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The article aims to assess the improvement of the process capability by implementing the Six Sigma methodology in furniture enterprises with different levels of the quality management system (QMS) and ownership. The implementation of the Six Sigma methodology according to the DMAIC steps, also analysis, evaluation, and comparison of the implementation results were performed to improve the process performance. The implementation of the Six Sigma methodology was carried out in an international enterprise with foreign capital and a certified Quality Management System (QMS) and in a domestic enterprise with purely domestic capital without an established Quality Management System. The implementation results confirmed the positive development in the key indicators of critical processes, namely, in the reduction of DPMO, the increase of efficiency and the level of Sigma Process, and the values of process capability indices. The positive effects were more pronounced in the international enterprise compared to the domestic. The application of the Six Sigma methodology brings better results in manufacturing companies with international management skills and implemented certified QMS. These two aspects can be key success factors by managing and improving process capability. The practical contribution of the paper can be seen in the proposal of suitable methods and tools by implementing Six Sigma conception in furniture manufacturing regardless of the ownership or level of quality management systems.

As was first stressed by the classical economists Adam Smith and David Ricardo, international trade plays a crucial role in the growth process. The paper aims to analyze the influence of foreign trade on economic performance in the wood processing industry (WPI) of Czechia and Slovakia. The multivariate regression method (MLR), assumption tests for MLR models, and Granger causality test were applied to identify association between foreign trade economic performance, and indicators were formed to measure the effects of foreign trade at the industry level. The Granger test revealed the unidirectional causality in the Slovak WPI and bidirectional causality in the Czech WPI. The results revealed that the net export growth has a positive effect on the economic performance of the industry, but only if the growth in imports is lower than in exports. The balanced trade balance indicated no influence of foreign trade on economic performance. The paper contributes to existing knowledge with indicators for evaluation of foreign trade effects on the performance of the industry. The paper also brings new empirical knowledge in trade balance effects on the economic performance of industries.

Wood belongs among the renewable, ecological resources used in many variants of primary and secondary production. The efficiency and effectiveness of using wood resources is, therefore, one of the important factors of sustainable economic development of the society. Each country should strive to maximise the efficiency and effectiveness of the use of raw materials. The aim of the paper is to evaluate the different levels of timber use in international comparison based on the available information of timber resources, production, consumption, import and export in the primary processing in natural and value expressions of wood resources. The results indicate the efficiency of the use of wood resources both for the volume of the total woodworking production and the production value of the woodworking industry in the selected countries. Keywords: Wood sources, efficiency, added value, comparative analysis.

The present business environment offers a wide scale of production and it is increasingly difficult to find a product standard which can distinguish the producer from competitors. The pressure of lobby groups and legislation arrangements force the society to reflect a need for ecologic and sustainable thinking. The current trend and requirements of EU are the implementation of certified systems and production of wooden products from certified wood. This paper focused on the present situation in the supply of products from certified wood and analyses an exercitation of eco-philosophy in the business of wood processors, the rate of manufacturing of certified wooden products, as well as reasons and benefits of certified production. This paper presents selected results of primary research carried out in Czechia which was focused on the investigation of economic impacts of wood products manufacturing from certified raw wood. All presented results emphasise the need for voluntary market tools with ecologic character. Keywords: Certification system, certified wood, wood processing, eco philosophy.

The current competitive environment is only favourable to those companies that can cope with changes and use them to their advantage. The innovation of business processes is required to improve financial performance. Scientific works have not yet offered an effective solution to the monitoring of the impact made by process reengineering on corporate financial results. This work presents the case of a business process reengineering in a particular company to improve its performance. The results of implemented reengineering are analysed from the point of view of the impact made on the financial situation of the company. The paper aims to demonstrate the implementation of reengineering and evaluate its impact on the financial standing of a company and its performance. The practical application of reengineering was made according to Hammer and Champy methodology, which is based on the analysis of production processes in the company, the implementation of selected reengineered production processes and the evaluation of the reengineering impact on the corporate financial situation and performance. During the evaluation, the selected indicators of financial performance, activity indicators, the indebtedness indicator, business performance indicators as a cash flow to measure financial flows and the economic value-added (indicator EVA) were calculated and analysed. Subsequent to financial analyses and based on the selected indicators, the authors concluded that the implemented reengineering of the production process increased the performance and value of the company, which had a positive impact on the company’s financial situation. The funds spent on the proper implementation of the reengineering steps were effectively used, and the reengineering process was also timed. This contribution to the body of theoretic knowledge links the implementation of reengineering and the part of the financial analysis, which is related to the preparation, implementation and reengineering results.

It can be said that Integrated Information Systems (IIS) are a fundamental operating tool in modern business systems and form the basis of successful company management. The goal of our research was to determine the IT level of business operations in Croatian wood processing industry and to assess how significant it has been in enhancing its business performance. A survey method was used to collect data, which resulted in gathering predominantly small and medium-sized companies. Our results indicate an average use of IIS modalities among surveyed companies. Using cluster analysis, three types of companies were identified with respect to the degree of system implementation. Analysis of financial benefits of the IIS implementation did not find any statistically significant relationship. However, subjective impressions on non-financial indicators show that companies in all three clusters see the greatest benefit of IIS in the improved inventory efficiency and sales efficiency., Možemo reći da su integrirani informacijski sustavi (IIS) temeljni operativni alat u modernim poslovnim sustavima i čine osnovu uspješnog upravljanja poduzećem. Cilj našeg istraživanja bio je utvrditi razinu informatizacije poslovanja u hrvatskoj drvoprerađivačkoj industriji i ocijeniti koliko je ona važna za poboljšanje poslovnih rezultata poduzeća. Za prikupljanje podataka primijenjena je anketna metoda, koja je rezultirala odzivom pretežito malih i srednjih poduzeća. Naši rezultati upućuju na osrednju upotrebu modaliteta unutar IIS-a u anketiranim poduzećima. Klasterskom su analizom identificirana tri tipa poduzeća s obzirom na stupanj integracije sustava. Analiza financijskih koristi implementacije IIS-a nije se pokazala statistički značajnom. Međutim, subjektivni dojmovi o nefinancijskim pokazateljima govore da poduzeća u sva tri klastera vide najveću korist IIS-a u poboljšanju učinkovitosti upravljanja zalihama i poboljšanju učinkovitosti prodaje.

The main aim of this paper is to illustrate the application of selected methods and procedures in the implementation of the Six Sigma Methodology in the furniture manufacturing processes, specifically in the wood veneer pressing, to verify the application and to evaluate the benefits of using selected methods and procedures through a series of step DMAIC process improvement. The application of selected methods and tools within the Six Sigma Methodology, such as DPMO, efficiency and sigma levels, project charter, histogram of mistakes caused by the application of the adhesive, the SIPOC plot mapping process, reaction plans, Ishikawa diagram and control diagrams bring the system and clarity of measurable results into project management for process improvement and process change. The benefits of their use are the cost savings and performance improvement processes., Glavni je cilj ovog rada prikazati provedbu odabranih metoda i postupaka pri primjeni Six Sigma metodologije u proizvodnji namještaja. To se posebice odnosi na provjeru primjene i procjenu prednosti korištenja odabranih metoda i postupaka pri prešanju furnira unutar niz koraka za poboljšanje DMAIC procesa. Primjena odabranih metoda i alata u sklopu metodologije Six Sigma, kao što su DPMO, učinkovitost i sigma razine, projektna povelja, histogram grešaka uzrokovanih primjenom ljepila, proces mapiranja SIPOC, reakcijski planovi, Ishikawa dijagram i kontrolni dijagrami, uvodi sustav i jasnoću mjerljivih rezultata u upravljanje projektima radi poboljšanja i promjene procesa. Prednosti njihove uporabe jesu smanjenje troškova i poboljšanje proizvodnog procesa.

The increasing pressure of globalisation on the worldwide market has forced enterprises to shift their focus from product quality to effectiveness of internal business processes. The object of interest of this paper is a modern management approach based on corporate performance evaluation by measuring the performance of internal processes. The paper aims to prove that the use of modern indicators and the measurement of internal processes belong among factors that have a direct positive impact on corporate performance. To reach the aim, empirical primary research was carried out. The paper focused on research results regarding the use of modern indicators for the measurement of business processes in Slovak industrial enterprises from selected branches. The primary quantitative research was conducted using questionnaires. The research aimed to test the hypothesis stating that enterprises using modern indicators to measure process performance have been reaching more positive ROE values, representing a basic indicator of corporate performance. Dependences among the data selected from the empirical research were analysed using statistical methods, namely, the chi-squared test, T-test and the correlation analysis. Based on the statistically processed data, the authors concluded that business processes are a basic source for the evaluation of corporate performance. Higher ROE values can be reached using modern process indicators, especially in mass production enterprises. The paper contributed to the further development of knowledge in performance management, specifically, process-oriented management.

The Atiwa forest reserve of Ghana sits upon roughly 150 million tons of bauxite. The Government has decided to mine and use the proceeds for national infrastructure development programs. This article examines the impact of mining on the residents' livelihoods and the achievement of the SDGs from the perspective of the residents. A questionnaire was administered to 197 respondents. Per the findings, the residents around the forest reserve do not consent to the proposed mining project. Although they give credit to its possible job creation opportunities, the irreplaceable nature of the forest reserve urges them not to consent to the initiative. They depend on the rivers and streams for their livelihoods, and the affected districts are also among Ghana's major cocoa producers. These farmers depend on these water bodies for irrigation. It is necessary to preserve them in order to sustain the production of these cash crops that make a direct contribution to the country's GDP. info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Uganda is richly endowed with flora and fauna. Until the early 2000s, most of the types of vegetation have remained natural/virgin forests and shrubs until recent years, when human activities have damaged them. Understanding the different ways that people value such endangered forest resources is very important. The main hypothesis in our study is that willingness to pay (WTP) for forest existence value and sustainability depends on the preference for the same values. In addition, we examined socioeconomic characteristics, such as sex, education, and household incomes, which could influence the WTP for forest existence value and sustainability. We carried out field questionnaire interviews with the aim of ascertaining Willingness to Pay (WTP) for forest existence. The WTP values were in a range between 1 and 200 USD based on the contingent valuation method (CVM). A sample with a size of 203 was interviewed in selected towns and villages in Uganda, and the data collected were subjected to statistical analysis. The cross-tabulation of the expressed preferences illustrates that 81.9% of the representative sample are willing to pay for forest existence value and sustainability. We concluded that the willingness to pay for forest existence significantly depends on the preference for forest existence values and sustainability. Our results equally express that the mean WTP in this region is 15 USD per year and that over 60% are willing to pay this amount. The socioeconomic determinants&rsquo, results demonstrate heterogeneity and that over 90% of the respondents are willing to pay for forest existence, conservation, and sustainability.

Constant change is typical of the current business environment. The ability to manage change is a highly appreciated managerial skill. Being adaptive has become a new competitive advantage of a company. Appropriately and successfully implemented changes can improve corporate performance. This paper aimed to evaluate how Slovak companies had been dealing with change in recent years; whether they had been prepared for it; what tools, methods and concepts they had used; and what ultimately had necessitated them from an economic point of view. The paper explored the current status of change management in the context of business processes particular to Slovak enterprises. A literature review concerning change and process management was provided in order to design appropriate research. The research focused on the level of process-oriented management of change in Slovak enterprises operating in different industrial sectors. The main research method was primary quantitative research via questionnaires. Outputs from the questionnaires were subsequently evaluated by contingency tables and the chi-square test which determined the level of significance via p-value. Research results presented in this paper confirmed a positive influence of business process change on process maturity and corporate performance. The paper contributed to the development of knowledge in the field of change management, namely, process-oriented change management. The creation of a change-based maturity model for enterprises was identified as a new direction for future work with practical implications.

International trade metrics can indicate the competitive advantage of the industry in international markets. However, the export of the raw materials utilized by the industry can influence company and industry performance negatively. This article assessed the effectiveness of the international trade with raw wood and its impact on the economic results of the industry. A system of indicators was formed to measure the international trade impact on the industry performance, and the following hypothesis was established: increasing the international trade with raw wood influences the economic growth of the industry negatively. The results confirmed the hypothesis, showing that the growth of export volume and also import of raw wood decreased industry performance during the monitored period. In the forestry sector, the more significant influence appeared in revenues, which influenced the profit most in the timber industry. Other findings demonstrated that the international wood trade in the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic does not create a comparative advantage, but decreases competitiveness of the forestry sector.

Research Highlights: One of the priorities of the European Commission is to build up an effective circular economy based on recycling and multiple use of materials. Wood biomass is a renewable raw material and can be used several times in a cascading sequence. Each country has a unique situation regarding the availability and utilization of wood sources. Background and Objectives: The objective of this study was to analyze wood flow in the Czech Republic using the cascading principle of biomass use. The specific situation in the Czech Republic lies in a lack of valid and reliable input data from official statistics. Therefore, the reverse input method was applied. Materials and Methods: Input data analyses of roundwood sources and foreign trade were based on official statistical data. The calculation of raw wood volume consumption in primary processing was performed based on the data after our own correction and recalculation. It was then possible to build up a basic model of multi‐stage cascade wood use. The input volume of roundwood was divided among all types of primary processing production using conversion factors. Results: Cascading use of wood (CUW) showed the level of efficiency of the resource. Official statistical input data and the reversed input data regarding raw wood volume entering wood processing revealed differences at a level of 27%. The overall CUW in the Czech Republic indicates a high rate of wood use in primary processing with low added value and in generating energy. Conclusions: The reverse input method reveals the real situation of wood consumption irrespective of the level of official statistical data. It is suitable to apply in an environment of incomplete or incorrect input data. CUW in Czechia showed an opportunity for increasing the efficiency of wood utilization. The structure of wood use needs to be optimized towards creating greater added value.

The innovation of wood-processing technology significantly improves the material conversion of wood into primary processing products. However, the total value of the processed wood in the outputs of the primary processing depends on both the total volume and the wood flow structure in the cascade of manufacturing. The paper is focused on modelling and comparison of different scenarios by identifying the current flow of timber and links in the cascade of processing in the Czech Republic to the development of selected social and economic indicators. In the analysis, three different scenarios were used. The first scenario took into account only the potential for export absorption to current processing capacities. The second scenario was based on the first, adding parameters for the increase of technological efficiency, and the third scenario beyond the first took account of the capacity increase by investing in the sawn wood and pulp production segment. The results showed that to achieve a balanced value creation and societal effects in the form of high or qualified employment and maximize contributions to the social system, it is necessary to create conditions for the allocation of timber for export. At the same time, it is necessary to optimize the structure of production so that the flow has been as large as possible in the cascade and at the same time it has been able to absorb the impacts from the temporary or changing conditions of the available raw wood volume and structure. Appropriate option, therefore, appears to be a compromise between scenarios number 2 and 3. Thus, to strengthen the (technologically or logistically) stability of the existing capacities and to supplement them with the appropriate structure of several new investments in the production of timber and wood-based panels' production. Інноваційні технології деревообробки підвищують якість та ефективність обробки деревини як первинного ресурсу. При цьому автори зазначають, що якість та вартість обробленої деревини на виході залежить від обсягу та структури потоку деревини при каскадному типі виробництва. Метою даної статті є моделювання та порівняння різних сценаріїв побудови потокового типу виробництва з використанням каскадного підходу обробки деревини в Чехії з урахуванням соціальних та економічних показників. У рамках даного дослідження авторами було перевірено три сценарії побудови потокового типу виробництва з урахуванням соціальних та економічних показників: кількість робітників, соціальні та страхові внески (у т.ч. на 1 м3), додана вартість (у т.ч. на 1 м3), податок на прибуток (у т.ч. на 1 м3), обсяг продажів на 1 м3, обсяг продажів на одного працюючого. Перший сценарій враховує експортний потенціал наявних потужностей каскадної переробки деревини. Другий сценарій базується на першому та враховує параметри підвищення технологічної ефективності, третій – також базується на першому сценарії та враховує потенціал підвищення ефективності за рахунок залучення додаткових інвестицій в сегмент виробництва пиломатеріалів та целюлози. Результати дослідження показали, що для збалансування соціальних та економічних параметрів (створення нових робочих місць, підвищення попиту на висококваліфіковані кадри, підвищення заробітної плати, тощо) необхідним є створення відповідних умов для збільшення експортного потенціалу деревини. У той же час, доцільним є оптимізація структури виробництва шляхом максимізації потоку виробництва при каскадному типі обробки деревини, з урахуванням можливих змін обсягів та структури наявної деревини. Так, згідно отриманих результатів найбільш привабливими сценаріями є другий та третій. Таким чином, для підвищення технологічної та економічної ефективності наявних потужностей деревообробної галузі у Чехії необхідним є залучення додаткових інвестиційних ресурсів у виробництво виробів з деревини та дерев'яних панелей

A strong competition on the wood and furniture market forces enterprises to pay attention not only to quality of products but also to quality and performance of internal business processes. Business process is an object of the process approach to management based on investigating and analysing from the view of business activities and activities carried out by managing staff. The paper deals with issue of the improvement of internal processes in production companies, which is the last part in a life cycle of a process management. The attention is paid to initial conditions and methods for process improvement. The aim of the paper is to summarize theoretical knowledge in the area of improvement of business processes and to analyse how this issue is solved in wood-processing companies of Slovakia. A quantitative research through questionnaires was carried out to achieve the goal. The results of the research showed that process management is implemented mostly in large companies with mass and batch production.

It is very important to improve all business processes for increasing competitiveness of every enterprise. Implementation of a process approach to the business management is considered one of the biggest breakthroughs of 20th century. Traditional functional managerial systems are ineffective therefore new system has to be developed. The answer on this question is the Process Management. The aim of the Capability Maturity Model (CMM) framework is to improve level of processes maturity. This model could be used as a base for implementation of process approach in the business management. The aim of the paper is create briefly description of CMM and to point out relation between financial performance of Slovak enterprises and process control level (a maturity of processes). The theoretical base has been created after theoretical knowledge study. The CMM has been used in this paper as a base for creation questions of primary quantitative research. Research results have been evaluated using the statistical methods. The process control level of enterprises has been identified. Subsequently the relation between process control level and reached level of Return on Equity (ROE) has been examined as well as dependence between ROE and the utilization of ISO standards.

The last global economic recession has broken out in 2008. Impacts of the crisis have appeared in 2009 in the European countries. In the current globalized world of closely interdependent economies, the crisis affected almost every part of the world. Export oriented countries noticed a stronger recession in foreign trade due to decreased demand. In the time of economic crisis the enterprises are forced to reduce production volume, costs and number of employees in aim to keep performance or to survive. The paper deals with influence of economic recession on the performance of companies in wood-processing industry of Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The attention is paid to ratio indicators of performance and their indexes in the period 2006 – 2011. The aim of the paper is to summarize performance indicators and to show their changes during economic recession in wood-processing companies with focus on added value, labour productivity and investment effectiveness.

Wood processing industry (WPI) is a sector based on renewable natural resources of wood raw material. It can, therefore, provide sustainable growth and be competitive on the international markets. The interest of the European Union is to build economy based on renewable natural resources, meaning that it is necessary to pay increased attention to the development and support of the WPI. The aim of the article is to evaluate and compare the level and development of competitiveness of WPI in the Czech and Slovak Republics for a ten year period through the establishment of indicators based on foreign trade data of industry using mathematical and statistical methods. To reach the goal, a system of indicators measuring sectoral competitiveness was set up under the hypothesis: in the WPI the potential of competitiveness is used defi ciently. The resulting indicators have confi rmed the hypothesis and shown that, despite the fact that the WPI creates active foreign trade balance and contributes to surplus balance of the country, it achieves low values of indicators implying comparative advantage with a negative, decreasing trend, consequently meaning that industry gradually loses its competitive ability. The analysis also showed that the reason for low competitive ability of WPI is low specialization of the country in the commodity group, which was confi rmed by statistical method of correlation analysis.

Sustainable manufacturing is connected with the effectiveness of production processes. There are several solutions to improve manufacturing sustainability. This paper deals with the possibilities of the utilization of mathematical methods to solve optimization problems in the production process of furniture. The aim of the paper is to create a mathematical model of the key processes in order to maximize productivity and cost reduction by identifying key processes and parameters influencing manufacturing effectiveness. After identification of the parameters describing the key process (milling), an abstract model of the manufacturing process was created. Identified input parameters were the cutting velocity, feed rate, and a total volume of removed material. The output parameters were surface roughness, process duration, and process cost. The experimentally measured and calculated values of the output parameters were analyzed by a multiple regression tool. The method of an artificial neural network was used as a numeric method for optimization. The results showed that the maximal effectiveness of the sub-process can be achieved if the CNC machine is set at the cutting velocity of 4398.23 m·min−1 and feed rate of 11.00 m·min−1. Maximal values of the created neural network showed optimal values of input and output parameters.

Restructuralization in traditional understanding is considered for solution of crisis situation in an enterprise. However, it is important to emphasize that restructuralization shouldn’t be connected only with crisis situation in enterprises. In present time the restructuralization has become a tool enabling revaluation of present enterprising activities and to relocate sources towards increasing the enterprise performance. This paper is focused on substance of restructuralization based on process approach that can enable to optimalize enterprise structure and process and increase competitiveness of an enterprise. Results of research in Slovak and Czech enterprises showed that implementation of process management components by realization of strategic changes enabled to achieve the increase of business performance. Opinions of experts as also experiences of enterprises with realization of changes supported process approach as a basic condition for successful restructuralization. In paper we pay attention especially to effects of enterprise’s restructuralization with emphasis on process approach to restructuralization management which is more effective in comparison with function approach.

The article discusses the issues of effectiveness of the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) and PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) certification systems in relation to enterprises and the level to which the systems which present sustainability as a part of their ethos are accepted by consumers. The justifiability and topicality of this issue result from the increasingly strong interest in sustainability of the society as a whole as well as from the long-term vision of sector policies with respect to meeting the objectives of sustainable development. The increasing demand for natural resources exerts pressure on our planet. Sustainability is hence essential for our future and has long been in the centre of the European project. Its economic, social and environmental aspects which form the common objective of society have been acknowledged in EU agreements. A principal document of a global nature is the 2030 UN Agenda for Development, a sustainability programme which has the sustainability of forest ecosystems established in its Goal 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss. Visions, direction and goals of sustainable development have also been stipulated in the Paris Agreement on climate change (COP21), in the Addis Ababa action programme and in The Future We Want declaration, namely in its Chapter II, which appeals to enterprises and industries for developing strategies which would contribute to sustainable development. This study aims to analyse and assess the justifiability of the existence of certification systems in relation to processing operators and end consumers in the Czech Republic. From the results of the study, it can be concluded that, despite the strong representation of selected certification systems in the Czech Republic, their effectiveness in economic, social and environmental terms is not perceived exclusively positive by businesses and consumers. info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess

Among basic factors influencing the success of implemented changes in the enterprise, the starting points of the change assigned correctly belong. The paper is focused on the first phase in the process of change management – assignment of change´s starting points. The aim of the paper is to present the methodology by analysis of the initial situation of an enterprise by purpose to implement changes. The result of the analysis is providing correct input information for elaboration of the change´s project.

The current approach to business management focuses on increasing the performance of business processes. To achieve the required processes performance means to ensure the required quality and capability of processes. The partial aim of this paper is to confirm the positive effects of the Six Sigma methodology (SSM) on the corporate performance in the Slovak Republic and an investigation of the dependency of SSM implementation on the certified quality management system (QMS) as a set-forward condition via a questionnaire survey carried out in Slovak industrial enterprises. The survey results confirmed the above-mentioned assumptions. The SSM using DMAIC (Define-Measure-Analyze-Improve-Control) was applied in real conditions of two manufacturing enterprises with a different level of quality management system. The results of the research study proved a possibility to implement SSM and to use the same methods in enterprises aside from a level of QMS. However, more remarkable results were achieved by the enterprise which introduced QMS. The first application of SSM in enterprises within specific conditions of furniture production processes can be considered to be a contribution of the research study, as well. The result of the work is the model including the methodology and the appropriate combination of methods and tools for assuring the sustainable performance of the business processes.

Wood processing industry (WPI) is a sector based on renewable natural resources of wood raw material. It can, therefore, provide sustainable growth and be competitive on the international markets. The interest of the European Union is to build economy based on renewable natural resources, meaning that it is necessary to pay increased attention to the development and support of the WPI. The aim of the article is to evaluate and compare the level and development of competitiveness of WPI in the Czech and Slovak Republics for a ten year period through the establishment of indicators based on foreign trade data of industry using mathematical and statistical methods. To reach the goal, a system of indicators measuring sectoral competitiveness was set up under the hypothesis: in the WPI the potential of competitiveness is used defi ciently. The resulting indicators have confirmed the hypothesis and shown that, despite the fact that the WPI creates active foreign trade balance and contributes to surplus balance of the country, it achieves low values of indicators implying comparative advantage with a negative, decreasing trend, consequently meaning that industry gradually loses its competitive ability. The analysis also showed that the reason for low competitive ability of WPI is low specialization of the country in the commodity group, which was confi rmed by statistical method of correlation analysis., Drvoprerađivačka industrija (WPI) industrijski je sektor koji se temelji na drvnoj sirovini kao obnovljivome prirodnom resursu, zbog čega je moguće ostvariti održivi rast i razvoj te međunarodnu konkurentsku prednost. Interes je Europske unije graditi gospodarstvo utemeljeno na obnovljivim prirodnim resursima, što će rezultirati pojačanom pozornošću prema razvoju i potpori WPI-a. Cilj ovog rada jest vrednovati i usporediti razinu razvijenosti konkurentnosti WPI-a u Češkoj i Slovačkoj Republici u razdoblju od deset godina, i to uspostavom pokazatelja utemeljenih na podacima međunarodne trgovine sektora primjenom matematičkih i statističkih metoda. Kako bi se to postiglo, uspostavili smo sustav pokazatelja kojima se mjeri sektorska konkurentnost. Postavili smo hipotezu da je potencijal konkurentnosti WPI-a nedovoljno iskorišten. Rezultati dobiveni uz pomoć tih pokazatelja potvrdili su hipotezu i pokazali da, usprkos činjenici da WPI ima pozitivnu vanjskotrgovinsku bilancu i unatoč činjenici da znatno pridonosi pozitivnoj bilanci države, još uvijek ima niske vrijednosti pokazatelja, što upućuje na negativne trendove komparativnih prednosti, a posljedica toga je gubitak komparativnih mogućnosti. Analiza je također pokazala da je razlog niske konkurentnosti WPI-a niska specijaliziranost pojedine države u pojedinoj grupaciji proizvoda, što je potvrđeno statističkom metodom korelacijske analize.

Enterprises in today’s globalized world are trying to find ways to deal with increased competitive pressure. The competitiveness of small and medium enterprises in many cases depends on their ability to cooperate—thus to create alliances, networks and consequently business clusters, which constitute a form of interorganizational network. The concept of business clusters goes further than the network cooperation of enterprises, because clusters are not only networks of interdependent enterprises, but also include institutions producing knowledge, bridging institutions and customers linked to the production chain and thereby creating added value. This chapter deals with mapping such clusters, the purpose of which is to identify the potential existence of a cluster and to draft a cluster map showing the supply and value chains in the cluster. Attention is paid in the paper to techniques for identifying clusters, which is the basic prerequisite for its geographical location with sufficient sources giving it a key position in the economic sector and a decisive competitive advantage over competitors.

Uspjeh procesa promjena i restrukturalizacije osobito ovisi o izboru metoda utvrđivanja vanjskih i unutrašnjih relevantnih činitelja. U radu je težište na SWOT analizi koja omogućuje utvrđivanje makroekonomskih početnih točaka restrukturalizacije drvnoindustrij-skih poduzeća. Rezultati SWOT analize potpora su temeljitim informacijama za detaljno označavanje potrebnih promjena u drvnoindustrijskim poduzećima i mogućnostima ostvarenja budućega strateškog razvoja., The success of the change/restructuralisation process particularly depends on the choice of the methods for assessing the exterior and interior relevant factors. The paper is focused on the SWOT analysis, which enables an assessment of macro-economic starting points in the restructuralisation of wood-industrial firms. The results of the SWOT analysis are a support to fundamental information on detailed marking the required changes in wood-industrial firms, and the possibilities of realising a future strategic development.

Investment is an important factor affecting the growth performance of the sector. Effective investments can improve the efficiency of production resources using, and make an intensive economic growth of the sector as well as to increase the production capacity of enterprises. The aim of the paper is to present indicators designed to measure the effectiveness of investments at the sectorial level and assess the efficiency of investment in the wood processing industry of the Czech Republic for a period of ten years. Measuring the effectiveness of investment is different at the enterprise level and at the sector level. On the basis of an analysis of available scientific literature, a system of indicators measuring investment effectiveness at the sector level was set up. Input data for the analysis was obtained from database of the Czech Statistics Office with annual data on selected economic indicators in wood processing industry for a period of years 2002 - 2011. Data was used in calculation of individual indicators for evaluating investment effectiveness. Results of analysis showed an insufficient efficiency of investment in the Czech wood processing industry. The effects of the implemented investments don’t occur sufficiently in the most important performance indicators.

Process approach to business management is considered as an effective management system enabling enterprises to be competitive on a globalized market. Process management presents systematic visualization, measurement and improvement of business processes. Using principles and methods of process management enables continual process evaluation and optimalization. At present a number of methods and tools of process management exist; from simple monitoring systems to sophistic statistical methods. The paper deals with modern conceptions, methods and tools for management of business processes. It is focused on results of carried out primary quantitative research concerning analysis of level of process implementation and used process management methods in Slovak industrial enterprises. The aim of paper is to determine the current status of using modern methods of process management in Slovak enterprises and to point a connection with corporate performance and competitiveness.