Dual mission of startups: defining and situating the concept

The main business goal of a startup is usually fast development and ultimately generating satisfactory profits. However, there are startups whose main purpose is not only to maximize financial profits, but to have a positive social impact. This noble business idea has many representatives: inspirational startups operating in the field of eco-innovation, social innovation, social change and social entrepreneurship. This article explores the ideation and practice of the concept of startups with dual mission. Literature review situates the idea within a broader context of socially responsible business practices, social innovation, social entrepreneurship and dual mission. The article is also an attempt to show what legal forms can be used for startups with dual mission in Poland

ESTABLISHMENT OF THE NATIONAL INNOVATION SYSTEM AND IMPROVEMENT OF APPROACHES TO REGULATING THE DEVELOPMENT OF INNOVATIVE ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN UKRAINE

The creation, financing, and use of higher-level technologies are of great importance in the economic growth of the national economy. Under these conditions, the task of forming and developing the national innovation system and solving the problem of increasing the regulation of the activities of domestic innovative business structures is of fundamental importance in Ukraine. The article substantiates that the lack of a balanced state policy restrains the process of developing a network of innovative infrastructures, and the low level of domestic investments and budget allocations for science, the current criteria for classifying business entities as innovative-type enterprises, non-designated applications, and the termination of benefits to innovative enterprises negatively affect the formation of the national innovation system of Ukraine. The regulation of the development of innovative enterprises is considered as a separate component of the general system of managing the innovative development of the economy, aimed at supporting its innovation-priority areas by creating an effective legislative framework and an appropriate financial and credit mechanism. The article formulates the principles of improving the organizational, economic and information support of the process of regulation of the national innovation system; the peculiarities of the separation and interconnection of the main elements in the scheme of the phased implementation of the system of regulating the development of innovative entrepreneurship in Ukraine are determined. A scheme for the phased implementation of the program of financial and credit regulation of the development of innovative entrepreneurship in Ukraine is proposed, as well as a scheme for improving the development of the national innovation system in the context of the implementation of the goals, objectives, and tasks of the innovative development of the Ukrainian economy

E-learning : technology in teaching logistics

The impact of data, information, and knowledge on teaching and learning is more important than ever. The dynamic development of technology based on digitization, robotization, and networking is transforming the world of business and science, and universities play an extremely important role in this process. The digitization of the socioeconomic environment forces changes towards technologization. The educational process should be substantive and organized in such a way that students not only learn about technological solutions but also have the skills and competences to apply knowledge in practice. An example of such activity is the teaching and learning of logistics with the use of distance learning methods and techniques. The aim of this article is to identify the possibilities of using e-learning in teaching logistics to face the challenges of the future. The information is based on secondary and primary sources. This article uses qualitative and quantitative mixed research methods. On the one hand, books and reports, scientific articles, and Internet sources were examined during the desk research phase. On the other hand, the use of e-learning in teaching logistics at selected universities in Poland was tested using the diagnostic survey method, which involved computer-assisted web interviewing (CAWI). The collected material showed the need for using e-learning in teaching logistics. Logistics companies need employees with digital competences and skills. Therefore, using new technologies already in the education process is justified. Learning with the use of remote methods and techniques represents the essential components of the requirements of the university's technological ecosystem. The analysis of the material leads to the conclusion that the implementation of technology into the didactic process as such is not sufficient. Adoption of modern methods and technologies requires a comprehensive approach to managing educational units. It is important that the propagation of modern forms of teaching has the understanding and support of users who are an inherent component of the educational ecosystem structure

Smart logistics : sustainable technological innovations in customer service at the last-mile stage : the Polish perspective

The present day is marked by the economic expansiveness of societies and the adoption and adaptation of intelligent technologies. In this hyper-world, customers expect a personalized offer enhanced with customized service, which results in the introduction of sustainable and intelligent solutions—among other services. What becomes important is not so much the "Primum non nocere" of creation as much as the "go smart to the future" in creating. The smart logistics concept is a representation of this trend. The subject of the article is an analysis of the impact of the application of the smart idea in the field of sustainable development on changes in logistics in customer service at the last-mile stage. The source of this article is exploratory research of secondary sources, including books, articles, and reports, which has been subjected to a critical content analysis. The obtained results made it possible to design and implement an explanatory study of online-buying habits of people based on the CAWI (Computer Assisted Web Interview) methodology. The collected material has become the basis for the authors to indicate the applicability of smart logistics in the field of last-mile logistics, which can be used by researchers and training institutions in the field of professionalization of management of intelligent logistics processes in customer service at the last-mile stage. The last-mile service in logistics involves reaching the largest possible number of recipients, however, it has a negative impact on the natural environment, which, of course, contradicts the concept of sustainable development, including trends that are noticeable in the logistics market, customers, and in the law. Hence, it is important to look for solutions that allow us to achieve the appropriate level of customer service in the last mile, but at the same time, take care of the natural environment. The study was narrowed down to the Polish perspective due to the growing demand for last-mile logistics services. Moreover, Poland is still a country where the concept of sustainable development is not fully understood and used. The research allowed us to indicate the directions of development of the last-mile service processes by considering the technological innovations that may support the application of the concept of sustainable development

The future of work in automated warehouse from the perspective of the employees

Contemporary enterprises operate in conditions of high uncertainty, where competition takes place not only at the level of prices of products or services offered, but above all on quality. The time taken to deliver a product or service is one of the most important quality measures. The role and importance of the logistics system in the current competitive environment is of fundamental importance. Warehouses have ceased to be perceived as cost centers, just being a central place in the flow of goods, and are gaining ever more importance in building a lasting competitive advantage. There are also growing requirements for modern warehouses (identification of the place where the goods are stored, efficient means of internal transport, the possibility of quick product picking). Technological progress and automation has a huge impact on the way warehouse processes are carried out and managed. And this technology is developing extremely quickly, radically changing work in the warehouse. Elimination of errors, increased efficiency, significant reduction of operating costs, assurance of constant availability of the full range of goods, the improvement of process control, increase of precision and speed of information flow are some of the benefits of introducing automation in the warehouse. Although warehouse processes are becoming increasingly automated, people will still have to a role by collaborating and interacting with machines. Due to the fact that the interaction between man and machine in warehouse work has not been the subject of much attention in contemporary literature on the subject, the purpose of the article is to assess the impact of automation on warehouse work, through CAPI research directed at warehouse employees. What impact the current technology has on people’s work was assessed, whether large fluctuations and staff shortages among warehouse workers are not a repercussion of treating them as supplementary to modern machines, or whether they feel at risk of losing their jobs due to automation

Organizational flexibility as a challenge of contemporary management. Determinants and methods of measurement

Purpose: This paper has been aimed at defining contemporary management flexibility determinants and the methods of its measurement. Problem investigated: This paper presents an analysis of organizational flexibility determinants related to the contemporary concepts and challenges within the area of management. The discussion includes two types of measurement of organizational flexibility based on declarative tests and quantitative criteria. The described methods are subject to evaluation. The paper also presents authors' own proposal for determinants classification, organizational flexibility assessment and an exemplary application. Methodology: The paper has been based on the results of research on organizational flexibility conducted by the Department of Business Studies Aalborg University (Denmark) and Wrocław University of Economics (Poland). Conclusion: Organizational flexibility constitutes one of the major challenges of contemporary management. This issue has already been extensively discussed, however, despite numerous publications and relevant research projects many issues still need to be resolved. One of them is organizational flexibility measurement. In the first place, it needs a description of flexibility determinants relevant to a certain organization. There are no objective methods that would allow a description of the set of determinants since they are dependent on organization's special features and individually set objectives. In addition, it should be noted that those factors are subject to change, in line with the development of theory and concepts of management. The very flexibility measurement requires simultaneous application of various methods of factor analysis and polling stakeholder opinions

СУТНІСТЬ ТРАНСФОРМАЦІЇ СОЦІАЛЬНО-ЕКОНОМІЧНИХ ВІДНОСИН У НАЦІОНАЛЬНІЙ ЕКОНОМІЦІ: ТЕОРЕТИКО-МЕТОДОЛОГІЧНИЙ АСПЕКТ

The article is devoted to a thorough study of the theoretical and methodological foundations of the essence of the transformation of socio-economic relations of the national economy. Based on the study of scientific sources, a proper definition of the concept of "transformation of socio-economic relations" was formed. It is proposed to consider transformational processes from the point of view of their direct or indirect impact on other sectors and the economy in general. The need to understand and perceive the essence of transformation from the point of view of the transformation of socio-economic relations as such is well-founded. The article formulates the author\u27s approaches to identifying the types of transformation of socio-economic relations, it’s possible and confirmed forms of manifestation, basic characteristics and features. The author\u27s understanding of the concept of transformation potential of socio-economic relations of the national economy and the transformation cycle is outlined. A vision of the intensity, efficiency and frequency of transformational changes and the limits of transformation was formed. Characterization of the period and stages of transformational changes that lead to socio-economic shocks and cause socio-economic instability, periods of fluctuations, including ups and downs, socio-economic crisis, transformational trap is made.Стаття присвячена ґрунтовному дослідженню теоретико-методологічних засад сутності трансформації соціально-економічних відносин національної економіки. На підставі опрацювання наукових джерел сформульовано власне визначення поняття «трансформація соціально-економічних відносин». Запропоновано розглядати трансформаційні процеси з точки зору їхнього прямого чи опосередкованого впливу на інші сектори та економіку загалом. Обґрунтована необхідність розуміння та сприйняття сутності трансформації з точки зору трансформації соціально-економічних відносин як таких. У статті сформульовані авторські підходи до виокремлення видів трансформації соціально-економічних відносин, її можливих і підтверджених форм прояву, базових характерних ознак і особливостей. Окреслено авторське розуміння поняття трансформаційного потенціалу соціально-економічних відносин національної економіки й трансформаційного циклу. Сформовано бачення інтенсивності, ефективності та частоти трансформаційних змін і меж трансформації. Складена характеристика періоду й стадій трансформаційних змін, які призводять до соціально-економічних шоків та спричиняють соціально-економічну нестабільність, періоди коливань, у тому числі піднесень і спадів, соціально-економічної кризи, трансформаційної пастки

Professionalization of university management in Poland

The professionalization of university management takes place in many countries and is part of the transformation of the higher education sector. Professionalization of university management in the USA, Great Britain, many EU countries and other parts of the world includes the implementation of the concept of strategic management of public and private universities, as well as strengthening and improving the administration and professional development of managers in the higher education sector. The adoption of Law 2.0 creates an organizational space for the introduction of various management solutions. The basis of organizational changes is the increase in competition, diversity of the university's mission and internationalization. It can be argued that greater freedom in the application of various organizational solutions and increased competition will favor the professionalization of management. Numerous strategic, structural and managerial solutions will be tested at universities and adjusted to their needs

Sustainability Culture of Polish Universities in Professionalization of Management

The process of management professionalization is progressing in many universities in the world. It results from the growing importance of technology, globalization, social and economic transformations, including the requirement of competitive operation in market conditions. This process is based on the principles of social responsibility for the quality of services provided with transparency as well as respect for the idea of sustainable development. The subject of the considerations in the article is the impact of sustainable development on the culture of the quality of professionalization of management in universities operating in Poland. The exploratory inspiration came from the authors’ own experiences and secondary sources, including books, articles and reports. The research methods used were participant observation and critical analysis of the content of the collected materials. The obtained results made it possible to design and conduct a descriptive and explanatory nomothetic study based on survey with direct questionnaire. The collected material became the basis for implementation of the idea of sustainable development and its impact on the quality culture of professionalization of university management in the future. The suggestions proposed by the authors may be used by university managers to define a development roadmap in the field of professionalization of teaching and organizational processes management based on the concept of sustainable development