The role of the University of Prishtina in knowledge creation and transfer: Are university-industry linkages increasing?

Purpose: This case study aims to analyse the role of the university in knowledge creation and transfer to the industry. Methodology: Knowledge creation is analysed in terms of research activities, while knowledge transfer focuses on the abilities and motivation of university staff in transferring the science outcome to the industry. The general problems of the lack of data on innovation activities in Kosovo are evident; therefore, this research uses a qualitative research technique. Data were collected based on a qualitative guide interview, combining and analysing 15 semi-structured interviews. Results: The findings show that part of the achievements is evident, but part of them is questionable in many aspects, e.g., there is a visible asymmetry between knowledge creation and knowledge transfer. By comparison, teaching has improved significantly over the last decade, while critical thinking is not yet at a satisfactory level. Conclusion: Indeed, much progress and many challenges could be identified over the half-century. The university’s efforts are debatable in terms of knowledge creation, and no sign motivates university staff to publish in high-ranking international journals and contribute to research activities. However, the university is continuously improving its collaboration with international donors, e.g., the European Union remains the main partner

MENADŽERSKE PERCEPCIJE IZVOZNIH BARIJERA: UVID DOBIVEN ANKETOM PROVEDENOM U ICT TVRTKAMA NA KOSOVU

This study investigates the managerial perceptions of export barriers of Kosovo ICT companies and provides some policy proposals. For this purpose, the study uses a survey of owners or managers of the ICT companies in Kosovo. The data collected through an online questionnaire survey using a Qualtrics platform were analysed. The survey results reveal four significant export barriers: external institutional barriers, such as visa requirement for Kosovo to visit companies in EU and access to international markets, financing issues for scaling up and growth and human resources barriers, and difficulties in having comprehensive information about the target markets and finding the right partner. Findings from the factor analysis clustered barriers to export into four groups: (1) formal and informal institutions; (2) market information and networking; (3) skills, technical capacities, and quality standards; and (4) International branding, visa requirement and lack of government support. The findings will help boost the growth potential ICT sector, address their needs, and raise policy awareness of the importance of the ICT sector for generating employment and economic growth. The study provides critical practical implications and policy recommendations for government, business associations and ICT companies.U ovom istraživanju ispituju se menadžerske percepcije izvoznih barijera kosovskih ICT tvrtki i predlažu strategije. U tu svrhu u istraživanju je provedena anketa među vlasnicima ili menadžerima ICT tvrtki na Kosovu. Analizirani su podaci prikupljeni online upitnikom na platformi Qualtrics. Rezultati ankete otkrivaju četiri značajne izvozne barijere: vanjske institucionalne barijere, kao što je vizni režim za građane Kosova za posjet tvrtkama u EU i pristup međunarodnim tržištima, pitanja financiranja za povećanje i rast i za prepreke u ljudskim resursima, te poteškoće u dobivanju sveobuhvatnih informacija o ciljanim tržištima i pronalaženje pravog partnera. Nalazi faktorske analize grupiraju izvozne barijere u četiri skupine: (1) formalne i neformalne institucije; (2) informacije o tržištu i umrežavanje; (3) vještine, tehnički kapaciteti i standardi kvalitete i (4) međunarodno brendiranje, vizni režim i nedostatak državne potpore. Nalazi će pomoći jačanju potencijala rasta ICT sektora, rješavanju njihovih potreba i podizanju političke svijesti o važnosti ICT sektora za stvaranje radnih mjesta i gospodarski rast. Ovo istraživanje pruža praktične implikacije i prijedloge strategija za vladu, poslovna udruženja i ICT tvrtke

THE EFFECT OF TRANSFORMATIONAL LEADERSHIP APPROACH IN ORGANIZATIONS

The transformational leadership process has a crucial role in the organizations, comparing with the transactional leadership, but it depends on how well it has been going the whole process. A real authentic transformational leadership creates great positive changes and makes the organization succeed, or at least to join the road of succeeding. However, given the fact, that practically it can be a real transformational leadership and a real transactional leadership, meaning that in some cases, the approach of a good combination of both transformational and transactional leadership might be quite functional for an organization. It is evident that many successful companies all over the world have proved to achieve their primary objectives due to a significant transformational leadership process, they have gone in their organizations

How does market size affect Kosovo economic competitiveness?

The size of the market affects productivity because large markets allow firms to exploit economies of scale. Traditionally, the markets available to firms have been constrained by national borders. In the era of globalization, international markets have become a substitute for domestic markets, especially for small countries. There is a vast empirical evidence that shows that trade openness is positively associated with more foreign direct investment and economic growth. Some recent research has cast doubt on the robustness of this relationship. A general sense among small countries is that trade and free regional markets have a positive effect on growth. Exports can be thought of as substitute for domestic demand in determining the size of the market for the firms of a country. By including both domestic and regional markets in the market, firms in small countries have been able to boost their attractiveness and competitiveness. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the relationship between market size, investments and growth in Kosovo. The study employs both quantitative and qualitative methods and is based on competitiveness conceptual framework

Correlation Analysis of Factors Affecting Firm Performance and Employees Wellbeing: Application of Advanced Machine Learning Analysis

Given the importance of identifying key performance points in organizations, this research intends to determine the most critical intra- and extra-organizational elements in assessing the performance of firms using the European Company Survey (ECS) 2019 framework. The ECS 2019 survey data were used to train an artificial neural network optimized using an imperialist competitive algorithm (ANN-ICA) to forecast business performance and employee wellbeing. In order to assess the correctness of the model, root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), mean square error (MSE), correlation coefficient (r), and determination coefficient (R2) have been employed. The mean values of the performance criteria for the impact of internal and external factors on firm performance were 1.06, 0.002, 0.041, 0.9, and 0.83, and the value of the performance metrics for the impact of internal and external factors on employee wellbeing were 0.84, 0.0019, 0.0319, 0.83, and 0.71 (respectively, for MAPE, MSE, RMSE, r, and R2). The great performance of the ANN-ICA model is indicated by low values of MAPE, MSE, and RMSE, as well as high values of r and R2. The outcomes showed that “skills requirements and skill matching” and “employee voice” are the two factors that matter most in enhancing firm performance and wellbeing

Correlation Analysis of Factors Affecting Firm Performance and Employees Wellbeing: Application of Advanced Machine Learning Analysis

Given the importance of identifying key performance points in organizations, this research intends to determine the most critical intra- and extra-organizational elements in assessing the performance of firms using the European Company Survey (ECS) 2019 framework. The ECS 2019 survey data were used to train an artificial neural network optimized using an imperialist competitive algorithm (ANN-ICA) to forecast business performance and employee wellbeing. In order to assess the correctness of the model, root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE), mean square error (MSE), correlation coefficient (r), and determination coefficient (R2) have been employed. The mean values of the performance criteria for the impact of internal and external factors on firm performance were 1.06, 0.002, 0.041, 0.9, and 0.83, and the value of the performance metrics for the impact of internal and external factors on employee wellbeing were 0.84, 0.0019, 0.0319, 0.83, and 0.71 (respectively, for MAPE, MSE, RMSE, r, and R2). The great performance of the ANN-ICA model is indicated by low values of MAPE, MSE, and RMSE, as well as high values of r and R2. The outcomes showed that “skills requirements and skill matching” and “employee voice” are the two factors that matter most in enhancing firm performance and wellbeing