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Currently, much attention is paid to digital transformation in all areas, including the public sphere. The latest studies show that it is necessary for the public sector to monitor the efficiency and satisfaction with the services provided. However, there are significant gaps in research in this area, including in Slovakia. This research proposes and applies the measurement of efficiency using the DEA method in the context of e-Government, provides a comparison of the roles of states in the use of public electronic services in the EU, and applies the method of measuring satisfaction using the American Customer Satisfaction Index, focused on the central state portal in Slovakia. The main methods that were used to fulfil the objectives of the work were data envelopment analysis, "DEA", and the American Customer Satisfaction Index, "ACSI". Other methods used include the Mann–Whitney U test, the chi-squared test, and Sperm correlation analysis. From the results of the work, it is possible to conclude that ACSI can be applied within Slovakia. Furthermore, the results show a strong correlation between perceived quality and satisfaction, which is 0.855. Overall satisfaction with the central state portal of public electronic services reached 61.7%. We conclude that it would be appropriate and possible to use ACSI as part of DEA measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The smart city concept has entered the public debate over the last decade as a concept for the development of urban space for the efficiency, improvement and availability of public and private services and sustainability. The Business Models Canvas is most often used in the literature for the creation of business models of smart services. On the basis of the above, we investigated whether the Business Models Canvas is the most used tool for creating business models for public smart services in Slovakia and whether cities and municipalities need to evaluate their models for the provision of public smart services. However, there is no commonly used methodology for evaluating smart city business models to help both practitioners and researchers choose the best option. The goal of the research is to create a tool for evaluating business models of public smart services in smart cities. The base method used was the Delphi method, based on the previous primary (content) analysis process of the Business Model Canvas best practices. In total, 709 towns and villages participated in the primary research. Subsequently, the obtained data were evaluated and used for further research using the Delphi method, in which 28 experts participated. The research was carried out between 2020 and 2023 in Slovakia. Primary research confirmed that the Business Models Canvas is the most used tool for creating business models for public smart services in Slovakia and cities and municipalities need to evaluate their models for the provision of public smart services. Areas and basic building blocks were also identified for the design of the evaluation methodology of business models for public smart services. The proposal of the methodology for evaluating business smodels for public smart services in Slovakia was implemented using the Delphi method with the cooperation of 28 experts. Based on the results of the Delphi method, a methodological procedure for evaluating business models for public smart services was established. The methodology proposed in the paper is a simple, organized, flexible and transparent system that facilitates the work of evaluators of business models of public smart services and marketing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At the present time, a great attention is paid to the ecological innovation, which represents innovation characterization to any ecological change with a positive impact on consumers. Such innovations increase the comfort for consumers and concurrently they represent more effective, more economic, ecological, healthier and safer solutions. Ecological innovation represents any innovation aimed at significant and visible progress towards the goal of sustainable development. This is done by reducing the impact on the environment or achieving a more efficient and responsible use of natural resources, including energy and Zero waste. The aim this paper is evaluation to the perception of Zero waste in the context of ecological innovations in Slovakia. The research is carried out using the Kano model. The results point to the importance of addressing the issue of ZeroWaste, encouraging friends to buy in non-packaging stores and creating a stimulation of advertising to buy products in a non-packaging store. Other attributes of the given issue are perceived by Slovak respondents in the opposite way or have no influence on them. Therefore, it is important to provide sufficient information on this issue and to educate the population in order to increase their interest in this issue and to start behaving responsibly towards waste management.

The paper deals with the evaluation of the ecological innovation as a factor for economic development through the correlation and regression analysis. The paper.analysis the.total ecological.innovation index of Slovakia within the.European Union and in relationship to growth GDP of Slovakia. Correlation and. regression analysis. examines the interdependence between.total ecological innovation index and economic growth. GDP is one of the key elements of effective support for eco-innovation.

The research of new active and intelligent features has shown huge potential to optimise the supply chain and enhance consumer consciousness of food utilisation. The paper deals with the evaluation of the perception of intelligent packaging in Slovakia as ecological innovations through the Kano model. It focuses on to analysis the perception of different intelligent packaging features. The results indicate that customers‟ awareness of intelligent packaging is still at a very low level in Slovakia.

Research background: Globalization and the processes associated with it are reflected in the constant changes taking place in the market and affect its individual participants, among whom we also include consumers. Globalization allows consumers to choose, but on the other hand, the quality of products intended for the Slovak market is debatable (dual quality of food). Therefore, many consumers distrust imported products and believe that foreign producers use unethical practices in the Slovak market. Purpose of the article: The paper presents the results of a survey of unethical practices towards Slovak consumers in their selected forms, as well as the results of the current state of awareness of Slovak consumers in the field of protection of their consumer rights. Methods: The data were obtained by a questionnaire and consequently evaluated by the chosen statistical methods. Some questions were formulated to test hypothesis of dependence among selected variables. Findings & Value added: The results point to the low state of Slovak consumer’s ability to detect unethical practices in its specific forms, as well as to the low state of his knowledge in the field of consumer rights protection. However, the finding that with higher consumer education the ability of a consumer to detect misleading practices increases confirmed the importance of incorporating selected areas of consumer policy into education at lower levels. It allows supporting the sovereignty of the Slovak consumer to protect his rights.

Research background: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly affected lives of every society. As a result of a pandemic, companies have to face the consequences and challenges associated with this situation, which also manifest in a global environment. The negatives caused by the pandemic began to appear in deglobalization trends, which required national economies to behave nationally in selected areas and seek solutions to address the negative impacts within their own possibilities. The pandemic has caused significant changes in the market, both on the part of sellers and buyers. Recently, their attention has been focused on the development of sustainability through the introduction of eco-innovation. Purpose of the article: The paper deals with selected theoretical and practical aspects of eco-innovation during a pandemic in a global environment. Methods: The data were obtained by a means of questionnaire and consequently evaluated by the chosen statistical methods. Findings & Value added: The results presented in the paper point to the deglobalization trend within the concept of socially responsible business based on the principles of sustainability as an integral part of the strategy based on the quote "Think Global, Act Local". The term "global" does not emphasize a global perspective, as we have understood them so far, but rather refers to the inclusiveness of the environment caused by a pandemic.

Research background: Globalization and the associated growing global competition provide incentives for the adoption of new technologies and innovations. In general, innovations could be considered as a dominant driver of the economic growth. However, current environmental challenges and sustainable development support the diffusion of eco-innovations to foster green growth. In terms of its global position, a country is often compared to its neighbouring countries, which are often the most important trading partners in the international market. Purpose of the article: This paper is focused on the evaluation of eco-innovation performance of the V4 countries with emphasis on the Slovak Republic. Methods: The article applies selected indicators of the Global Innovation Index to provide insightful data on countries' eco-innovation performance from the different V4 countries by applying the correlation analysis. Findings & Value added: The results compare the state of selected indicators of innovation within the V4 countries and describe the current position of the Slovak Republic. The results demonstrate the relative strengths within all selected countries in the sub-pillar Ecological Sustainability and significant eco-innovation potential.

The global economic environment is closely connected with the continuous application of innovation reflecting global trends and market changes. Currently, substantial attention is focused on innovations presenting smart solutions. Their purpose rests in efficiency, economy, environmental friendliness, safety (including health). Moreover, they increase consumers´ comfort. The packaging and its functions represents one of possibilities having considerable potential for sustainable development. It is related to the need to ensure that consumers perceive packaging in the context of sustainable development. The paper deals with consumers’ attitudes to innovative (especially smart) packaging aspects. We focused on the attitude of consumers towards innovative packaging functions by using intelligent solutions and their overall perception of intelligent packaging with regard to their education and income in Slovakia. The survey results allow us identifying the main advantages of packaging functions for better understanding and consequently more effective communication in decision-making processes. The results point to the importance of packaging, especially in the protective, environmental, information and economic areas. The survey was applied as part of the global research and pointed out that consumers perceive this issue as unknown and new. This is the main reason why the results point to low consumer interest in smart packaging.

Sustainable development is the topic associated with economic growth, and it is discussed with the need to find a way how to satisfy requirements of the present generation without compromising the limits of future generations, guaranteeing the balance between economic growth, care for the environment and social well-being. This idea is analysed within different industries including the building industry looking for the possibilities to meet housing demands in accordance with environmental and health requirements. Therefore, the importance of innovation in the building construction material for sustainable growth focusing on wood-based structures represented by eco-innovation and alternatives to brick buildings in this context is still growing. The results of the survey aimed at investigating the perception of respondents towards various construction types of buildings with reference to reverse thinking is presented in the paper. A questionnaire survey was applied allowing to collect information based on the answers of the investigated sample of respondents in Slovakia to various facts regarding their perception of selected construction types of buildings. Subsequently, the obtained facts were compared to find out the influence of construction type on the choice of family houses of the respondents and, paradoxically, the design effect if they did not have more information about the construction type. Based on the results, the design of family houses significantly influences the decision-making of respondents when choosing a family house unless they have more specific information about its construction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with the perception of the supplied furniture and its innovation by Slovak customers. The Kano model as the primary method for identifying the preferences in furniture purchase by Slovak customers is used. The expectations and demands of customers for furniture utility are defined by this model and the specific product characteristics regarding the customer requirements are identified. Quality and design are mandatory requirements in the case of furniture, and the fulfilment of ergonomic furniture parameters and providing the related services belong to attractive ones. Intelligent furniture solutions and the provision of innovative services for customers (e.g., servitization) are adapting furniture innovations on the Slovak market, which represents an equally great potential for furniture retailers when customers attract. These results can be an important impetus for companies to create furniture sales strategies and identify trends for the subsequent adoption of improvements and innovations of selected services and products to meet customer requirements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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