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We are witnessing that the healthcare system of the Republic of Croatia is faced with numerous challenges, especially financial ones. Many activities are needed to improve the condition. In this paper, the emphasis is on the application of information and communication technology (ICT) as a tool for reducing costs and increasing income. The hypothesis of the work is that with the help of ICT we can directly, but also indirectly, by applying ICT through the so-called Dynamic Balanced Scorecard (DBSC) to influence business improvement. The DBSC method enables the evaluation of financial operations indirectly through employee education, optimization of business processes and increased patient satisfaction. In addition to the DBSC method, analysis of the collected literature, cost-benefit method and case studies are used to test the hypothesis. Regarding structure of the work, the introduction explains the context of the hospital's operations, defines the goals, hypothesis and research methods. This is followed by a description of the conducted research. The conclusion contains final considerations as well as suggestions for future research.

Information and communication technology (ICT) acts as a support to management in business and it represents the primary level of information. ICT as a tool produces relevant information for decision makers. The aim at this paper is to investigate whether the management in general hospitals is information-literate, i.e. whether it uses the information produced by ICT to make quality decisions. Management often sees ICT as a cost without appreciating the contribution of ICT through the awareness of trained employees, optimized business processes, satisfied patients all of which affects the increase in financial results. The hypothesis in this paper is: The hospital management needs to govern ICT in order to use it effectively. In the process of researching to test the hypothesis, a questionnaire (the questionnaire was completed by board members, heads of services, department heads), available literature research, CMM (Capability Maturity Model), COBIT and information literacy analysis were used. By analyzing the answers obtained in the survey and comparing them with the expected management behaviour described in the literature, it was found that the hospital management does not recognize the contribution of ICT to more efficient business. The paper provides recommendations on how health management can recognize relevant information as well as how to collect, process, structure and distribute it to stakeholders with the help of ICT.

The article addresses the spatial data manager domain in local self-government units. The scope of the article comprehends typical tasks and required competences for conducting the usual spatial data manager job tasks in local self-government. Furthermore, in the research described in the article, the tasks are systematized and mapped with required competences. Based on the research on tasks and required competences, two types of profiles of spatial data managers in local self-government with its specializations are proposed and described, which are recommended to be considered when developing both, occupation standard and qualification standard of spatial data managers.

This paper evaluates different approaches to embeddedness of the Fourth Industrial Revolution in national economics and on global market. The numerous and varied attempts to achieve success amidst this turbulent and constantly changing global market has created two main paradigms of institutional policy, correlating with the countries that initiated and/or achieved the embedding of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. The state, as the initiator, pursues a top-down policy: imposing formal institutions and stimulating business in every way possible to modernize its activities in accordance with the principles of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. If the idea of the Fourth industrial revolution was instead initiated by business, then a down-top policy is implemented: the state turns out to be a weak actor which adapts to changing conditions and is modernized through digitalization. Top-down policy is implemented mainly in Natural States; down-top policy (sometimes known as bottom-up policy) is mainly a characteristic of Open Access Order countries. Since the Fourth Industrial Revolution is associated with high level of technology (such as the development of the Internet of Things), the leading role in the global market is played by industrialized and post-industrial countries, as they are creating an institutional image of the new global market. Thus, the Open Access Order has the greatest impact on the development of the global market. The main goal of this research is to define the paths of institutional policy amidst the Fourth Industrial Revolution, whether in Natural States or in Open Access Order, through applying the methodology of Douglass North. Its impact on the global market can also be ascertained. Institutional and comparative analysis methodology was used in the research. The results indicate that (1) Natural States pursue a top-down policy to embed the institutions of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, (2) Open Access Order goes radically other way by employing a down-top path, and (3) digitalization occurs according to the chosen institutional policy. These findings not only make it possible to adjust the Fourth Industrial Revolution, but also to modify the institutions already in force. The experiences of those Fourth Industrial Revolution initiatives that have already been implemented in selected national economies avoids institutional traps, and allows those countries that have embarked on a different path to succeed.

Svoj rast i razvoj poduzeća financiraju na različite načine ovisno o tome u kojoj fazi poslovanja se poduzeće nalazi. U fazi zrelosti, odnosno ekspanzije, tri su prevladavajuća načina na koje se poduzeće može financirati: 1) iz zadržane dobiti, 2) financiranjem putem duga, te, 3) izdavanjem dionica. Predmet istraživanja ovoga rada su dionička društva i financiranje putem izdavanja dionica. U radu su prikazana glavna obilježja i načini financiranja poslovanja putem emisije dionica. Analiziraju se vrste dionica, proces izdavanja i sudionici te se opisuju elementi i procesi inicijalne i sekundarne javne ponude dionica. Financiranje poslovanja poduzeća putem povlaštenih dionica, koje je relativno slabo zastupljeno kao način financiranja, prikazano je na konkretnom primjeru kupnje povlaštenih dionica Podravke d.d. od strane Europske banke za obnovu i razvoj. U radu su također definirane inicijalne i sekundarne javne ponude dionica u Republici Hrvatskoj u razdoblju od 2006 do danas.

Abbreviation STEM comes from English and it is an acronym based on first letter four fields: science, technology, engineering and mathematics. There is no ambiguous word in Croatia for STEM but includes more sciences, such as informatics, physics, mathematics, chemistry, biology, engineering in general. STEM as a field is recognized as a potential economic growth initiator in many countries in last few years, so in Croatia as well. Although importance of STEM and willingness for increasing number of high educated and qualitative experts in STEM fields, but demand scholars and future students for education in STEM fields is not significantly enlarged. Despite running school reform in Croatia and high intentions of involving more knowledge and skills for high technologies already in primary school, still there is a lack of feedback for higher demand for entering in high schools and faculties in STEM fields. Based on this information there is a need for more promotion of STEM and education in STEM fields as a desirable to future scholars and students, all for creating high educated experts who will be in future innovation holders, new technology solution experts and initiators of economic growth. This article has an aim to find reasons for lack of demand for entering education programmes in STEM and disproportion between market need and also is trying to answer a question if there is a possibility for better promotion of STEM based on new technology for increasing future students’ interest for STEM. At the end there are concrete suggestions for communication channels and marketing options that can be used for approaching STEM to young generations and potential students, for increasing attractiveness of STEM education programmes and faculties to future students. This research includes different sources of information, from strategic document of Republic of Croatia and European Union, published analysis on internet, monitoring some profiles on social networks and finally summed data from origin questionnaire done in one Croatian high school. In this work is also used “Annual research about entering on faculties and first class student’s satisfaction in universities” that is done by www.srednja.hr in 2014 in cooperation with Algebra, High school for computer engineering and is also assigned authors for this work.

Promocija, kao element marketinškog miksa, je izuzetno važna jer predstavlja komunikaciju između potrošača i poduzeća. S obzirom na veliku orijentiranost turizma Republike Hrvatske na priobalje, kopneni turizam se smatra iznimno zapostavljen. Na to ukazuju niske zarade od turizma u navedenom dijelu Republike Hrvatske. Sjeverozapadni dio Hrvatske obiluje mnogim destinacijama koje su zanemarene i u kojima se ne iskorištava njihov potencijal. Većina prometnih pravaca koji idu prema moru, a kroz koje prolazi veliki broj stranih turista proteže se kroz sjeverozapadnu Hrvatsku, no pojava autocesta udaljava turiste od bogatstva turističkih destinacija koje nudi ovaj dio Hrvatske. Nova tehnologija, virtualne i proširene stvarnosti, danas je zastupljena u medicini, sportu, filmskoj industriji te ju je kao takvu moguće uključiti i u turizam. Virtualnu i proširenu stvarnost, moguće je uključiti u promociju turističkih destinacija kako bi se privukao veći broj turista i kako bi im se približile atraktivnosti pojedinih destinacija. Cilj rada je utvrditi spremnost turističkih zajednica na ulaganje u inovativne promocijske kanale kako bi privukli potencijalne turiste te moguće reakcije potencijalnih turista na nove promocijske kanale. Metode korištene u radu su deskriptivna metoda, metoda sinteze, analize te primarna kvantitativna i kvalitativna metoda. Kao instrument kvantitativne metode korišten je anketni upitnik dok su dubinski intervjui korišteni kao instrumenti kvalitativne metode istraživanja. Rezultati provedenog istraživanja dokazuju da su potencijalni turisti spremni prihvatiti nove metode promocije čime bi se podigla atraktivnost destinacija sjeverozapadne Hrvatske. Osim turističkih destinacija, kao onih koje rade direktno sa turistima i turističkom ponudom, potrebno je uključiti i druge institucije, a prvenstveno Ministarstvo turizma koje treba poduprijeti uvođenje novih tehnologija promocije u turizam. S obzirom na ograničenost budžeta, a isto tako na visoka financijska sredstva potrebna za uvođenje virtualne i proširene stvarnosti, ključnu ulogu imaju EU fondovi iz kojih je moguće dobiti nepovratna sredstva., Promotion, as an element of the marketing mix, is essential because it represents communication between consumers and the company. Due to the high orientation of tourism in the Republic of Croatia on the coastline, continental tourism is considered to be neglected. This indicates low earnings from tourism in the continental part of the Republic of Croatia. The Northwest part of Croatia abounds with many destinations that are not promoted sufficiently and where their potential is not exploited. Most of the traffic routes that go to the sea area, and through which a large number of foreign tourists pass, extends through northwestern Croatia, but the phenomenon of highways is dragging tourists away from the wealth of tourist destinations offered by this part of Croatia. The new technology, virtual and augmented reality, is now represented in medicine, sports, the film industry and can be included in the promotion of tourism. It is possible to include virtual and augmented reality in the promotion of tourist destinations to attract a large number of tourists and to increase the attractiveness of specific destinations. The research paper aims to establish the willingness of tourist communities to invest in innovative promotional channels to attract potential tourists and attract them through new promotional channels. The methods used in the paper are the descriptive method, synthesis, analysis, and primary quantitative and qualitative research methods. The primary data were collected through a questionnaire and in-depth interviews with representatives of national tourist boards. In addition to tourist destinations, as those who work directly with tourists and tourist offer, it is necessary to engage other institutions, and primarily to involve the Ministry of Tourism to provide the support in the deployment of new technologies in tourism. Given the limited budget, and also the tremendous financial resources needed to deploy the virtual and augmented reality, EU funds from which it is possible to obtain non-refundable funds have a crucial role.

The globalization of the economy, especially in the context of adaptation and successful communication within the European Union, emphasizes the importance of perceiving and adapting to intercultural diversity in order to achieve business success. This paper analyzes the notion of interculturalism from the aspect of observing business relations, and emphasizes the perception of intercultural diversity that is of importance for business communication and the outcomes of business cooperation and negotiations between any country within or out of the EU. In the focus of research presented in this paper were specific characteristics of Croatia and Austria, to geographically close countires with many diversities. The research tasks were to determine the phenomena of business intercultural interaction, obstacles in intercultural communication and the dimensions of cultural values according to Hofstede, to analyze the intercultural differences of the mentioned countries, to distinguish everyday from a business communication, and to point out the importance of these aspects in terms of fulfilling business strategies. At the start of this resarch three hypothesis were stated. Initial startpoint was that though sharing the part of history and presently two countries have built a rich cooperation there are significant differeneces that may be of importance for business communication. First hypothesis stated a larger business formality that characterizes Austrian culture, and second lack of intercultural experience of Croatian culture and gaining less communication experience valuable for intercultural behaviour, which makes it less adaptable. The third hypothesis is about the perception of equality in business gender relations. Respondents' attitudes were examined by a specially designed survey containing 18 statements, with the respondents agreeing on a five-point Likert scale. The study was conducted on 40 (50%) respondents in Croatia and 40 (50%) respondents in Austria. Respondents had experience in Croatian-Austrian intercultural business. The results of the study confirmed all three hypotheses.

The aim of this paper is to point out the changes brought by the postmodernism in the global media industry. Modernism was crated simultaneously with the development of the publishing and it lasted several hundred years. Postmodernism was formed in the womb of broadcasting and in just a few years it took over the global market which has been under the control of the publishing houses for several hundred years. The two economic crises at the beginning of the 21st century marked the entry of the global media industry into the mature phase. By entering the mature phase, the media markets of the most economically developed countries had stabilized. Revenues were no longer recording high growth rates and some countries have started to record a negative growth rates in the past five years. In the global market, several global vertically integrated corporations positioned themselves by employing the takeover strategies, which pushed out the smaller competitors from the market. The period of maturity had revealed the specifics of the media industry and the need for interdisciplinary scientific approach. Analyzing the development of certain categories of the medial industry in different geographic areas it is clear that threw are significant differences in the degree of their development. This was influenced by various factors of which the most important ones are recognized in the historical development and the cultural diversities of the certain geographical areas. Economies, as a scientific discipline, gave its significant contribution to the study of the media industry relatively late, at the end of the twentieth century and become an equal partner to other sciences that were already represented in the analyses. The media industry, as a typical representative of postmodernism, requires a holistic approach in order to find answers to the asked questions.

U uvjetima globalizacije, što karakterizira svjetske gospodarske procese na početku dvadeset prvoga stoljeća, bankarstvo je duboko zahvaćeno političkim, gospodarskim, tehnološkim i demografskim promjenama. Danas banke u industrijski razvijenim i tranzicijskim zemljama razvijaju nove proizvode i usluge uz pomoć računalnih mreža, čime su pomaknute vremenske i prostorne granice tradicionalnoga bankarstva i bitno je olakšan transfer novčanih sredstava. U ovome su radu dani prikaz čimbenika koji utječu na aktualne promjene u bankarstvu i prikaz različitih poslovnih fi lozofija na kojima se zasnivaju suvremene strategije ponude (distribucije) novih bankarskih proizvoda i usluga, koji se nazivaju samoposlužnim bankarstvom, i dane su ocjena sadašnjeg stanja i prognoza razvitka ponude samoposlužnoga bankarstva na području Republike Hrvatske. Rezultati istraživanja, navedeni u ovome radu, pokazuju da usluge samoposlužnoga bankarstva koje pruža bankarski sektor u Republici Hrvatskoj po širini asortimana ne zaostaju za onim što pruža bankarski sektor u industrijski razvijenim zemljama. I na kraju, u ovome su radu uspoređene one banke u Republici Hrvatskoj koje nude najširi asortiman proizvoda i usluga samoposlužnoga bankarstva s onima koje to još ne nude ili nude tek samo neke od usluga samoposlužnoga bankarstva., Globalization which characterizes world economic processes at the start of the twenty first century affects banking deeply with political, economic, technological and demographic changes. Today banks in industrially developed countries and countries in transition develop new products and services through fairly easy transfer of funds. This article shows factors which infl uence current changes in the banking system and a summary of a number of business philosophies which serve as foundation for the modern strategic offers (distribution) of new banking products and services, known as self-serve banking, as well as the assessment of the current state and prognosis of future development of the range of self-serve banking in the Republic of Croatia. The findings included in this article, show that services in self-serve banking, offered by the banking sector in the Republic of Croatia, in its range does not lag behind those offered by banking sectors of industrially developed countries. Finally, this article compares those banks in the Republic of Croatia which offer the widest range of products and services of self-serve banking with those which still have no such offers or offer only some self-serve banking products.

A small family hotel in Croatia is a segment of the national tourist offer with great potential which is currently not adequately used. New development strategies that will not only be based on realistic potential but will also successfully implement the concept of sustainable development are needed. Considering the fact that small family hotels, compared to larger hotels, in both the national and global market, are the most recognizable by a personalized approach, the proposed strategy is the implementation of the concept of heritage interpretation, a relatively new trend in European and world tourism. It is not only an innovative concept that will raise the quality of the offer, but it is also a way of solving one of the biggest family hotel problems in Croatia, which is a remarkable seasonality of business.

With a goal of harmonizing its legislation with the EU acquis, Croatia had to reform its own judicial system. The reform of the energy sector has began with adoption of the first package of energy legislation that the Croatian Parliament has brought in 2001. Five law Acts were adopted regulating the area of energy, gas and petroleum products. For Croatian legal system that was a novelty, since the subject matter previously was governed by many regulations of various legal areas, not laws, so in the coming years there were frequent and numerous amendments on adopted laws. All this led to legal uncertainty not only for potential, but also for current investors who had to dealt with the uncertainty of the legal system for years, in order to realise the project which they had already started. The intention of this paper is to present the complexity of the energy sector reform, which may result with legal uncertainty for project realization in renewable energy sources. On the example of Acciona Energy company, I will show a fraction of they legal path in realizing project to build one of the largest wind farms in Croatia on the Jelinak hill and to offer some conclusions.