THE STRATEGIC PERFORMANCE MANAGEMENT PROCESS

Contemporary trends in global competition, rapid technological developments and increased use of management information systems and the Internet, developments in planning and control and management thinking, and changing demographics are putting pressuresstrategy, performance management, strategic objectives, management.

Methods and Conditions for Achieving Continuous Improvement of Processes

In the early twentieth century, the Taylor model improved, in a spectacular maner the efficiency of the production processes. This allowed obtaining high productivity by low-skilled workers, but used in large number in the execution of production. Currently this model is questioned by experts and was replaced by the concept of "continuous improvement". The first signs of change date from the '80s, with the apparition of quality circles and groups of operators on quality issues, principles which are also found in other continuous improvement strategies like: TQM (Total Quality Management), TPM (Total Production Maintenance), Kaizen and Six-Sigma. All these strategies are based on an active participation of the workers. Within this framework, many companies organize autonomous teams of workers responsible for organizing their work and improve economic performances.continuous improvement; segment improvement; Kaizen; TQM; TPM; autonomous teams; Six Sigma.

MODERN INSTRUMENTS FOR MEASURING ORGANIZATIONAL PERFORMANCE

Any significant management action can be assessed both in terms of success of immediate goals and as effect of the organization ability to embrace change. Market competition intensifies with the development of Romanian society and its needs. Companies that offer different products and services need to impose certain advantages and to increase their performances. The paper will present modern tools for measuring and evaluating organizational performance, namely: Balanced Scorecard, Deming model and Baldrige model. We also present an example for Balance Scorecard, of an organizations belonging to the cosmetics industry.management, performance, balance scorecard, performance measurement

THE IMPACT OF ORGANIZATIONS' POTENTIAL OF COMPETITIVENESS ON THEIR CURRENT STRATEGIC AND TACTICAL MOVEMENTS

Organizations' competitiveness is an effect of their current strategic and tactical movements and also a cause, a driver of future performance. This paper aims to analyze competitiveness in dynamics, by taking into account the impact of organizations' potential of competitiveness on their current actions, which of course will lead to a higher or lower level of competitiveness in future.organizations, potential of competitiveness, sustained competitive advantage, strategy, management, dynamics

Managerial Practices of Increasing Organizational Performances in a Competitive Environment

Excellence in management is a must in today's competitive business environment. Business has become complex and global. Traditional management practices like: strategy planning, personnel organization, budget setting and problem solving on a daily basis are still essential. Yet the emphasis is shifting. More and more significance is being placed on the organizations ability to survive and to achieve performance in these turbulent times. Management practices must evolve and change to continue to meet the need of an organization. This paper examines the management practices required in today's companies, necessary for achieving good results in organizational performances.management, managerial practices, organizational performance.

NEW TECHNOLOGIES AND INFRASTRUCTURES OF FINANCIAL SERVICES

This paper presents a view over recent developments in the underlying infrastructure of the financial system, more specifically electronic trading and how computers have taken over classic trading mechanisms. While some of the benefits are easy to agree upon, evidence shows that technical discrepancies have made the order book unequal fighting ground for traders. The findings of the paper suggests that in practice, high frequency trading is actually detrimental to order book health and degrades liquidity and overall quality of execution of regular trades

THE ECONOMICS AND IMPLICATIONS OF AN INTIAL PUBLIC OFFERING

This paper aims at providing insight into the mechanics of an initial public offering, for both companies prospecting the choice of financing themselves on the market as well as investors looking to build their portfolio. The study shows that for certain applications, getting finance through an IPO is a very compelling and flexible option for companies as well as provide valid opportunities for investors. For emerging market IPOs should be a tool for development aside from classic debt instruments, however potential investors need to be aware of risks and drawbacks associated with the decision to participate or underwrite in an IPO

COMPETITIVENESS AND PERFORMANCE ON THE COSMETICS MARKET

Most organizations are going through massive changes. Their customers are changing, their competition is changing, their customerâ€(tm)s needs are changing and their resources availability is changing - the cosmetics companies are no different. Organizational survival and success depends on the ability of the managers to detect and adapt to critical changes in the environment, which may impact the company. \\r\\nThe paper has two main purposes. First to underline the importance performance measurement has in todayâ€(tm)s business and second to present a few key elements regarding the performance of the cosmetics sector in Romania. For this we have tried to answer the following question: Are the cosmetics companies competitive? \\r\\nThis paper is based on exploratory literature review of different approaches regarding organizational performances in organizations in general. \\r\\nDespite the global economic crisis and the general slowdown of many markets, the Romanian beauty and personal care market continued to grow in 2009. Consumer awareness and product knowledge is growing rapidly and the development of retailing chains and their widening product offer have also helped to further the development of the beauty and personal care market.\\r\\nThe paper also presents the results of section three of an online survey conducted at 10 cosmetic companies from Romania. The results have shown that multinationals have both the economic and managerial power to succeed in obtaining their goals. Even though the sample of 72 respondents was rather small, we managed to conclude from the received answers that the majority of companies focus on economic and managerial performance rather than on social and ecological performance indicators. \\r\\nThis paper aimed to contribute to the literature review development in the field of performance management. The results of this study can be of use for managers from the analyzed domain or for other researchers in the economic field. \\r\\nThe authors have contributed to the originality of this paper, by presenting pertinent conclusions about the cosmetics market from Romania, resulted from the literature review and from an empirical study. \\r\\nmanagement, performance, cosmetics market, competition

ACHIEVING SUSTAINABLE SECURITY â€" VULNERABLE PUBLIC GOOD IN THE CONTEXT OF A NONPOLAR SECURITY ENVIRONMENT. SHIFTS IN THE CONCEPT OF SECURITY

It is important to start our assumptions from the fact that, from some economistsâ€(tm) point of view, most of the cases which were considered examples of actual public goods were found to be wrong. So, what we want to find out is whether, considering the fact that security must not be provided only through private means, we can still talk about an equal distribution of it, or it has shifted to a selective distribution of security. In order to answer the question whether security can still be provided by the state in an equal distributional system, we will use it as a premise and try to prove it. Beginning with the theoretical characteristics of a public good and with the definitions of the present concept of security we will try to find out if one can still speak of security as a public good, and moreover, as a global public good.public goods, global public good, security

Approaches on the Operational Performance of Production Systems

The performance concept originated from the concept of firm management. The performance management of the firm involves improving its value-cost relationship, which means that the firm will be able to build a product or service, in terms of achieving cost and profitability targets, and compare the results with strategic forecasts. In addition, performance management also requires the firm's ability to develop a dynamic and continuous progress. In such conditions, its performance evaluation is not an objective in itself, but a means used by the organization to achieve progress. The paper will address issues which relate to improving performance and all the instruments used for this purpose.management, competitiveness, operational performance, performance management, production systems.