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Research background: The intensity of the personnel risk perception in SMEs is a crucial factor contributing to the application of risk management practices.

Social media has become explosive, permeating every sphere of the socio-cultural lives of individuals and businesses, and causing nations to technologically evolve. The dramatic growth in the adoption and use of social media has become beneficial to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), significantly contributing to resolving a nagging challenge of effectively advertising their goods and services. Consequently, SMEs can achieve business growth and sustainability through increased adoption and harnessing the opportunities provided through the use of social media. The COVID-19 pandemic has provided an impetus for both consumers and SME businesses to leverage interaction through social media, which may lead to business growth. This research thus sets out to identify how social media contributes to the growth of SMEs within a developing country context. To accomplish this objective, primary data was collected from SMEs in the hospitality industry across the sixteen administrative regions of Ghana using survey and simple random sampling techniques. Questionnaires were distributed to the managerial staff of each randomly selected survey participant. Out of the 900 questionnaires distributed, 718 were filled correctly for the data analysis. The researchers quantitatively analyzed the responses using Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling(PLSSEM) statistical software ADANCO 2.0 version. The results indicated that Small and Medium Enterprises are capable of using social media for customer attraction, business marketing strategy, communication channel and increased financial performance.

Research background: Authors deal with the current issue of Earnings Management (hereafter „EM“). It can be said that the emphasis on this issue is constantly growing, especially abroad. Under the condition of Slovak economy, earnings management practices are considered to be a currently developing issue. Based on the globalization, EM practices, models and techniques created abroad are also reaching European countries. Mainly after the recent economic fluctuations caused by financial crisis or COVID-19, the application of earnings management principles in companies with an effort to achieve a balanced profit can be assumed. Within studies or researches, there are many earnings management models. Most of them were created abroad. It means in different economic conditions. There is therefore a question of their use in the conditions of the Slovak economy. Particular importance is their explanatory power, which they achieve in different economic conditions than those in which they arose. Purpose of the article: The aim of the paper is to test the explanatory power of selected foreign models in the Slovak Republic. Methods: Statistical methods used in selected EM models (regression, Mann-Whitney nonparametric test); adjusted R square predicted sign of a variable, standard deviation significance level of model to verify the explanatory power of selected models. Findings & Value added: The added value of the contribution is in the testing of the explanatory power of selected foreign models in other economic conditions in which they were created.

The research's objective was to develop a thorough model of the viability of SMEs in the V4 countries based on predetermined variables. The following factors were defined: human resources management, business ethics, corporate social responsibility, company digitalisation, environmental considerations, financial management, and sustainability of SMEs. The model was developed on the solid empirical research carried out in the Visegrad Four countries in June 2022 by the renowned external agency MNFORCE using a sample of 1,398 respondents and the "Computer Assisted Web Interviewing" technique. According to the research, the developed complex model of SMEs' sustainability depending on the listed criteria is statistically significant. Each investigated factor has a favourable impact on SMEs' sustainability. The study's findings supported the notion that the environmental aspects of the business have the strongest positive impact on the long-term sustainability of SMEs. The study's findings indicate that the management of human resources, finances, and the degree of digitalisation of SMEs significantly influence the viability of businesses. The findings provide an important platform for managers responsible for the sustainability of the SME segment at the worldwide level (International council for small business), national level (particularly for V4 nations), as well as institutions supporting SMEs and SME owners. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aimed to present and quantify the impact of significant HRM factors on the survival of SMEs in the V4 countries. In June 2022, researchers conducted a study in the Visegrad Four countries to understand the attitudes of SMEs. The study employed a random sampling method and included 1,398 respondents. The established scientific hypothesis was verified using linear regression modelling at a significance level of ɑ = 5%. The study found a link between specific HR practices and the medium-term survival of SMEs in the Visegrad Four countries. The intensity of this dependence varies across the V4 countries. Czech respondents emphasized the importance of investing in improving the qualification of their employees in the context of firm sustainability. At the same time, Slovak SMEs drew attention to the importance of the existing incentive system for employees. SMEs in Poland strongly and positively perceived the importance of human capital in the company and regular evaluation of employee performance in their attitudes. A somewhat surprising finding is that in Hungary, the individual HRM factors were not statistically significant. The aggregate model for all V4 countries showed the highest intensity of dependence between the defined variables. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Serbian Journal of Management is the property of Serbian Journal of Management and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Transformations in Business & Economics is the property of Vilnius University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The current study investigates how institutional constraints and firms’ and entrepreneurs’ characteristics affect business recovery. Some elements have not yet been rigorously examined in the existing literature, especially not concerning the post-communist countries’ business recovery component and the same is the research gap current study intended to address. To evaluate the study model, ordinal logistic regression was used. More than 300 valid questionnaires are collected from the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Serbia. The findings show that factors such as firm tenure and size, location, sector, entrepreneurial motivation, product change, etc., have conflicting effects on business recovery. Some of the outcomes of the present study is supported by the existing studies and some requires further research. The study focuses on the less explored independent variables and their association with business recovery, specifically on SMEs, which highlights the paper’s originality. The output of the current study adds to the existing literature of business recovery and institutional constraints. Policymakers interested in removing institutional limitations and promoting a quicker business recovery for SMEs are drawn to the research. The study findings are also helpful from a managerial standpoint because business owners and managers significantly impact decisions about entrepreneur motivation, product change, and other issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human resource management in the SME segment is a complex process that involves many different factors. The aim of this study is to define the significant attributes of HRM in SMEs and compare attitudes within the three most significant business sectors in the individual Visegrad Group (V4) countries. Empirical research focused on the attitudes of small and medium-sized enterprises was conducted in June 2022 in the V4 countries. Data collection was carried out by the external agency MNFORCE using the Computer Assisted Web Interviewing (CAWI) research method. Within this research, selected attitudes of SMEs in the field of human resource management in the three most important sectors within the individual V4 countries were examined. The sample size was represented by 995 respondents. Statistical hypotheses were tested using descriptive statistics and Z-scores at a significance level of α = 5%. A positive finding is that within the examined sample, SMEs consider people in the company to be the most important capital and perceive human resource management positively in the context of corporate management. As a negative trend, the insufficient evaluation of employee performance by SMEs can be noted, and the level of investment in human capital is significantly limited. The most common differences in SME attitudes were found when comparing manufacturing companies with the service sector and the trade sector, which is determined by the peculiarities of the transformation process in these companies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research background: The research has two objectives and employs a serial mediation approach. First, using the general strain theory, it examines the mediating role of negative feelings and impact of economic adversity on people's risk tolerance and prudent financial behavior. The second is determining the various categories' variations according to age. Purpose of the article: The study's main objective is to evaluate financial behaviour of people with lower and medium incomes after the second wave of COVID-19 in India, and to contribute to the body of knowledge on general strain theory. Methods: The study examined the proposed framework and tested the serial mediation model based on the general strain theory used as a survey method for data collection, targeting lower and middle-income individuals in India's most populated state. The study applied PLS-SEM to test the framed hypotheses. Furthermore, the Kruskal Wallis test was applied to identify the difference in the various groups classified based on age. Findings & value added: The results reveal that economic hardship significantly influences improved financial behavior. Risk aversion attitude, loneliness, and depression mediate the relationship between economic hardship and financial behavior. Moreover, the study found quite a few significant differences between the different age groups. The present study will add to the existing literature on financial behavior under the scope of general strain theory and probably be among the few that test general strain theory with financial variables impact on lower and middle-income group individuals from a developing nation in post-COVID-19 period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Transformations in Business & Economics is the property of Vilnius University and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Serbian Journal of Management is the property of Serbian Journal of Management and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Research background: The issue of personnel risk management has received less attention from scholars than other types of managerial risks. Employees represent important capital for an enterprise, which can significantly influence its performance and success. Purpose of the article: The aim of the study is to present and quantify significant factors of personnel risk in the SME sector. Part of the goal is to compare entrepreneurs' approaches to these factors based on company size and the entrepreneurs' education and age. Methods: The empirical research was conducted on a sample of 250 respondents from Slovakia via an online questionnaire. The statistical hypotheses were tested using descriptive statistics (percentages) and Pearson's statistics (chi-square and Z-score). Findings & Value added: The research confirmed that personnel risk posed a significant business risk for SMEs, as up to 32 % of all the respondents rated this risk as unacceptable. Neither employee turnover nor employees' error rate level represented a significant problem for SMEs at the time of the study. Only a small proportion of the respondents agreed with the opinion that their employees attempted to improve their performance, and that competition prevailed among them. The research demonstrated that some differences in entrepreneurs' overall attitudes related to their age and education. Additionally, differences were identified in the entrepreneurs' positive attitudes towards individual claims based on their education and age. Meanwhile, the results show that the issue of personnel management in the effective management of personnel risks in the SME environment could be an exciting issue for scientific research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Our research examined the attitudes of owners and managers of small and medium-sized enterprises in the V4 countries, who behave responsibly - they use corporate social responsibility in their managerial practice on issues focused on the market and operational area of business. The paper is based on a questionnaire survey with data collection from September 2019 to January 2020. Statistical methods of Pearson's chi-square and z-score were used to assess the hypotheses. The results proved that there are significant differences in companies in services and tourism in the context of implementing the CSR concept. Entrepreneurs who implement social responsibility with a significant positive difference agree that a company places great emphasis on the innovation of its products and services. Researchers found that the sector has an impact on the perception of decreasing customers' requests on specific products/services. We found that corporate social responsibility and its implementation in corporate practice positively affects the relationship of V4's small and medium enterprises in the services and tourism sector to service production innovation issues, which helps increase business performance and decline customer complaints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article aims to identify the perception of issues related to the use of social media in the business environment of small and medium-sized enterprises in the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Poland. The authors chose the concept of comparing entrepreneurs who implement corporate social responsibility with other interviewed entrepreneurs. An interesting comparison was made from the collected data. The article is based on a questionnaire survey of 1217 respondents. The study was conducted from September 2019 to January 2020. The chi-quadrat test and z-score were used to evaluate statistical hypotheses. The results showed that Czech entrepreneurs implementing corporate social responsibility have more negative answers than the surveyed entrepreneurs in other countries. Thus, less than 28% of Czech corporate social responsibility entrepreneurs agree that social media helps increase corporate growth, while in Poland -- up to 49%. As many as 53% of corporate social responsibility entrepreneurs in Hungary and Poland agreed that social media could respond more flexibly to market developments. Czech entrepreneurs were lagging behind 35% of them. The results showed no statistically significant differences in all research questions regarding entrepreneurs without the implemented CSR concept. The article results suggested that Czech CSR entrepreneurs did not see the potential benefits of social media use. Although the study focuses only on 3 central European countries, the results are not generalizable. However, they are useful for those who promote positive impacts on companies through the social networks and organizations that promote corporate social responsibility. One of the tools for transparent communication with customers/suppliers could be by communication via social media. The study's findings could further help other entrepreneurs consider the benefits of social media in doing socially responsible business. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of this study is to investigate the role of market information on the quality of the relationship between farmers and their buyers, and also plans for future activities in a farm. Although there is research which sheds light on the role of communication and shared information between the trading partners, yet there is a need to provide sound evidence that brings more clarity to the role of market information in different aspects of trading relationships. Primary data are collected and analysed with the aim to test the above linkages. 403 complete questionnaires have been collected in different agribusiness areas in Albania. To test the mentioned relationships, partial least squares method of structured equation modelling (PSL-SEM) was used. Reliability, discriminant and path analyses were done. The results show that market information positively affects the relationship quality (satisfaction, commitment and trust), while plans for future activities are influenced by farmer’s commitment, trust, and age, and also incomes from agricultural activities. This work contributes to the existing literature, in particular in the agribusiness field, by offering extra evidence from a developing country context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are generally considered to be a flexible, efficient and progressive part of the economic system worldwide. Personnel management is an integral part of every business. Its importance lies in the systemic management of human resources, which should ensure a comprehensive and effective management of human capital in the company. In SMEs, personnel management is usually performed by an individual or a smaller group of people. Therefore, on the one hand, this activity is significantly easier for this segment compared to larger companies. On the other hand, it can be assumed that in the managerial practice of SMEs there are no sophisticated approaches to personnel management, which represents certain limits and limitations in personnel work. The aim of the article is to present and quantify important factors of personnel management in the SME segment. Part of the set goal is to compare the approach of entrepreneurs according to the size of the company, the education of entrepreneurs and the age of the entrepreneur / manager. Following the stated goal of the research, empirical research was carried out in Slovakia through an online questionnaire on a sample of 250 respondents. Statistical hypotheses were verified using descriptive statistics methods (percentages) and Pearson statistics (chi square and Z-score). Empirical research has yielded some interesting findings. A large part of entrepreneurs confirmed that they apply a participatory management style in the management of the company, which can be perceived as a positive trend. It is also possible to perceive positively the situation that a large part of entrepreneurs appreciated the importance of human capital for the company. SMEs regularly evaluate the performance of employees and motivate them to innovate their work practices. On the other hand, we found that the attitude of SMEs to understand and apply CSR is not correct and probably many of these companies do not understand the importance of CSR for society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Social media has become explosive, permeating every sphere of the socio-cultural lives of individuals and businesses, and causing nations to technologically evolve. The dramatic growth in the adoption and use of social media has become beneficial to Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), significantly contributing to resolving a nagging challenge of effectively advertising their goods and services. Consequently, SMEs can achieve business growth and sustainability through increased adoption and harnessing the opportunities provided through the use of social media. The COVID-19 pandemic has provided an impetus for both consumers and SME businesses to leverage interaction through social media, which may lead to business growth. This research thus sets out to identify how social media contributes to the growth of SMEs within a developing country context. To accomplish this objective, primary data was collected from SMEs in the hospitality industry across the sixteen administrative regions of Ghana using survey and simple random sampling techniques. Questionnaires were distributed to the managerial staff of each randomly selected survey participant. Out of the 900 questionnaires distributed, 718 were filled correctly for the data analysis. The researchers quantitatively analyzed the responses using Partial Least Square-Structural Equation Modeling(PLSSEM) statistical software ADANCO 2.0 version. The results indicated that Small and Medium Enterprises are capable of using social media for customer attraction, business marketing strategy, communication channel and increased financial performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected all areas of our lives. The non-pharmaceutical anti-pandemic measures taken by the governments of the countries to reduce the number of people infected or reverse adverse developments also have a strong impact on the economic side of citizens' lives. The shutdown measures put an end to the activities of many entrepreneurs, who had to lay off their employees. Thus, the Covid-19 pandemic is a major reason behind the rising unemployment. This is also the case in Slovakia. Since March 2020, when the first measures came into force, the registered unemployment rate has been rising. The highest inflow of new jobseekers occurred in April 2020. In this article, we discuss development of the unemployment rate and of the numbers of newly registered jobseekers in Slovakia during the period from November 2019 to October 2020 and examine in more detail the impact of the shutdown measures on the development of the number of jobseekers in Slovakia and on the individual economic sectors according to the NACE classification. It was confirmed that these measures had the greatest impact on the sectors that are also the most publicized, such as the accommodation and food service industry, real estate, administrative and support service industry, arts, entertainment and recreation and other service industries. In these sectors, the number of new unemployment claims increased several times, especially in April 2020, and in some of them, the rate of the new unemployment claims has not returned to last year's values or those from the beginning of 2020. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]