Assessing the risks and their sources in dependence on the rate of implementing the risk management process in the SMEs

Research background: The managers have a key position in process of management risk. The managers are able to implement the risk management process in the companies with an emphasis on preventing the company crises using the appropriate methods and tools for the early identification of the changes if the entrepreneurial environment develops negatively. Does a manager have enough knowledge and awareness about the potential risk sources in company? Purpose of the article: The essence of this article is to assess the sources of the market, economic, financial, operational, HR, security and legal risk depending on the rate of implementing the risk management process in the small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Methods: We realized the risk assessment process on the basis of evaluations by 487 managers who gave their opinions to selected risks and their sources in the SMEs in Slovakia. Subsequently, we utilized the methods and tools of the mathematical statistics (descriptive statistics, comparison, Z-score for 2 population proportions, Chi-squared test for 5 x 2 contingency table). Findings & Value added: The strongest dependence perceived by the SME-entrepreneurs lies between the development of the tax and insurance burdens as the source of the economic risk and the criterion of the "level of the risk management in the company". The overall results of the empirical research underline the significance and importance of dealing with the assessment of the key risks and their sources in the Slovak SMEs. The results having been processed are the basic material for the professional public and other organizations whose effort is to help the companies in an effective implementation of the risk management process in the Slovak enterprises.Scientific Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research, and Sport of the Slovak Republic - VEGA [1/0560/16]; KEGA [030ZU-4/2018, 1/2018]Vedecká Grantová Agentúra MŠVVaŠ SR a SAV, VEGA: 1/0560/1

Analysis of the market risk sources in the small and medium-sized enterprises of transport

The aim of this paper was to define the important market risk sources in the transport small and medium-sized enterprises segment. A part of this aim is to find out how entrepreneurs evaluate these sources, and quantify the differences in their evaluation based on the entrepreneur's characteristics, such as nationality, age, gender and others. The questionnaire was completed by 122 enterprises from Slovakia, Poland, the Czech Republic and Serbia. Statistical tools such as pivot tables, percentages and goodness-of-fit tests were applied to verify the formulated hypotheses. The most important source of market risk is a strong competition in the line of business. The obtained education of entrepreneurs is statistically significant characteristics for the evaluation of the market risk sources in selected transport enterprises. The findings are important for state institutions and their support systems in the transport SMEs segment. © 2019 University of Zilina. All rights reserved

Business risks and the level of entrepreneurial optimism among SME in the Czech and Slovak Republic

The aim of this article is to define and compare current trends within business risks among small and medium enterprises in selected regions of the Czech Republic and Slovakia in the context of entrepreneurial optimism. In 2013, the research on entrepreneurs’ opinions in the Zlín Region (Czech Republic) and Žilina Region (Slovakia) was conducted. These regions have similar economic parameters and are separated by only a few miles. According to our research, it can be stated that during the period of financial crisis, the situation in the SME business deteriorated significantly with declining performance and profitability of Czech and Slovak small and medium enterprises. The most important business risk is still market risk, followed by financial and eventually personal risk. Our research showed that the profitability of Czech and Slovak small and medium enterprises decreased by 15%. Despite these facts, the level of entrepreneurial optimism among SME in the selected regions of the Czech Republic and Slovakia is very high.Current trends in the area of business risks of small and medium enterprises in selected regions of the Czech Republic and Slovakia [FaME/2013/MSPRISK]; [IGA/FaME/2013/010

CHARACTERIZATION AND PERFORMANCE OF DUPLEX-COATINGS ON Cr-V COLD WORK TOOL STEEL

Specimens made of Vanadis 6 steel were heat treated, plasma nitrided and coated with Cr2N. The microstructure, phase constitution and mechanical properties of plasma nitrided areas and duplex-coatings have been investigated using the light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and microhardness measurements. The adhesion of the coatings and the wear performance were studied using the scratch test and ring-on-plate tribological testing. Worn surfaces were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Nitrided areas formed at lower temperature were free of compound “white” layer while hose developed at higher temperatures contained as the white layer so the nitrided network. Significant increase in substrate hardness was detected due to the nitriding. Beneficial effect of the nitriding on the adhesion of Cr2N coatings was clearly determined whereas the extent in improvement of the adhesion depends on the presence/no presence of “white” layer on the surface. The extent of beneficial effect of plasma nitriding on the wear performance follows the impact of the constitution of nitrided areas on the adhesion. The amelioration of wear performance of Cr2N coatings can be attributed to the supporting effect of hard nitrided intermediate region, which provides excellent resistance of the substrate against plastic deformation, under heavy loading in particular. Practical testing demonstrated many times prolonged service-time of duplex-treated tools for sheet metal working.

CHARACTERIZATION AND PERFORMANCE OF DUPLEX-COATINGS ON Cr-V COLD WORK TOOL STEEL

Specimens made of Vanadis 6 steel were heat treated, plasma nitrided and coated with Cr2N. The microstructure, phase constitution and mechanical properties of plasma nitrided areas and duplex-coatings have been investigated using the light microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and microhardness measurements. The adhesion of the coatings and the wear performance were studied using the scratch test and ring-on-plate tribological testing. Worn surfaces were examined by scanning electron microscopy. Nitrided areas formed at lower temperature were free of compound “white” layer while hose developed at higher temperatures contained as the white layer so the nitrided network. Significant increase in substrate hardness was detected due to the nitriding. Beneficial effect of the nitriding on the adhesion of Cr2N coatings was clearly determined whereas the extent in improvement of the adhesion depends on the presence/no presence of “white” layer on the surface. The extent of beneficial effect of plasma nitriding on the wear performance follows the impact of the constitution of nitrided areas on the adhesion. The amelioration of wear performance of Cr2N coatings can be attributed to the supporting effect of hard nitrided intermediate region, which provides excellent resistance of the substrate against plastic deformation, under heavy loading in particular. Practical testing demonstrated many times prolonged service-time of duplex-treated tools for sheet metal working.

Causes and circumstances of accidents at work in the European Union, Slovakia and Czech Republic

There are several challenges in occupational safety and health that need to be addressed. The basic premise is the reduction of occupational accidents in individual sectors. Finding effective tools to reduce them is very challenging. Safety culture is perceived differently in the countries of the European Union. The basic intention of this article is to compare the accidents number in these two countries and in the European Union in selected NACE categories. This comparison is based on the statistical processing of data by NACE category and representation of accident rates in individual industries. The main causes of accidents were identified, which give space for further research in this field a state measures to prevent work accidents to happen or to reduce its numbers

Family - Health - Disease

Praca recenzowana / Peer-reviewed paperThis publication includes opinion and research papers written by authors with academic backgrounds from the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Poland. The monograph consists of 14 chapters and the order of them refers to the relationship between the family and the health of its members. The first seven texts concern children’s health problems. The next two concern widely defined issues of nutrition and adult nursing. The next four discuss health issues of the elderly, while the last describes the dilemma of bereaved family members who have to decide about organ donation. The individual chapters show different aspects of family participation in the treatment and care of children, the elderly, the chronically ill, and the disabled. The discussed topics are a part of the wider issue of social medicine. A very important issue is the interdisciplinary problem of interaction between health and illness and their influence on the family, which is on one hand embedded in medical science, while on the other hand it refers to the social sciences, especially family sociology, psychology, pedagogy, and also social policy to some extent. The authors of the monograph also discuss the issue of life quality of the elderly living in domestic environments and the health and social problems they face. The authors also analyse the role of nurses in promoting health, such as immunisation, rational nutrition, and ethical aspects such as the screening of newborns. This monograph is addressed to all who work or want to work with families and support them in the difficult challenges posed by disease. The authors hope the monograph will increase understanding and familiarity with the health problems of relatives

XXIV. mezinárodní kolokvium o regionálních vědách

Title in English: 24th International Colloquium on Regional Sciences: Conference proceedings. The conference proceedings consists of papers presented at the 24rd International Colloquium on Regional Sciences that was organized by Department of Regional Economics and Administration FEA MU. It contains 79 articles arranged by topic. The individual articles deal with e.g. socioeconomic disparities among regions, regional policy, territory attractiveness, tourism or regional public administration

XXV. mezinárodní kolokvium o regionálních vědách

Title in English: 25th International Colloquium on Regional Sciences: Conference proceedings The conference proceedings consists of papers presented at the 25th International Colloquium on Regional Sciences that was organized by Department of Regional Economics and Administration FEA MU. It contains 57 articles arranged by topic. The individual articles deal with e.g. socioeconomic disparities among regions, regional policy, territory attractiveness, tourism, or regional public administration

Roman military river boats in the 1st - 4th century A.D.

The aim of this thesis is to make a comprehensive interpretation of Roman military river boats from the 1st - 4th century A.D. which will be mainly oriented on the direct archaeological findings of these ships. To better understand the function and the use of the boats, the first chapter will present various military units that commanded their own flotillas, whereby commentary will be predominantly focused on the river fleets. The core of this thesis will be devoted to the issue of military river boats. In the introduction of the second part of this work, we will firstly present historical sources which will help us with the study of these boats. Based on the detailed analysis of these valuable artefacts we will show the partial typological development of the boats as well as the development of Roman shipbuilding methods and techniques. In the last chapter, the interpretation of the Roman military river boats will be supplemented with the ships known only from the written and iconographical sources as well as with sea ships which could have been operated on the rivers too. The aim of the last part will be to compare sea boats with river boats and fleets stressing the importance of those operated on rivers. Keywords Roman river boats, Roman army, river fleets, Mainz, Oberstimm, Zwammerdam, Trajan's..