Factors Influencing Corporate Governance in post-Socialist Companies: an Analytical Framework

In explaining the corporate governance performance of post-socialist companies, this article identifies four factors of influence: (1) pressure from majority shareholders, (2) pressure from outside minority shareholders, (3) pressure resulting from internationalization/ globalization and (4) pressure exerted by the state in the form of legal regulation. If all four factors have an impact on corporate governance performance, their interaction has to be explained. On the basis of research conducted thus far, this article suggests an analytical framework for the examination of corporate governance performance of postsocialist companies. Case studies of oil and gas firms from Central and Eastern Europe illustrate how the above factors influence a companyís corporate governance performance.http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/64362/1/wp896.pd

Framing shale gas for policy making in Poland

Despite enthusiasm about new gas reserves, shale gas has not come to Poland without controversies. This study examines how shale gas has been framed as a public issue by political and business elites, experts, local communities and civil society organizations. Through a frame analysis, we found three main frames about shale gas: shale gas as a novel economic resource, as a strategic resource for energy security and as a threat. However, only the first two frames, proposed by political and business elites, have shaped the policy process. The third frame, constructed by local actors and civil society groups, has had minimal impact. We explain this exclusion drawing on the deficit model of risk com- munication. This approach reveals that Polish experts, and business and political actors, during their interactions with local groups, have framed proponents of the threat frame as ‘incompetent actors’ effectively excluding the threat frame from policy processes

The skills audit : an access route to the validation process

Individuals’ perspective is vital in the process of planning and providing career guidance services. Our aim is to underline the importance of this factor and argue that the skills audit may constitute an entryway to the validation process. This paper refers to the case study research method in the scope of which we focused on "Kierunek Kariera" (Direction Career) project as the part strictly related to the skills audit in the Malopolska region. On the basis of the biographical, in-depth interviews conducted with individuals who participated in the skills audit, we will present the significance of the individuals’ perspective, especially with regard to further educational opportunities and chances on the labour market. We will also demonstrate the method itself to illustrate the influence of the well-conducted guidance on individual lives. Thus, the paper may serve as a source of inspiration for career guidance practitioners or an information tool

The individual perspective on VPL : a comparison of experiences from Germany, Poland, Denmark and Turkey

The validation of prior non-formal and informal learning (VPL) is central to the EU’s approach of lifelong learning. It aims to enhance the employability, labour market opportunities and educational perspectives of disadvantaged individuals on the labour market, such as low-skilled, unemployed and migrant workers. VPL is seen and conceptualised as a tool to improve social inclusion and the labour market mobility of all age groups. At the same time, it increases the transparency and usability of informal learning outcomes. This paper emphasises the individual perspective on VPL in Germany, Poland, Denmark and Turkey. Going beyond the policy level, it is necessary to focus on the individual benefit of a validation process. The paper links institutional VPL practice based on the national validation policy with the concrete benefits to the individuals who have started or completed a validation process. This comparative analysis of the four European countries, with their varying regions and socio-cultural context, shows the differences between national understandings and practices of VPL and their impact on individuals

Global cross border trade – a global view

The Internet makes us stop feeling borders between countries. Via the Internet one can buy every-thing - from food products, through clothes, cosmetics, detergents, tickets, furniture, ending up on means of transport, flats or houses. Consumers use it to acquire information locally, nationally and internationally at the most important moments of the purchase path (Kiesler, 2014), (Meijers, 2014). The value of the global e-commerce market in 2014 amounted to nearly 1.5 trillion Euros. Cross-border trade is considered to be one of the most interesting and dynamic phenomena in the e-commerce throughout the world (Meltzer, 2015). Cross-border trade is consid-ered to be one of the most interesting and dynamic phenomena in the e-commerce throughout the world (Meltzer, 2015), experts predict that by 2020 cross-border trade will increase by approxi-mately 27% annually (OECD, 2008). The largest cross-border trade markets are China, the United States and the United Kingdom. The aim of this article is to highlight the situation of Internet cross-border market in the world and in Poland. The article is enriched with the results of a survey con-ducted among a group of Polish e-consumers on their awareness of the possibility of doing ship-ping in other countries, advantages and disadvantages of shopping abroad and their purchasing preferences

Network organization – functioning of enterprises in the information area

The information space is the “place” of the existence / “life” of all the information necessary for the proper functioning of the company. With the development of information technol-ogy, and especially the Internet, every participant in the economic life has practically unlimited opportunities to acquire, but, what is very important, also to provide information that influences his competitive position. Management in contemporary reality is associated with using opportunities and avoiding threats. The key factor for success is time, both in terms of taking it and effects. In a global and dynamic reality, one of the most important challenges is to establish cooperation. The aim is to provide the participating entities the opportunity to make better use of their individual attributes and resources – their own and their partners. The operation of each company is based on information. Each action can be seen in the information view, as an action in the information space. The aim of the article is to present the essence, characteristics and advantages of management in the information space. The aim is also to draw attention to the fact that the effectiveness of a network organization as a group of cooperating entities is strictly dependent on the effectiveness of its func-tioning as a whole and of each of its elements in the information space

Dimensions of validation of prior learning in Europe : empirical insights from Denmark, Poland, Turkey and Germany

The validation and recognition of prior non-formal and informal learning (VPL) is a priority of EU educational policies and central to lifelong and life-wide learning. The aim is to strengthen the flexibility of learning pathways to increase labour market transition and mobility across Europe. Key objective is to enhance employability and labour market opportunities for disadvantaged individuals such as the low skilled, unemployed, migrant workers, refugees and individuals with restricted labour market and learning opportunities. This edited volume summarizes the main findings of the ERASMUS plus project "Effectiveness of VPL Policies and Programmes - Individual and Employer Perspectives" (Effect VPL), which was funded from 2016 to 2019. The contributions, which focus on the four participating countries Denmark, Germany, Poland and Turkey, provide an overview of current topics in the field of VPL. They comprise theoretical as well as empirical perspectives on VPL focusing, inter alia, on the socio-economic context, adult education and lifelong learning in Europe. Likewise, perspectives of those involved into VPL processes - individuals, employers, counsellors and trade unions - are presented and analysed. Hereby, the book not only contributes to the scholarly debate on VPL in Europe, it furthermore offers handson approaches for VPL processes putting the individual at the centre of the validation process

Information management and relations between Polish enterprises and clients

Purpose: Enterprise management, including, or perhaps above all, the area related to information, in conditions of globalization and the speed of market changes, is a great challenge for managers. The main aim of this study is to investigate the importance of information management in Polish enterprises and cities. Design/Methodology/Approach: The first part of the paper contains a literature analysis of the issues raised. The second, practical part contains the results of the conducted research. Findings: In such reality, it should be recognized that the company's ability to integrated and unified information management, covering all areas and aspects of functioning, is a prerequisite for market success. Practical Implications: The study covered professionally active people and those who had no employment and was targeted at people of all ages. The logical structure of the publication is related to the verification of the main research hypothesis, according to which improvement in the area of information flows in the information space of an enterprise affects the improvement of management processes. Originality Value: It is s first attempt of its kind trying to verify the importance of information management in enterprises and cities.peer-reviewe

Czy założenie taśmy podcewkowej jednoczasowo z korekcją zaburzeń statyki dna miednicy zwiększa częstość występowania de novo OAB? – prospektywne badanie obserwacyjne

Objectives: Approximately 20% of women suffer from pelvic organ prolapse (POP) and stress urinary incontinence (SUI). Furthermore, POP and overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms often coexist. Midurethral slings and mesh surgeries are both considered to be risk factors for de novo OAB symptoms. The aim of our study was to determine whether simultaneous midurethral sling insertion at the time of pelvic organ prolapse mesh surgery further increases the risk of de novo OAB. Materials and methods: The study group consisted of 234 women who underwent surgery in our department between August 2007 and October 2009 (114 patients underwent surgery because of coexisting POP and SUI, and 120 underwent surgery because POP alone). The patients were evaluated at follow-up visits scheduled after 6-8 weeks and after 12 months. All women underwent surgery using the Gynecare Prolift® Pelvic Floor Repair System, whereas in women with additional overt or occult SUI after restoration of the pelvic anatomy, monofilament midurethral slings were simultaneously inserted. The chi-squared test was used to compare the study groups. Results: De novo OAB symptoms were significantly more pronounced among women in the Prolift® only surgery group (23.3%) compared to the Prolift® with IVS04M group (10.5%; p=0.0093). Conclusions: Midurethral sling insertion at the time of pelvic organ prolapse surgery significantly decreases the rate of postoperative de novo OAB symptoms. The lack of anatomical success of the mesh-based reconstructive surgery is a risk factor for the development of de novo OAB symptoms.Cel pracy: Około 20% kobiet uskarża się jednocześnie na zaburzenia statyki dna miednicy i nietrzymanie moczu. Wykazano również, że występowaniu objawów OAB towarzyszą istotne klinicznie zaburzenia statyki. Z drugiej strony zarówno slingi podcewkowe jak też operacje rekonstrukcyjne z użyciem siatek niosą ze sobą ryzyko wystąpienia de novo objawów OAB. Celem naszego badania było ustalenie, czy jednoczasowe zakładanie slingu podcewkowego podczas operacji rekonstrukcyjnej niesie ze sobą podwyższenie ryzyka wystąpienia de novo pooperacyjnych objawów OAB. Materiał i metody: Grupa badana obejmowała 234 pacjentki leczone w klinice pomiędzy sierpniem 2007 a październikiem 2009 (u 114 pacjentek wykonano operację korygującą statykę dna miednicy oraz wysiłkowe nietrzymanie moczu, a u 120 kobiet korygowano jedynie zaburzenia statyki). Pacjentki były oceniane 6-8 tygodni oraz 12 miesięcy po zabiegu. Wszystkie pacjentki operowano z użyciem monofilamentowych siatek polipropylenowych (Gynecare Prolift® Pelvic Floor Repair System), natomiast u pacjentek z objawowym bądź ukrytym nietrzymaniem moczu jednoczasowo zakładano sling podcewkowy. Obie grupy porównano wykorzystując test chi2. Wyniki: De novo objawy OAB wystąpiły częściej u pacjentek, u których korygowano jedynie statykę dna miednicy (23.3%) w porównaniu do pacjentek, u których dodatkowo zakładano sling podcewkowy (10,5%; p=0,0093). Wnioski: Jednoczasowe zakładanie slingu podcewkowego podczas operacji rekonstrukcyjnej dna miednicy nie zwiększa ryzyka wystąpienia pooperacyjnych objawów nadreaktywności mięśnia wypieracza. Jednocześnie niepowodzenie anatomiczne operacji rekonstrukcyjnej jest czynnikiem ryzyka wystąpienia de novo pooperacyjnych objawów OAB