PROS AND CONS OF USING ALGORITHMIC MANAGEMENT IN HUMAN RESOURCE

The opportunities that Artificial Intelligence and the principles of Algorithmic management provide to modern managers bring undeniable advantages for the development of a competitive business in today\u27s extremely difficult business environment. At the same time, however, the effect of their use should be carefully analysed from the point of view of the compliance of the employees opinion in the enterprise - mainly in line with the observance and guarantee of basic rights of the employees. In this regard, the European Parliament and the European Council launched a legislative initiative to define harmonized rules within the Community on the use of artificial intelligence. Concepts such as "algorithmic discrimination" were introduced quite purposefully at the regulation level, given the risk of possible abuses associated with the use of AI. This report aims to ascertain the views of employers and employees on the use of artificial intelligence in Human Resource Management. The report presents and analyses data from an empirical study conducted among managers and employees in leading ICT enterprises in Bulgaria. According to our responders, one of the biggest advantages of using AI in Human Resources Management is related to the elimination of subjectivity in performance evaluation and the possibility of fair play in the procedures of internal selection of employees. At the same time, employees with more experience (over 10 years) are more sceptical of the idea of their work performance being evaluated solely by AI, while younger workers show more trust in AI solutions. However, both managers and workers recognize that it is best for the final decision in determining career development to be made by a person, but justified by the analyses made by AI. The report draws conclusions and recommendations that can serve both researchers and business managers. Certainly, AI is yet to undergo a very large development and application, including in the Human Resource Management, but at the same time it should not be at the expense of affected rights

Research of the Environmental Development for Implementation of European Projects by the Bulgarian Municipalities

The paper presents the results of survey dedicated to the European funds and their role to the development of the local community in Bulgaria. The survey was conducted in the beginning of 2019 among representatives, from different hierarchical level, of the Bulgarian municipalities. The authors claim that for the small municipalities with limited financial budget and lack of well-developed local economy, which is not directly based on the specific location for tourist services or big private investment, the European funding is the major instrument for the realization of local public policy and regional development. The results of survey show the improvement of the positive attitude towards environment and institutional system of management EU funds in Bulgaria in comparison with the previous programming period

Opportunities For European And National Funding Forbulgarian Cultural, Creative And REcreative Business

Стаття присвячена дослідженню та аналізу можливостей європейського та національного фінансування болгарського культурного, творчого та рекреаційного бізнесу. У цій статті автор досліджує різні можливості (як національні, так і європейські) для проектного фінансування культури та творчих болгарських підприємств. Основна логіка полягає в тому, що як тільки економічний сектор (або сектори) оголошено стратегічним та пріоритетним, тоді для його розвитку слід передбачити спеціальний фінансовий механізм. Культура та креативний бізнес (ЦКБ) стали пріоритетом для Європейського Союзу, відповідно - для європейської економічної політики як однієї з реальних можливостей, яка може стати двигуном для решти секторів економіки. Це розуміння культури та творчого бізнесу цілком підходить для невеликої національної економіки, такою як Болгарія. Вивчено законодавчу та інституційну основу для культури та творчих галузей (ТПП). Виділено Інноваційну стратегію інтелектуальної спеціалізації Республіки Болгарія (2014-202), а також Національну програму розвитку: Болгарія 2020. Стаття узагальнює можливості європейського фінансування проектів від ТПП за двома основними точками зору - бізнесом та культурою. Автор підкреслює, що загалом болгарські малі та середні підприємства мають право представляти проектні пропозиції та пропонує спеціальні заходи для сприяння підприємництву, які можуть бути використані для розробки нової ідеї. Дослідження передбачає, що для болгарських організацій, що працюють у ТПП, європейські програми, якими керують безпосередньо з Брюсселя, менш зацікавлені, ніж ці програми, якими керує Софія. З іншого боку, Болгарія посідає на сьогодні 7 місце в реалізації плану Юнкер, що можна розглядати як крок у правильному напрямку для вивчення всіх можливостей для фінансування.The article is devoted to the exploring and analysis of the opportunities for European and National funding for Bulgarian cultural, creative and recreative business. In this article, the author explores different possibilities (both national and European) for project funding of culture and creative Bulgarian enterprises. The basic logic is that once an economic sector (or sectors) has been declared as strategic and priority, then special financial mechanism should be envisaged for its development. Culture and Creative Business (CCB) has become a priority for European Union, respectively – for European economy policy as one of the real opportunities which could act as an engine for the rest of the economic sectors. This understanding for Culture and Creative Business is entirely appropriate for small national economy such Bulgaria is. Legislative and institutional framework for Culture and Creative Industries (CCI) has been studied. Innovation Strategy for smart specialization of the Republic of Bulgaria (2014-202) as well as the National Development Programme: Bulgaria 2020 are highlighted. Thearticle generalizes the opportunities for European funding of projects from CCI by two main points of view - business and culture. The author emphasizes that in general, Bulgarian small and medium-sized enterprises are eligible to present project proposals and suggests the special activities to promote entrepreneurship, which could be used to developed new idea. The study assumes that for Bulgarian organizations working in the CCI, the European programmes managed directly from Brussels are less interested than these programmes which are managed from Sofia. On the other hand, Bulgaria takes 7th place so far in Junker’s plan implementation which is could be consider as a step in right direction to explore all opportunities for funding

Good practices of using Artificial Intelligence in the digitalization of higher education

The present research is dedicated to the good practices of using AI in the overall digitalization of higher education. The primary objective is to identify good practices used by the universities in implementing AI technologies in their everyday life for edu-cational and administrative needs. At the same time, our additional goal is to understand the expectations of students for further im-plementation of AI in universities. We developed our research in 2 main stages: the first one – the collection and identification of good practices of universities with AI and digitalization, and the second one – is devoted to students' expectations. We conducted 25 inter-views with representatives of 18 Bulgarian universities responsible for digitalization. The second stage was to provide a survey among students (n=254). Our findings reveal that digitalization is one of the leading priorities for universities; most universities have specific strategic documents for digitalization. Several challenges are outlined for smooth digitalization: lack of sufficient resources (including financial, administrative capacity, etc.); unwell-prepared infrastructure (including lack of shared vision for the different systems used so far within the university); the emergence of various types of resistance (both in academic and administrative staff) etc. The signifi-cant advantage for universities using AI is seen in the improved quality of the educational process (including the introduction of new educational perspectives through new technologies), improved administrative service, and enhanced public image, which reflects an increased number of potential candidates

Basic principles in evaluation of fast-growing companies operating in innovation-intensive industries

In recent years, when the world economy has been recovering from the crisis caused by the pandemic, the opportunities for economic development have taken on a new meaning and started to sound relevant again. Fast-growing firms may be considered a similar opportunity, especially those operating in innovation-intensive sectors of the economy. Their example can serve both academics and practitioners to analyze the characteristics and features that predetermine their rapid growth and, on this base, to create a model that startup companies can use. The preset paper aims to define such factors and specifics that describe fast-growing companies operating in innovative-intensive sectors of the economy

Dynamical membrane curvature instability controlled by intermonolayer friction

International audienceWe study a dynamical curvature instability caused by a local chemical modification of a phospholipid membrane. In our experiments, a basic solution is microinjected close to a giant unilamellar vesicle, which induces a local chemical modification of some lipids in the external monolayer of the membrane. This modification causes a local deformation of the vesicle, which then relaxes. We present a theoretical description of this instability, taking into account both the change of the equilibrium lipid density and the change of the spontaneous membrane curvature induced by the chemical modification. We show that these two types of changes of the membrane properties yield different dynamics. In contrast, it is impossible to distinguish them when studying the equilibrium shape of a vesicle subjected to a global modification. In our model, the longest relaxation timescale is related to the intermonolayer friction, which plays an important part when there is a change in the equilibrium density in one monolayer. We compare our experimental results to the predictions of our model by fitting the measured time evolution of the deformation height to the solution of our dynamical equations. We obtain good agreement between theory and experiments. Our fits enable us to estimate the intermonolayer friction coefficient, yielding values that are consistent with previous measurements

The oral cavity- reservoir of infection with Helicobacter pylori

The oral cavity has been established as an entrance door and second ecological niche of Helicobacter pylori (HP). This question remains open - is the oral cavity a source of stomach infection or a cause of re-infection, recurrence or persistence of the infection? The aim of this study is to evaluate the frequency of HP infection into dental plaque and saliva on the base of performed screening, parallel and post-eradication investigation. In the context of this research the method of PCR has been implemented. In the course of the screening examination HP infection has been proved in 66% of all the cases. By the means of parallel investigation a combined infection has been confirmed in 62% of all the cases - presence of HP in the stomach and into the dental plaque. Concerning the HP infection into the dental plaque, it is in co-relation with both of the symptoms - periodontitis and halitosis. Taking into consideration these facts, we can conclude that oral cavity serves as a reservoir of infection, as well as a source for its tranfer into the stomach. Poor oral health status, including clinical findings of periodontitis and halitosis, have to be accepted as alarming markers for HP infection into the oral cavity and stomach. It is of great necessity for the patient to organize regular visits to the dentist for dental plaque control and tartar removal and maintenance of proper oral-dental condition as a measure of prevention of HP infection

Improving HR management in innovative business organizations through digitalization and ICT

Today`s business organizations face enormous challenges: an unpredictable, unsecured and complex business environment, strong competitiveness, substitute products, spoiled customers with growing needs and demands, pandemic restrictions and social isola-tion, post-pandemic situation and recovery, economy crisis, military conflicts etc. On this background the rapid development of information and communication technologies offers very logical and convenient way to secure company`s existence and growth. Recent past years proved that the usage of ICT in HR management opens new horizon both for the employees and their manag-ers. On the other hand, the implementation of Artificial Intelligence and digitalization in HR management is not an unambigu-ous process. Still there are many open questions concerning ethics, personal freedom of employees etc. The aim of the present article is to understand the opinion of young people as future employees on the usage of ICT and AI in companies and on this base to propose some workable solutions for improving HR management in innovative business organizations. Our findings indi-cate that young people are not yet ready to accept the decision made only by AI without any interference from the managers. At the same time our responders admit that the most serious advantage of AI is in collection and analysis of large amounts of data, while the most serious limitation is the heavy reliance on the technology, which is the logical result in digital era

METHODOLOGY FOR DEFINING THE ATTITUDE OF BULGARIAN SMES TO IMPLEMENT CHANGE MANAGEMENT

Nowadays competitiveness is a synonym of flexibility and adaptability to the dynamic economic environment and only these enterprises that are proactive in order to satisfy the increasing customers’ needs will survive at the market. Change management is one of the leading concept to improve competitiveness and Bulgarian SMEs have to be prepared and opened to implement changes. The article proposes a methodology for defining the attitude of the Bulgarian Small and Medium Enterprises to implement change management

Interplay of packing and flip-flop in local bilayer deformation. How phosphatidylglycerol could rescue mitochondrial function in a cardiolipin-deficient yeast mutant

In a previous work, we have shown that a spatially localized transmembrane pH gradient, produced by acid micro-injection near the external side of cardiolipin-containing giant unilamellar vesicles, leads to the formation of tubules that retract after the dissipation of this gradient. These tubules have morphologies similar to mitochondrial cristae. The tubulation effect is due to direct phospholipid packing modification in the outer leaflet that is promoted by protonation of cardiolipin headgroups. Here we compare the case of cardiolipin-containing giant unilamellar vesicles with that of phosphatidylglycerol-containing giant unilamellar vesicles. Local acidification also promotes formation of tubules in the latter. However, compared to cardiolipin-containing giant unilamellar vesicles the tubules are longer, exhibit a visible pearling and have a much longer lifetime after acid micro-injection is stopped. We attribute these differences to an additional mechanism that increases monolayer surface imbalance, namely inward PG flip-flop promoted by the local transmembrane pH-gradient. Simulations using a fully non-linear membrane model as well as geometrical calculations are in agreement with this hypothesis. Interestingly, among yeast mutants deficient in cardiolipin biosynthesis, only the crd1-null mutant, which accumulates phosphatidylglycerol, displays significant mitochondrial activity. Our work provides a possible explanation of such a property and further emphasizes the salient role of specific lipids in mitochondrial function.Comment: 28 pages, 10 figure