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This article aims to explore the role of management in translating the external factors' and internal barriers' impacts on the level of adoption of digital technologies as a lever for change in business operations and processes in small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). SMEs face a distinct set of challenges when adopting digital technologies, often lacking resources and knowledge. On the other hand, they have certain characteristics, such as simpler organisational structures and processes, that make them more flexible than larger firms in leveraging technologies into new business models. Data for this study are obtained from 989 SMEs in Bulgaria in the manufacturing and services sectors. A PLS–SEM analysis confirms eight hypotheses raised on the relationships between environmental factors and government support and internal factors (management support, organisational flexibility, and risk-tolerant culture) that impact digital business intensity. Environmental factors' impact is stronger than government support, while internal barriers are found to have no statistically significant relationship. The research findings highlight the important role of management support in guiding digital transformation through supporting organisational flexibility and promoting a risk-tolerant culture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to respond to calls for more empirical evidence concerning the factors and outcomes of organisational capacity for change (OCC). Quantitative data analyses on a sample of 200 employees and managers in organisations in Bulgaria were performed. Exploratory factor analysis extracted six OCC factors: transformational leadership, valence, organisational flexibility, previous experience with change, climate, and goals for improvement. Two hypotheses on the relationship of OCC factors and control variables with adaptability and organisational performance were tested through hierarchical regression analyses and were partially confirmed. Findings highlight the need for organisations to focus on transformational leadership, change process factors (previous experience with change, valence), organisational context factors (organisational flexibility, goals for improvement), and climate (for cohesion) to help build a capacity for implementing and sustaining multiple changes. Two of the OCC factors -- climate and goals for improvement -- do not have a statistically significant relationship to either of the outcomes in this sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article interprets data from several empirical studies in Bulgaria in three areas of research interest -- transformational leadership, adaptability, and organizational performance. The first study examines transformational leadership's influence on adaptability and organizational performance. It formulates two hypotheses and tests them by using data from a broader study on organizational capacity for change among employees and managers in organizations in Bulgaria. Two hierarchical regression analyses confirm the direct and positive influence of transformational leadership on adaptability and organizational performance. Results from an additional set of research studies are used to expand the context for understanding and exploring the three areas of interest. The empirical data for these were collected through five observations on the national and organizational cultures according to Hofstede's methodology. Thus, the article's combined approach of looking at the data from unrelated studies is believed to strengthen the cognitive possibilities in the interpretation of the researched areas and established regularities. The main results point at high values observed for all three variables in Bulgaria. Cultural interpretation of some of the indicators through the years confirm these results and point at unidirectional and stable trends for some (such as growing care for employee development as part of the transformational leadership scale and weakening uncritical following of rules as part of the adaptability scale). There is reason to argue that training is more valuable to employees than job security (both part of the organizational performance scale). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and aim. The problem of antibiotic resistance is worldwide and affects many types of pathogens. This phenomenon has been growing for decades and nowadays we are faced with a wide range of worrisome pathogens that are becoming resistant and many pathogens that may soon be untreatable. The aim of this study was to determine the resistance and antibiotic treatment in chronic wounds of vascular origin. Methods. We performed a cross sectional study on a sample of patients with chronic vascular wounds, hospitalized between October 2014 and August 2015, in the Clinic of Vascular Surgery in Trakia Hospital Stara Zagora. The statistical analysis of data was descriptive, considering the p value of ≤0.05, the threshold of statistical significance. Results. In the group of 110 patients, the significantly most frequent chronic wound (p<0.001) was peripheral arteriopathy (47.3%, CI95%: 38.19-56.54). Among 159 strains, 30% of patients having multiple etiology, the species most frequently isolated were Staphylococcus aureus, E.coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Proteus mirabilis with a significant predominance (p<0.05) of the Gram negative (55.1%). The spectrum of strains resistance included the Beta-lactams (36.4%, p<0.001), Macrolides (20%), Tetracyclines (9.1%), Aminoglycosides (8.2%) and Fluoroquinolones (4.5%). Conclusions. Gram negative microorganisms were the main isolates in patients with vascular chronic wound. Significantly predominant was the resistance to the betalactam antibiotics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]