abovementioned provisions, but they implement them in different ways. TPS does not refer to the concept of sustainable development, but the system itself has issues focused on the reduction of losses, savings, production of only the components needed at a given moment, or respect for people. WCM, on the other hand, has a dedicated element re-sponsible for meeting the requirements of the ISO 14000 standard, relating to environmental impact management. Finally, it can be assumed that both systems have many common features, e.g. in the case of functional assumptions, but the implementation is of a different nature. TPS is a simpler system that allows you to easily adapt to the specifics of the organization. WCM is a more complicated system with a high degree of formalization. The analysis performed is of a review nature, showing the possibly wide spectrum of both production systems. Research can be further pursued through more detailed analyzes of each aspect of the systems or comparisons with other manufacturing solutions.

The object of this article is to present a concise study of the state of scientific literature regarding the relationship between the Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance (ESG) factors and the financial performance at a company-based level, taking into account the sustainable paradigm. According to scientific literature, we expect that the more socially responsible companies are interested in the well-being of the stakeholders (customers, employees, members of the supply chain, and the community) as much as in that of their shareholders.

The number of types and classes of benchmarking cited in the literature proves not only the great interest of researchers in this issue, but also the lack of systematization of theoretical issues in the area of benchmarking classification and typology. The divisions of benchmarking are characterized by a certain inconsistency and violation of the applicable logical rules. As a result, a large number of its classifications and typologies make it difficult to properly understand the essence of its particular types and the use of benchmarking theory in practice. The purpose of this article was to sort out the classification and typology of benchmarking with the use of the principles of correct logical division of concepts. Deductive methods of scientific work were used, which allowed for the reconstruction of knowledge derived from the studied literature and for drawing conclusions relevant to achieving the objective. Due to the article volume limitations, the mechanism of creating correct logical divisions has been shown. The simplest division of benchmarking that ensures correctness ex definitione is a dichotomous one. Dichotomous logical divisions of benchmarking were developed according to selected criteria, i.e. object, industry, subject, type of data, degree of formalization, external support, frequency and relations between partners in benchmarking. Taking into account the large number of benchmarking classifications and typologies in the literature, it was considered appropriate to distinguish internal and external benchmarking as two basic classes. The other types of benchmarking fall into these two categories. Internal and external benchmarking (sub-ranges obtained as a result of a logical division according to the criterion of the object), can be subdivided according to subsequent division criteria, obtaining a multi-level classification or typology of benchmarking. The presented proposals to sort out the issues related to the benchmarking classification and typology may contribute to the development of the benchmarking theory by forming the correct knowledge in this area.

The concept of security is one of those topics that often appear on the international forum and national discussion panels. This is partly due to the impermanence of the already achieved security state. An argument in favor of the need to raise this subject are also the components of modern security, which change with technological progress, globalization and civilizational development. Security is defined in many ways, where its context depends on the considerations, conditions and threats that occur. However, regardless of the subjectively proclaimed views, security is and will be a fundamental need, the fulfillment of which determines the proper functioning of man, the state and international communities. The aim of this study is to analyze selected aspects that seem to have a significant impact on the perception of modern security. Attention was also focused on the concept of cybersecurity and the importance of information for an ever-evolving civilization. The achievement of the abovementioned objective was possible on the basis of an analysis of the available literature on the subject and the expertise already possessed, on the basis of which important assessments and conclusions were made for this publication. On the basis of the conducted analyses, it can be concluded that the shape of modern security is influenced not only by its threat, but also by progress in many areas and changing technological conditions. The presented results and considerations in this publication may prove helpful for further divagations attempting to comprehensively understand changes in security and attempts to make estimates of its future shape.

Based on the research carried out, the article presents the results of the diagnosis of the organizational culture of selected multicultural enterprises from Poland, Spain and Portugal. The research carried out by the authors of this article is a pilot study, conducted as an introduction to more extensive and in-depth research in the field of human resource management in conditions of cultural differences. Research on the role and significance of organizational culture in a multicultural work environment was carried out, inter alia, using Cameron and Quinn's competing value model, which the authors also refer to in this publication. The article presents in a graphic form only partial results of the research carried out in 2022. In this publication, they concern the types of organizational cultures in the surveyed enterprises. The authors also indicated differences in organizational culture between Polish enterprises and Spanish and Portuguese enterprises.

The dynamics of changes in political, economic, social and technological aspects affect the formation of business models in all sectors of the economy and it was the PEST method that was used to describe the global determinants of energy system performance. Currently, these changes in the described sector are occurring in an exponential process. It is assumed that the business model is the result of a process that emerges from the environment evolution affecting the image of the sector. Therefore, the purpose of the article is to present the global determinants affecting the shape of the new business model presented on the basis of M. Porter’s value chain method. The essence of such an organized process is the creation of economic and social value. This is becoming the dominant approach in the creation of a new business model of the energy system around the world.

The literature that empirically investigates the relationship between intellectual capital management and innovativeness in R&D institutions is scarce. In addition, no sources have been found to extend the analysis to include the technological orientation as a strategic approach to developing innovative capabilities. This study builds on the theoretical premises of the intellectual capital-based view of the firm and the dynamic capabilities view. This paper addresses a research gap, by setting out to study the impact of intellectual capital management on innovativeness in an R&D institute, while also considering the relationship with technological orientation. It is proposed that intellectual capital management, through its components human, structural and relational capital positively affect innovativeness in an R&D institute. Moreover, it is hypothesized that human capital and innovativeness positively affect innovativeness in an R&D institute. The research employs PLS-SEM analysis on data collected from a sample of (N = 61) employees of an R&D institute. Data has been acquired by means of a questionnaire measuring intellectual capital management through human, structural and relational capital components, as well as innovativeness and technological orientation. Findings confirm significant direct effects of structural and relational capital on innovativeness, as well as the positive direct effect of human capital and innovativeness on technological orientation. This research represents an original contribution to the academic literature, by bringing new evidence concerning the relationships between intellectual capital management, innovativeness and technological orientation in an R&D institute in Eastern Europe.

Purpose: The coronavirus pandemic has suddenly changed the lives of people all over the world, both in terms of their health, everyday habits, work, and the patterns of their consumer behavior. The goal of our study was first to examine the intensity of stockpiling in Poland that appeared in response to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and explore the role of psychological factors (sense of control over the pandemic and subjective perception of the risk of getting infected with the coronavirus) for different dimensions of stockpiling. Design/methodology/approach: The study was conducted in April 2020 on a nationwide representative random-quota sample (n=1,046) shortly after the first COVID-19 infection was diagnosed in Poland. At the time, certain changes in shopping behavior, especially increased purchase frequencies and stockpiling intensity, were observed in Poland, similarly to many other countries. Findings: The results showed that the factors affecting consumer behavior, such as making supplies or spending more on pandemic-related and unrelated items, are explained not only by demographic variables but also by psychological factors such as the experience of a lack of control and fear of being infected with the coronavirus. Research limitations/implications: The study has managerial implications regarding sales and logistics management. In an emergency situation (not only directly related to the economic crisis and consumption), both producers of basic products and retailers should be prepared for increased interest in the purchase of these products and provide access to consumers accordingly. Controlling communications in public spaces that could generate anxiety would be advisable too.

Purpose: The study assessed how owner-managers’ psychological attributes (attitude towards behavior, subjective norms, and perceived behavior control) influenced sustainability reporting among SMEs. Design/methodology/approach: The study was based on cross-sectional data gathered using a structured questionnaire as the research instrument. The population of the study comprised SMEs in Kumasi metro of Ghana. The study focused on 213 SMEs, and respondents were owner-managers. The data analysis was based Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) run in Amos (v.23). Findings: Owner-managers’ attitude towards behavior had a significant positive influence on sustainability reporting among SMEs. Similarly, SME owner-managers’ subjective norms positively influenced sustainability reporting. Also, SME owner-managers’ perceived behavior control positively influenced sustainability reporting. Among these variables, however, attitude towards behavior had the greatest impact. Research limitations/implications: The study used a closed-ended questionnaire to solicit responses from respondents. Such a questionnaire acknowledges the presence of inherent problems of not permitting respondents to explicitly express their own views as they may wish. Practical implications: The findings of the study have an important implication for considerations by the government in trying to encourage owner-managers to adopt or improve sustainability reporting behavior among SMEs in Ghana. Social implications: This study contributes to solving the societal need for sustainability by identifying how owner-managers’ psychological characteristics influence sustainability reporting. Originality/value: The theory of planned behavior has been used widely in a number of studies, but very little is known about how it could predict sustainability reporting among SMEs, especially in developing countries.

Purpose: Coopetition is a relationship that arises both between independent companies and within complex organizations. It is seen as a success factor generating many benefits for the parties involved. However, at the same time, it is a risky relationship that does have its downsides. The purpose of this study it to identify the main dark sides that appear in coopetitive relationships between subsidiaries within business groups. Design/methodology/approach: This study follows the quantitative approach. A computer-assisted diagnostic questionnaire survey was used and data were collected from 121 parent companies of large business groups listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. Findings: The findings prove that coopetition at the intra-organizational level does not generate many negative effects. Those that appear are similar to the negative effects of inter-organizational coopetition. The most important three dark sides of intra-organizational coopetition are: loss of trust, conflicts, and asymmetry in benefits distribution. Research limitations/implications: This study offers a more profound insight into intra-organizational coopetition and its dark side. However, it has some limitations which may indicate directions for further research. The limitations refer to the sample size and its origin as well as the adopted perspective of the parent company. Originality/value: The value of the paper is to draw attention to the dark sides of intra-organizational coopetition. The study provided contribution to the literature on both coopetition and business groups as so far only a few studies have comprehensively dealt with the dark sides of coopetition, especially at the intra-organizational level.

Purpose: The complex nature of inter-organizational relationships can be reflected in the number, level, and changes of their features. Focusing on two essential features of relationships – trust and commitment – we explore how they change in the particular phase of the relationship life cycle. Design/methodology/approach: Using the existing findings from a systematic literature review on IOR features, we aimed to qualitatively verify the changes over the time of two crucial relational characteristics – trust and commitment. Next, using a quantitative surveying, we tested the changeability of these two on a large-scale sample (786) from the software industry in Poland. Findings: With strong empirical support, we found the level of trust and commitment intensity as changing in a non-linear manner through the relationship life cycle. Logically, they both increase across the initial, development, and maintenance phases, while in the termination phase they decline. However, the results show that they can rise when the relationship is reactivated. Research limitations/implications: Due to the industry and cultural-specific limitations, comparative studies on several industries in cross-cultural conditions are recommended. We need further research on a holistic view of relationship characteristics and their changeability through the relationship life cycle. Furthermore, the validity of the cyclical treatment of relationship dynamics is worth reviewing. Originality/value: We investigate the significance of trust and commitment in inter-organizational relationship development using a mixed research approach. Additionally, as a methodological contribution, this article offers the operationalization and measurement of the above-mentioned features.