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The paper aims at presenting the results of initial research on the perception and understanding of quality of human life between young Europeans. A literature overview resulted in a brief presentation of actual state of knowledge about socio – economic understanding of quality of life. A list of material and non – material determinants of quality of life characteristic for the mentioned group has been presented. A number of theses has been assessed: 1. In past years one can observe a deterioration of socio – economic environment of young Europeans. 2. This fact has brought some limits to the possibilities of their personal and professional development. 3. Moreover, these changes force modifications inside the determinants of quality of life of young Europeans. 4. Therefore, early recognition of the nature of mentioned changes could allow companies a more precise adaptation to the needs and preferences of this new generation of consumers. Direct interviews have been adopted as the main research method. The paper contains also an analysis of potential business implications of changing environment adaptation strategies of future employees and entrepreneurs from the young generation. Artykuł stanowi prezentację wyników wstępnych badań nad zmianami w postrzeganiu jakości życia przez młodych Europejczyków. W wyniku analizy literatury przedstawiono zwarte podsumowanie obecnego stanu wiedzy na temat jakości życia. Przedstawiono charakterystyczną dla wspomnianej grupy listę wyznaczników jakości życia z podziałem na czynniki materialne i niematerialne. Postawiono i przeanalizowano następujące tezy: 1. W ostatnich latach nastąpiła deterioracja społeczno – ekonomicznego otoczenia Młodych Europejczyków. 2. Doprowadziła ona do ograniczenia możliwości rozwoju zawodowego i osobistego młodych ludzi w Europie. 3. Wspomniane zjawiska znajdują odzwierciedlenie w zmianie struktury wyznaczników jakości życia europejskich Młodych. 4. Odpowiednio wczesne i precyzyjne rozpoznanie kierunków tych zmian pozwoli przedsiębiorstwom na precyzyjniejsze dopasowanie się do potrzeb i preferencji pokolenia młodych konsumentów. Do badań zastosowano metodę wywiadów bezpośrednich. Przeanalizowano potencjalne implikacje dla przedsiębiorstw wynikające ze zmienności warunków funkcjonowania i strategii adaptacyjnych młodego pokolenia przyszłych pracowników i przedsiębiorców.

The paper discusses the possibilities of application of Analytic Network Process for enhancing the decision making of young Europeans. The purpose of the study is to examine whether ANP offers enough complexity for research purposes and application ease. The motivation for the study lies in the need of help and guidance exhibited by young Europeans in a European Union post – accession reality, where a variety of development opportunities is accompanied by huge costs to pay by an important percentage of the successful part of the society. The research method in question is the Analytic Network Process, some thoughts about Analytic Hierarchy Process and Artificial Neural Networks have been formulated as well. Main findings of the research point at potential possibilities of application of ANP for research purposes. At the same time some concerns about the optimality of this choice are being discussed.

The paper discusses common approaches to quality of life and human well – being issues. It provides a literature overview of most recent concepts in this field. The idea of Bhutan’s Gross National Happiness Index has been opposed to the most popular measure of human life quality – the Gross Domestic Product. Moreover, it aims at attiring the attention of economists to the need for enlarging their quantitative research instrumentarium by qualitative indicators. Finally, the authors propose their own index, that incorporates both qualitative and quantitative drivers of well – being into one aggregated measure.

The study presents an analysis of possible applications of artificial intelligence methods for understanding, structuring and supporting the decision-making processes of European Youth in times of crisis in the Eurozone. Its main purpose is selecting a research method suitable for grasping and explaining the relations between social, economic and psychological premises when taking important life decisions by young Europeans at the beginning of their adult life. The interdisciplinary approach to science, assuming inclusion of economic phenomena in the analysis of issues belonging to other domains of science, contributes to further development of economics. Thus, the foundations of the economy are being redefined, whereas the dogma of rationality of consumer behaviour no longer binds. The researchers depart from their former deliberations on mass production , they also no longer claim that they understand the character of consumers’ preferences. The increased interest of economists in research instruments which employ artificial intelligence encourages them to use mathematical and IT tools to explain decision-making processes. This group of methods, based on fuzzy logic methodology offers the possibility of including into their research factors of a qualitative character (in addition to quantitative ones). It is equally important to identify possible fields of implementation of the results of qualitative – quantitative analysis in economic and social practice. A benefit for the business could be the possibility of better adjustments to new trends and consumers’ preferences. Social effects of the implementation should stem from supporting decision-making processes until facilitating professional and personal development of young people. Broadening of knowledge in this sphere will allow the responders to perform individual valuation of the material and non-material determinants of the quality of their life, which will eventually contribute to the growth of their life satisfaction. It will indirectly contribute to the increase of the overall level of satisfaction in the society.

The paper confronts chosen approaches to quality of life studies with recent changes in post-crisis socio-economic environment. The focus is on European Youth at verge of entry into adult life. Presented research is a preliminary study for “The Application of Artificial Intelligence Methods for Analyzing Material and Non-material Determinants of Life Satisfaction between Young People from Developing Countries” project. Identifying and grouping the determinants of their life satisfaction could result in elaborating an innovative approach, providing European Youth with a new perspective on their personal and professional development options and allowing them to achieve a decent level of life satisfaction.

The notion of quality became a buzzword in today’s debates about higher education. But despite its popularity, there are still many uncertainties and misinterpretations. In our paper we take a look at most popular models of quality. We describe the specific features of higher education and their impacts on the use of quality models. We take a look at quality assurance models as well, and argue that due to the nature of quality, institutional quality assurance is a tool with dubious efficiency. We neither forget the role of appropriate scholarship distribution in assuring possibly optimal efficiency and quality of higher education programmes

The paper aims at analyzing the main determinants of International Corporations’ behaviours with application of Analytic Hierarchy Process method. In first instance the study focuses on describing the business environment of International Companies. It has been divided in three groups, namely the Operating Environment, the Host – Country Environment and the Global Environment, accordingly to H. Deresky’s concept of the Open Systems Model. The following section is a presentation of the Analytic Hierarchy Process method by T.L. Saaty. In next chapter the author proposes the application of AHP method for decision making in a turbulent operating environment of International Corporations. The basic assumption of the paper is that a correct identification of relevant groups of environmental factors allows a better decision making by choosing appropriate solutions from a set of alternatives. The Analytic Hierarchy Process seems to be a useful tool for ranking the relevance of particular elements of hierarchical problems. At the same time it helps the managers choosing the correct way of problem solving, which leads to a better management in complex environments.

The paper presents the influence of geopolitical processes on management of international enterprises. Basic geopolitical and managerial notions have been defined. The paper contains also a brief historical overview of development of geopolitics as a science. Key subjects of international law have been described. The author aims at attiring attention to the meaning of geopolitical issues for enterprise’s strategic planning phase and in consecutive managerial phases in international companies.

Global financial crisis has caused deep changes in most areas of economic activity. Every sphere of business environment of international companies has been affected, including operating-, host – country- and global levels. The presented paper aims at familiarizing the reader with research lead during past few years on a group of Polish and International SME’s which resulted in elaboration of a general synthetic decision making model. The proposed solution allows anticipating geopolitical changes in decision making processes. Research methodology includes a set of analytical methods, i.e. direct interviews, Delphi method, Pareto – Lorenz method and Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). Innovative application of AHP for economic purposes allows transposing qualitative factors of influence into quantitative ones, which leads to systemizing of decision making effects for comparison and analysis needs. Besides its main advantage, which is a focus on quality and effectiveness of decision making, the proposed solution evaluates the rejected alternatives and opportunity costs. Therefore it seems to be a useful tool enhancing strategic and operational decision making in internationally oriented companies.

Production Engineering is the youngest, but fast developing scientific discipline in Poland. Its field of interests fully corresponds to the formerly created “Management and Production Engineering” study dominant. Production Engineering covers issues such as planning, designing, implementing and management of production and logistic systems and maintenance of their functioning. These systems are understood as socio – technical constructs that aim to integrate the employees, information, energy, materials, tools and processes during the whole product life cycle. Production Engineering bases on technical, economic, human and social sciences. It uses the know – how of telecommunication, informatics, management, public communication and human resources management. Therefore it has all the qualities necessary for educating engineers accordingly to the needs of modern market economy. The paper presents briefly chosen aspects of engineering activity in the field of production engineering.

The presented paper is a presentation of final results of research led throughout past years on a group of Polish and international SME’s. The essential aim was the elaboration of a decision – making model including both qualitative and quantitative factors that influence decision – making processes. Most focus has been put on geopolitical determinants of international companies’ development. In order to narrow the research field, a further limitation has been made in the type of undertaken solutions. This resulted in focusing on managerial rather than strategic decisions, although long – term strategic planning still can be enhanced through application of proposed method. The research methodology has been based on Analytic Hierarchy Process applied for assessment of individual and collective utility of various indexes describing the actual economic situation and short – term prospects of enterprises operating locally (inside Poland) and internationally. The presented final stage of research draws attention to expert evaluations of 6 professional experts carefully chosen from a group of 31 skilled managers interviewed in preliminary research phase. The study ends with a proposal of a qualitative – quantitative decision making model anticipating geopolitical factors in order to improve the quality of managerial decision making in international enterprises.

The presented paper is a brief presentation of findings based on research lead on a group of small and medium businesses. The study has been made in conditions of global financial crisis and its effects, such as fall of production volumes in numerous companies. A number of indexes describing the actual economic situation and short – term prospects of discussed businesses has been presented to their medium- and high level executives in order to point out those most useful when taking strategic decisions. The sample structure consisted of companies with Polish and foreign capital operating locally and internationally. Obtained answers have been grouped in two sets accordingly to the actual situation of a given enterprise. The first group contains indexes preferably used by managers in times of economic instability, whereas the second group shows possible changes in preferences of economic indexes utility in times of prosperity. Research methodology included Delphi method and expert questioning for data gathering and Pareto – Lorenz analysis for interpretation of findings. The study ends with proposals of applications of research outcome into further research directed towards elaboration of a synthetic index facilitating strategic decision making in international companies.

The paper aims at explaining the importance of innovations in modern enterprises. Activities leading to creation of innovative solutions, types of innovations and their meaning for enterprise’s strategic planning have been presented. The meaning of product quality in relation to manufacturing costs has been introduced. The explanation of this relation has been performed with help of Taguchi Loss Function. The author tries also to answer the question how to assess the aptitude of individual innovations for maintaining an optimal cost / income balance, hence the economic rationality of innovative undertakings. The proposed tool for multi – criteria decision making is the Analytic Hierarchy Process method (AHP) by Thomas L. Saaty. Main assumptions of the model, as well as methods of its application have been presented.

The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is a method for multi – criteria decision making. It consists principally of three levels – Main Goal, Criteria and Alternatives. The Main Goal level can be extended into forces and actors influencing the decision making process, the Criteria level can be divided into criteria and sub – criteria, whereas the decision alternatives can be treated as action scenarios and prognostics of their effects. In turbulent environments of actual global economic reality the number of criteria that need to be taken into account when making strategic decisions can be broad. Theoretically the more determinants at the preparatory stage, the better decision making. In fact, multiplying the number of factors can obfuscate the main goal and result in inefficient final decision. For this reason some kind of rationalization of amount of criteria seems to be necessary. According to T. L. Saaty, the author of AHP method, the number of criteria and alternatives analyzed in decision making processes should not exceed 7 (+/- 2), which gives 9 criteria / alternatives maximum. The article attempts at finding a method for reducing the number of factors taken into account when performing data collection for future decision making. Geopolitical determinants of functioning of international corporations have been used as criteria. The author tries to emphasize the aspect of final decision quality, which should not be impoverished because of limitations of amount of analyzed criteria and strategic alternatives.

The paper aims at analyzing the nature of relations between Intergovernmental Organizations and International Corporations. In first instance the study concentrates on identifying the key determinants of Intergovernmental Organizations behaviours. The following section is a description of business environment of International Companies based on the Open Systems Model. Three levels of interrelations have been mentioned, including the Operating Environment, the Host – Country Environment and the Global Environment. The solution proposal provides an analysis of the influence of determinants of Intergovernmental Organizations behaviours on the determinants of business environment of International Corporations with use of correlation analysis method.

The paper aims at analyzing the nature of relations between Non – Governmental Organizations and International Corporations. In first instance the study concentrates on identifying the key determinants of NGO’s behaviors. The following section is a description of business environment of International Companies based on H. Deresky’s Open Systems Model. Three levels of interrelations have been mentioned, including the Operating Environment, the Host – Country Environment and the Global Environment. The basic assumption is that some of the factors influencing the decisions of NGOs can also influence the strategic and operational decisions of International Companies, as well as their development potential. On the other hand, this relation can also be observed in the opposite direction, where the factors influencing the business environment of the companies can also have some effect on important political and economic decisions of their home or host country governments. Different areas in which the discussed players can carry weight on private business organizations are being discerned in this paper. The solution proposal provides an analysis of influence of determinants of NGO’s behaviours on determinants of business environment of International Corporations with use of correlation analysis method.

The paper aims at describing the delicate matter of the relations between science and business units. Should the enterprises be encouraged to use the research outcome of universities, independent research and development units, Think – Tanks and other science – oriented organizations or should both sides develop independently? What should be the role of state in these contacts? The basic assumption of the paper is that a knowledge exchange should be based on short-, middle-, and long – term profits that could be realized by its both sides. The research lead by the authors on a group of Polish universities and companies focused on identifying the qualities that R&D units could possibly offer to business. The second area of concern was the elaboration of mechanisms of knowledge transfer including an appropriate remuneration for the scientific side. Basing on this research the authors reached a conclusion that an intermediary unit operating in between the science units and business organizations is necessary. Its main features and tasks, including the financing possibilities have been presented in the paper. The awaited outcome should be a stable knowledge exchange system, dynamically adapting to the market needs, but also leaving the scientists some freedom for choosing their research topics. This should prevent a situation where all the research would be business – oriented and possible exclusively after a direct order placed by a company.

The paper aims at answering the question how to persuade the managers of business units to use the research outcome of universities, independent research and development units, Think – Tanks and other science – oriented organizations. The basic assumption is that such an exchange should be based on short-, middle-, and long – term profits that could be realized by its both sides. The authors analyzed a group of universities and companies mainly from the Polish region of Malopolska and shared their considerations in the presented paper. The research focused on identifying the qualities that R&D units could possibly offer to business and on elaborating the mechanisms of knowledge transfer including an appropriate pay for the scientific side. The performed research led to a conclusion that an intermediary unit should be operating in order to contact R&D and science units with their future business partners. The authors described the main features and tasks of such a unit, identifying its financing possibilities both from the business, but also from various foundation and public funds. The awaited outcome should be a stable knowledge exchange system, dynamically adapting to the market needs, but also leaving the scientists some freedom of choosing their research topics. This should protect us from a situation where all the research would be business – oriented and possible exclusively after a company order. If implemented all over the European Union, such a system could be a useful tool for making the realization of the Lisbon Strategy more likely.

Taking into account the fast changes the world is currently facing, there is a need of reformulating the main policies of the actual educational systems. The present paper will present brief descriptions of the main directions the author believes to be relevant for the modern educational systems. The key ideas of new roles of a university will be followed by an example of wide understanding of university’s tasks. The project of an International Education Centre for Students with Disabilities of Motion elaborated at the Cracow University of Economics can be seen as a sample initiative of over – educational activities of a university sensible to the needs of the society in which it is functioning.

The paper describes a concept of economic development based on a non - material resource, such as knowledge. It presents the idea of a knowledge - based economy together with directions of its development. It shows the interdependencies between various institutions operating on the market as the main mechanism of creating, spreading and applying new knowledge. The paper also points at the need for changing the paradigms of interrelation and cooperation used in traditional economies towards those present in a knowledge - based economy.

In this paper we try to present the role of one of the Venture Capital financing solutions - the Spin – off organizations, which are a very interesting way of acquiring the financial means for the new established innovative companies – clients of the Science and Technology Parks.