Impact of new knowledge on competitiveness of small enterprises in hospitality industry

Temeljni je cilj doktorske disertacije identificirati sve teorijske pretpostavke i ponuditi validne empirijske dokaze o utjecaju novih znanja na konkurentnost malog poduzetništva u ugostiteljstvu. Istražuju se teorijski i praktični aspekti znanja kao temeljnog poduzetničkog resursa, počevši od usvajanja novog znanja, upravljanja njime i primjeni suvremene informacijske tehnologije. Istražuju se pojam i značenje obrazovanja, zatim značenje e-obrazovanja i cjeloživotnog obrazovanja u Europskoj uniji i u Republici Hrvatskoj, osposobljavanja i usavršavanja za poduzetnost, s posebnim osvrtom na teorijske i praktične aspekte ljudskog i intelektualnog kapitala kao važnih čimbenika konkurentnosti. Posebno se istražuju relevantni teorijski i praktični aspekti malog poduzetništva, razlikovne odrednice poduzetnika i menadžera, poželjne poduzetničke osobine te poticanje malog poduzetništva. Istražuju se značenje i povijest malog poduzetništva u ugostiteljstvu, s posebnim naglaskom na hotelijerstvo i restoraterstvo. Izrazita pozornost posvećuje se analizi srednjoškolskog i visokoškolskog obrazovanja kadrova za potrebe ugostiteljstva i turizma te kadrovima za turističku animaciju, šport i medicinu. Posebno se istražuje značenje koje imaju poslovna inteligencija i suvremena informacijska tehnologija te e-trgovina i eposlovanje kod stvaranja konkurentske prednosti malog poduzetništva u ugostiteljstvu. U središtu pozornosti je istraživanje konkurentnosti i konkurentskih prednosti malog poduzetništva u ugostiteljstvu te mogućih potencijala za njegovo povećanje, kao što su: poslovna etika, društvena odgovornost, održivi razvoj te marketing i menadžment. Na kraju se istražuje obrazovni sustav i mogući modeli za povećanje novih znanja i konkurentnosti malog poduzetništva u ugostiteljstvu. Suvremena gospodarstva cijelog svijeta tendiraju k ekonomiji temeljenoj na znanju, pa znanje i upravljanje znanjem postaje ključno strateško pitanje svakog poduzeća. Pozicioniranje znanja kao ključnog resursa i funkcije omogućuje konkurentsku prednost na tržištu. U svrhu iskustvenog potvrñivanja ili demantiranja općih i posebnih polaznih hipoteza te analitički, sintetički, dedukcijski i indukcijski izvedenih zaključaka, provodi se vlastito empirijsko istraživanje, a u nekim se slučajevima koriste već publicirani rezultati i zaključci empirijskih istraživanja relevantnih domaćih i stranih autora i institucija. Predmet i ciljevi istraživanja u sklopu ove disertacije usmjereni su u pravcu teorijske elaboracije te empirijskog dokazivanja ili opovrgavanja jedne opće i četiri posebne hipoteze. Poseban je znanstveni doprinos ove doktorske disertacije teoriji i praksi primjene novih znanja u izgradnji konkurentnosti poduzeća i sektoru malog poduzetništva u ugostiteljstvu, jer se predočava sustavan pregled teorijskih spoznaja i empirijskih dokaza na tu temu, jer se kritički analizira zatečeno stanje primjene novih znanja, jer se razrađuje metodologija istraživanja odnosa i stupnja korištenja novih znanja i obrazovanja na stvaranje konkurentske prednosti malog poduzetništva u ugostiteljstvu, sukladna istraživanjima u domaćoj i svjetskoj znanstvenoj literaturi. Nalazi empirijskog istraživanja u ovoj doktorskoj disertaciji nedvojbeno potvrđuju presudnu važnost utjecaja novih znanja, informatičke tehnologije, cjeloživotnog obrazovanja i edukacije ugostiteljskih zaposlenika na povećanje konkurentnosti malog poduzetništva u ugostiteljstvu.The basic objective of this doctoral dissertation is to identify all theoretical assumptions and to offer valid empirical evidence on the impact of new knowledge on the competitiveness of small enterprises in hospitality industry. Theoretical and practical aspects of knowledge are researched as the basic entrepreneurial resource, starting from the adoption of new knowledge, its management and application of modern information technology. The notion and significance of education is researched, then the significance of e-education and lifelong education in the European Union and the Republic of Croatia, training and improvement for enterprise spirit, with a special review of theoretical and practical aspects of human and intellectual capital as important competitiveness factors. Relevant aspects of small enterprises are individually researched, as well as distinctive determinants of entrepreneurs and managers, desirable entrepreneurial features and promotion of small enterprises. The significance and history of small enterprises in hospitality industry is researched, with a special emphasis on hotel and restaurant industry. Major attention is given to the analysis of secondary and higher education of the personnel needed in hospitality and tourism, as well as the personnel for tourist animation, sport and medicine. The significance of business intelligence and modern information technology is individually researched, as well as e-trade and e-business in the creation of competitive advantage of small enterprises in hospitality industry. The research of competitiveness and competitive advantage of small enterprises in hospitality industry is the centre of attention as well as of possible potentials for its increase, such as: business ethics, social accountability, sustainable development, marketing and management. Finally, educational system is researched and possible models for the increase of new knowledge and competitiveness of small enterprises in hospitality industry. Modern economies of the entire world tend towards knowledge-based economy, so knowledge and knowledge management have become the key strategic issue of each enterprise. Positioning of knowledge as the key resource and function enables competitive advantage on the market. For the purpose of empirical verification or denial of general and special initial hypotheses and conclusions derived in an analytical, synthetic, deductive and inductive manner, own empirical research is conducted, and in some cases already published results and conclusions of empirical researches of relevant domestic and foreign authors and institutions are used. The subject matter and objectives of research within the framework of this dissertation are oriented towards theoretical elaboration and empirical assertion or refutation of one general and four special hypotheses. A special scientific contribution of this doctoral dissertation to the theory and practice of applying new knowledge is in the building of competitiveness of enterprises and small enterprises sector in hospitality industry, since a systematical outline of theoretical knowledge and empirical evidence regarding this topic are presented, since the found status in application of new knowledge is critically analyzed, since the methodology of researching the relation and degree of using new knowledge and education to the creation of competitive advantage of small enterprises in hospitality industry is elaborated, compliant with researches in domestic and foreign scientific literature. Findings of empirical research in this doctoral dissertation undoubtedly confirm how crucially important new knowledge, information technology, lifelong education and education of hospitality employees are for the increase of competitiveness of small enterprises in hospitality industry

Analysis of competitiveness of apple production on Croatian family farms

Cilj ovog rada bio je istražiti koje su glavne značajke konkurentnosti proizvodnje jabuka u deset odabranih hrvatskih obiteljskih poljoprivrednih gospodarstava (u daljnjem tekstu OPG) i njihova usporedba s najkonkurentnijim regijama za proizvodnju jabuka. Postoji šest faktora u analizi i ocjeni konkurentnosti proizvodnje jabuka: prinos po hektaru, pristup tržištu, kvaliteta prinosa, sigurnost proizvodnje, pristup kapitalu i površina nasada. Istražilo se koliko su vlasnici hrvatskih OPG-ova zadovoljni svojom konkurentnošću prema navedenim faktorima i kako se rangiraju u odnosu na najkonkurentnije svjetske proizvođače. Istraživanje je provedeno pomoću anketnog upitnika koji je distribuiran online tijekom veljače 2021. godine na uzorku od deset hrvatskih OPG-ova koji imaju površinu nasada od 4 do 20 hektara.The objective of this paper is to investigate the main characteristics of apple production competitiveness in ten Croatian family farms and their comparison with the most competitive regions for apple production. There are six factors in the analysis and assessment of the competitiveness of apple production: yield per hectare, market access, yield quality, production safety, access to capital and orchard area. We have been researching how satisfied the owners of Croatian family farms are with their competitiveness, according to the stated factors and how they rank in relation to the most competitive world producers. The research was conducted using a survey questionnaire that was distributed online during February 2021 to a sample of ten Croatian family farms with a plantation area of 4 to 20 hectares

Analysis of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and post-pandemic period on online purchasing habits of Croatian consumers

Pandemija bolesti COVID-19 uzrokovala je globalno zatvaranje cijeloga gospodarstva, s čijim su se posljedicama suočile i tradicionalne trgovine. Te su se posljedice odrazile i na društveni aspekt svakodnevnoga života, uključujući zdravlje i obrazovni sustav, a sportske su aktivnosti bile privremeno onemogućene. Strah potrošača od zaraze novim virusom doveo je do snažnog rasta mrežne trgovine. Ciljevi ovog rada bili su istražiti jesu li potrošači više kupovali na internetu tijekom pandemije bolesti COVID-19 u odnosu na tradicionalne prodavaonice, kako je pandemija promijenila trendove u mrežnoj trgovini te jesu li kupovne navike potrošača ostale iste i u razdoblju postpandemije bolesti COVID-19. Polazna hipoteza u ovom radu bila je da su u postpandemiji bolesti COVID-19 hrvatski potrošači zadržali svoje kupovne navike u mrežnoj trgovini koje su imali i tijekom pandemije. Primarni podatci prikupljeni su pomoću anketnog istraživanja i upitnika koji je distribuiran prigodnom uzorku od 141 ispitanika/ica, a analiza rezultata istraživanja prikazana je u ovom radu.The COVID-19 pandemic caused a global shutdown of entire economies, impacting traditional retail businesses as well. Its consequences extended to the social aspects of people’s daily lives, including health and the education system, with temporary restrictions imposed on sports activities. Consumers’ fears of contracting the new virus led to a substantial growth in online trade. The aims of this paper were to investigate whether consumers increasingly favoured online shopping over traditional stores during the COVID-19 pandemic, how the pandemic altered trends in online shopping, and whether consumer purchasing habits remained the same in the post-pandemic period. The initial hypothesis in this paper was that in the post-pandemic period, Croatian consumers maintained their online purchasing habits that they had during the pandemic. Primary data was collected through survey research and a questionnaire distributed to a convenient sample of 141 respondents, with the analysis of research results presented in this paper

THE RESULTS OF EMPIRICAL RESEARCH ON FAMILY BUSINESS IN CROATIA

U radu su predočeni nalazi četverogodišnjega istraživanja o nekim aspektima hrvatskoga obiteljskoga poduzetništva, kao što su: spolna struktura nositelja projekata obiteljskog poduzetništva, krediti i zaposlenici prema spolnoj strukturi nositelja projekata, formalno obrazovanje nositelja projekata, pravni oblici projekata obiteljskog poduzetništva, oblici jamstava traženih kredita i područja djelatnosti projekata obiteljskog poduzetništva. Istraživanje je provedeno na cjelokupnoj populaciji reflektanata na poticajne kredite Hrvatske banke za obnovu i razvitak iz Programa kreditiranja za poticanje zasnivanja maloga poduzetništva. O ciljnoj populaciji i uzorkovanju potrebno je napomenuti da je u četiri godine obuke bilo ponuđeno ukupno 1.699 projekata malog poduzetništva iz navedenoga Programa. Projekti obiteljskog poduzetništva sudjelovali su u tome sa 39,67% (674 projekta), u tome su žene (nositeljice projekata) ponudile ukupno 483 projekta, od kojih je bilo 195 (ili 40,37%) projekata obiteljskog poduzetništva, a muškarci su (nositelji projekata) ponudili ukupno 1.216 projekata, od kojih je bilo 479 (ili 39,39%) projekata obiteljskog poduzetništva.The work contains the fi ndings after four year long research in some aspects of Croatian family business i.e. the family business principal`s sex structure, employees according to the principal`s sex structure, loans, the principal`s formal education, family business legal forms, forms of collateral for loans applied for, and the range of activities covered by family business projects.The research has been made on the whole population of prospective takers of promotive loans offered by the Croatian Bank for Reconstruction and Development from their Program of fi nancing the promotion of small business establishment. As regards the target population and sampling, it is important to note that during the four years of education a total of 1,699 small business projects were offered from the mentioned Program. 39.67% of it were family business projects (674 projects); women as project principals offered a total of 483 projects, 195 (40.37 %) of which were family business projects, whereas men as project principals offered a total of 1,216 projects, 479 (39.39 %) of which were family business projects

THE IMPACT OF NEUROMARCETING TO CONSUMER BEHAVIOR

U suvremenom poslovanju, sve više poduzeća odlučuje se za neuromarketing koji im uvelike može pomoći u istraživanju tržišta, želja i potreba potrošača. Neuromarketing se definira kao spoj neuroznanosti i marketinga. Korištenjem neuroimaginga, odnosno slikovnih prikaza mozga istraživači mogu saznati jesu li promidžbene poruke i kampanje nekog poduzeća učinkovite i u kojoj mjeri. Iako je još mlado područje znanosti, neuromarketing je zainteresirao mnoge znanstvenike, istraživače, poduzeća ali i potrošače. U ovom radu prikazani su rezultati anketnog istraživanja na uzorku od 166 ispitanika-ica, koje je provedeno u razdoblju od 24. lipnja 2016. do 28. srpnja 2016. godine u kojem su se analizirali stavovi ispitanika-ica, tj. potrošača-ica o primjeni neuromarketinških metoda u svrhu istraživanja potrošača, njihovu upućenost u to područje marketinga te djelovanje neuromarketinga na ponašanje potrošača. Temeljem provedenog anketnog istraživanja, potvrđeno je kako stupanj obrazovanja ispitanikaica ima značajan utjecaj na njihovo znanje o subliminalnom oglašavanju. Viša razina obrazovanja kod ispitanika-ica ima veći utjecaj na znanje o subliminalnom oglašavanju, a nema utjecaja na njihovo znanje o neuromarketingu.In modern business, more and more businesses are deciding on neuromarketing that can greatly assist them in market research, the desire and the needs of their consumers. Neuromarketing is defined as a compound of neuroscience and marketing. By using neuroimaging or image brain imaging, researchers can find out whether advertising messages and campaigns for a company are effective and how much. Although still a small area of science, neuromarketing has attracted many scientists, researchers, businesses and consumers alike. This paper presents the results of a survey of a sample of 166 respondents, conducted in the period from 24 June 2016 to 28 July 2016, in which the attitudes of respondents, ie consumers about the application neuromarketing methods for the purpose of consumer research, their relevance to marketing, and the activity of neuromarketing on consumer behavior. Based on the survey conducted, it was confirmed that the level of education of respondents has a significant impact on their knowledge of subliminal advertising. A higher level of education among respondents has a greater influence on knowledge of subliminal advertising, and has no influence on their knowledge of neuromarketing

Impact of new knowledge on competitiveness of small enterprises in hospitality industry

Temeljni je cilj doktorske disertacije identificirati sve teorijske pretpostavke i ponuditi validne empirijske dokaze o utjecaju novih znanja na konkurentnost malog poduzetništva u ugostiteljstvu. Istražuju se teorijski i praktični aspekti znanja kao temeljnog poduzetničkog resursa, počevši od usvajanja novog znanja, upravljanja njime i primjeni suvremene informacijske tehnologije. Istražuju se pojam i značenje obrazovanja, zatim značenje e-obrazovanja i cjeloživotnog obrazovanja u Europskoj uniji i u Republici Hrvatskoj, osposobljavanja i usavršavanja za poduzetnost, s posebnim osvrtom na teorijske i praktične aspekte ljudskog i intelektualnog kapitala kao važnih čimbenika konkurentnosti. Posebno se istražuju relevantni teorijski i praktični aspekti malog poduzetništva, razlikovne odrednice poduzetnika i menadžera, poželjne poduzetničke osobine te poticanje malog poduzetništva. Istražuju se značenje i povijest malog poduzetništva u ugostiteljstvu, s posebnim naglaskom na hotelijerstvo i restoraterstvo. Izrazita pozornost posvećuje se analizi srednjoškolskog i visokoškolskog obrazovanja kadrova za potrebe ugostiteljstva i turizma te kadrovima za turističku animaciju, šport i medicinu. Posebno se istražuje značenje koje imaju poslovna inteligencija i suvremena informacijska tehnologija te e-trgovina i eposlovanje kod stvaranja konkurentske prednosti malog poduzetništva u ugostiteljstvu. U središtu pozornosti je istraživanje konkurentnosti i konkurentskih prednosti malog poduzetništva u ugostiteljstvu te mogućih potencijala za njegovo povećanje, kao što su: poslovna etika, društvena odgovornost, održivi razvoj te marketing i menadžment. Na kraju se istražuje obrazovni sustav i mogući modeli za povećanje novih znanja i konkurentnosti malog poduzetništva u ugostiteljstvu. Suvremena gospodarstva cijelog svijeta tendiraju k ekonomiji temeljenoj na znanju, pa znanje i upravljanje znanjem postaje ključno strateško pitanje svakog poduzeća. Pozicioniranje znanja kao ključnog resursa i funkcije omogućuje konkurentsku prednost na tržištu. U svrhu iskustvenog potvrñivanja ili demantiranja općih i posebnih polaznih hipoteza te analitički, sintetički, dedukcijski i indukcijski izvedenih zaključaka, provodi se vlastito empirijsko istraživanje, a u nekim se slučajevima koriste već publicirani rezultati i zaključci empirijskih istraživanja relevantnih domaćih i stranih autora i institucija. Predmet i ciljevi istraživanja u sklopu ove disertacije usmjereni su u pravcu teorijske elaboracije te empirijskog dokazivanja ili opovrgavanja jedne opće i četiri posebne hipoteze. Poseban je znanstveni doprinos ove doktorske disertacije teoriji i praksi primjene novih znanja u izgradnji konkurentnosti poduzeća i sektoru malog poduzetništva u ugostiteljstvu, jer se predočava sustavan pregled teorijskih spoznaja i empirijskih dokaza na tu temu, jer se kritički analizira zatečeno stanje primjene novih znanja, jer se razrađuje metodologija istraživanja odnosa i stupnja korištenja novih znanja i obrazovanja na stvaranje konkurentske prednosti malog poduzetništva u ugostiteljstvu, sukladna istraživanjima u domaćoj i svjetskoj znanstvenoj literaturi. Nalazi empirijskog istraživanja u ovoj doktorskoj disertaciji nedvojbeno potvrđuju presudnu važnost utjecaja novih znanja, informatičke tehnologije, cjeloživotnog obrazovanja i edukacije ugostiteljskih zaposlenika na povećanje konkurentnosti malog poduzetništva u ugostiteljstvu.The basic objective of this doctoral dissertation is to identify all theoretical assumptions and to offer valid empirical evidence on the impact of new knowledge on the competitiveness of small enterprises in hospitality industry. Theoretical and practical aspects of knowledge are researched as the basic entrepreneurial resource, starting from the adoption of new knowledge, its management and application of modern information technology. The notion and significance of education is researched, then the significance of e-education and lifelong education in the European Union and the Republic of Croatia, training and improvement for enterprise spirit, with a special review of theoretical and practical aspects of human and intellectual capital as important competitiveness factors. Relevant aspects of small enterprises are individually researched, as well as distinctive determinants of entrepreneurs and managers, desirable entrepreneurial features and promotion of small enterprises. The significance and history of small enterprises in hospitality industry is researched, with a special emphasis on hotel and restaurant industry. Major attention is given to the analysis of secondary and higher education of the personnel needed in hospitality and tourism, as well as the personnel for tourist animation, sport and medicine. The significance of business intelligence and modern information technology is individually researched, as well as e-trade and e-business in the creation of competitive advantage of small enterprises in hospitality industry. The research of competitiveness and competitive advantage of small enterprises in hospitality industry is the centre of attention as well as of possible potentials for its increase, such as: business ethics, social accountability, sustainable development, marketing and management. Finally, educational system is researched and possible models for the increase of new knowledge and competitiveness of small enterprises in hospitality industry. Modern economies of the entire world tend towards knowledge-based economy, so knowledge and knowledge management have become the key strategic issue of each enterprise. Positioning of knowledge as the key resource and function enables competitive advantage on the market. For the purpose of empirical verification or denial of general and special initial hypotheses and conclusions derived in an analytical, synthetic, deductive and inductive manner, own empirical research is conducted, and in some cases already published results and conclusions of empirical researches of relevant domestic and foreign authors and institutions are used. The subject matter and objectives of research within the framework of this dissertation are oriented towards theoretical elaboration and empirical assertion or refutation of one general and four special hypotheses. A special scientific contribution of this doctoral dissertation to the theory and practice of applying new knowledge is in the building of competitiveness of enterprises and small enterprises sector in hospitality industry, since a systematical outline of theoretical knowledge and empirical evidence regarding this topic are presented, since the found status in application of new knowledge is critically analyzed, since the methodology of researching the relation and degree of using new knowledge and education to the creation of competitive advantage of small enterprises in hospitality industry is elaborated, compliant with researches in domestic and foreign scientific literature. Findings of empirical research in this doctoral dissertation undoubtedly confirm how crucially important new knowledge, information technology, lifelong education and education of hospitality employees are for the increase of competitiveness of small enterprises in hospitality industry

Analysis of competitiveness of apple production on Croatian family farms

Cilj ovog rada bio je istražiti koje su glavne značajke konkurentnosti proizvodnje jabuka u deset odabranih hrvatskih obiteljskih poljoprivrednih gospodarstava (u daljnjem tekstu OPG) i njihova usporedba s najkonkurentnijim regijama za proizvodnju jabuka. Postoji šest faktora u analizi i ocjeni konkurentnosti proizvodnje jabuka: prinos po hektaru, pristup tržištu, kvaliteta prinosa, sigurnost proizvodnje, pristup kapitalu i površina nasada. Istražilo se koliko su vlasnici hrvatskih OPG-ova zadovoljni svojom konkurentnošću prema navedenim faktorima i kako se rangiraju u odnosu na najkonkurentnije svjetske proizvođače. Istraživanje je provedeno pomoću anketnog upitnika koji je distribuiran online tijekom veljače 2021. godine na uzorku od deset hrvatskih OPG-ova koji imaju površinu nasada od 4 do 20 hektara.The objective of this paper is to investigate the main characteristics of apple production competitiveness in ten Croatian family farms and their comparison with the most competitive regions for apple production. There are six factors in the analysis and assessment of the competitiveness of apple production: yield per hectare, market access, yield quality, production safety, access to capital and orchard area. We have been researching how satisfied the owners of Croatian family farms are with their competitiveness, according to the stated factors and how they rank in relation to the most competitive world producers. The research was conducted using a survey questionnaire that was distributed online during February 2021 to a sample of ten Croatian family farms with a plantation area of 4 to 20 hectares