Ključni izazovi za daljnji razvoj društvenog poduzetništva u Hrvatskoj

The specific goal of this paper is to contribute to the discussion of key problems and necessary steps to be undertaken in the further development of social entrepreneurship in Croatia. Quantitative research was applied through a survey questionnaire, the sample included 526 respondents divided into several target groups: unemployed persons, members of social cooperatives, youth, farmers and employees of social enterprises. Findings regarding relevant constraints relate mainly to legal, financial and tax system constraints, constraints in the segment of education and capacity building, inefficient bureaucracy and administration, ineffective support from the part of local and regional policy makers and stakeholders, the lack of horizontal and vertical coordination and numerous other. Despite the limitations, the potential for further development of social entrepreneurship is based on the excellent examples of good practice realized so far, on the relevant achieved results from the part of civil society organizations as well as on the existing initial scientific research on the topic

The competitiveness of national (Croatian) economies through Development of industrial clusters

This article reflects upon some Croatian industrial and R&D conditions with the aim of providing an answer to the hypothetical question, what the possible role of the National science and technology (S&T) potential could be within the existing embryos or clusters to be developed in the forthcoming period. Particular attention is given to the national automotive industry, which is continuously struggling with tough international competition. Clustering, as a worldwide accepted industrial organizational model based on inter firm linkages and industrial and technological networking; could be an excellent source of competitive advantage, not only in comparison with the countries in the surrounding geographical area, but also much wider. Based on the first most recent experience with cluster development in Croatia, and having in mind Croatia\u27s existing research and development potential, the question arises as to whether Croatia is ready to initiate its automotive cluster and what the role of R&D could be in this process. Should the analysis of the automotive sector result as unfavourable for future organizational networking, further research will be necessary related to cluster development in the framework of better performing industry sectors, within which, after all, the first Croatian cluster development initiatives are precisely at the moment being triggered. Understanding current worldwide processes; even if the answer to a research question regarding cluster development in Croatia under present circumstance turns out to be unfavourable, a logical hypothetical question that arises could be: is there any alternative?

UWELTSCHUTZ UND MARKETING

Ekološki pristup na svim područjima života i rada ljudi postao je danas svjetonazor, pa tako i ekološka pitanja dolaze u središte marketinških interesa s istaknutom tendencijom rasta u godinama koje dolaze. Unatoč velikom zanimanju javnosti za ekološki marketing ili kako se u različitim publikacijama često naziva zeleni marketing ili marketing zaštite okoliša, iznimno je malo znanstvenih rasprava u tom području. Ovim se člankom nastoje odrediti okviri u kojima je nastao ekološki marketing, pojasniti njegov pojam i koncept, koje su njegove temeljne razlike s obzirom na tzv. klasični marketing, istražiti različitosti u pristupu glede osnovnih funkcija marketinga, a u zaključku je istaknut poticaj za intenziviranje istraživačkih aktivnosti na ovom području.Ecological approach has become a weltanschauung in all walks of life, so that ecological issues have come into the focus of marketing interests with an increasing tendency in years to come. In spite of the huge public interest for ecological marketing, also called green or environmental marketing in various publications, very few studies have been carried out in this area. In this paper an attempt has been made to define the framework from which the ecological marketing has emerged and to explain its notion and concept. It will also be shown what are the differences between ecological and classical marketing, especially concerning different approaches with respect to fundamental functions of marketing. In the concluding part of the paper it has been pleaded for intensified research activities in this field.Der ökologische Ansatz ist heute in allen Lebensbereichen zu einer Weltanschauung geworden, so dass die ökologischen Fragen in den Mittelpunkt der Marketing–Interessen geraten, und zwar mit einer ansteigenden Tendenz in den kommenden Jahren. Trotz des großen Interesses der Öffentlichkeit für das ökologische Marketing, das in verschiedenen Veröffentlichungen als grünes oder das Umwelt–Marketing bezeichnet wird, gibt es auf diesem Gebiet sehr wenige wissenschaftliche Studien. In dieser Arbeit wird der Versuch unternommen, den Entstehungshintergrund des ökologischen Marketing zu bestimmen, seinen Begriff und sein Konzept zu beleuchten und die grundlegenden Unterschiede zwischen dem ökologischen und dem klassischen Marketing zu thematisieren. Untersucht werden auch die Unterschiede im Hinblick auf Hauptfunktionen des Marketing. Im abschließenden Teil der Arbeit wird dafür plädiert, die Forschungsaktivitäten auf diesem Gebiet zu intensivieren

Chalenges of Effective Civil Security System in Croatia in the Context of the EU Membership

In the area of civil security, there is no unique European civil security system and it is primary responsibility of each EU member state itself to ensure proper protection and rescue of their own citizens. As result there are significant variations among the national civil security systems within the EU. Nevertheless, on the basis of solidarity principle the EU has developed various crisis management mechanisms aimed to assist and complement member states’ actions in prevention, response and recovery from disaster and crisis. Croatia became the EU member on July 1, 2013, undertaking responsibilities of the EU member state. As regards, this paper gives a brief overview of rules, structures, policies and practices relevant for Croatian civil security system and deals with key strengths and weakness of the system in protecting citizens from natural and man-made disasters in order to be able to adequately contribute to civil security challenges within the wider EU framework. The results of this paper confirm the main hypothesis that Croatia has made a significant progress resulting from civil security reforms that have been introduced over the past years, but there are still many areas where additional efforts are needed for the better functioning of the country within the EU

Sustainable Local Development Potential of the Elaphites, Croatia

The Elaphites comprise the archipelago of 13 islands, among them eight larger and five smaller stretching northwest of Dubrovnik in the Adriatic sea. The islands are covered with characteristic Mediterranean evergreen vegetation and attract large numbers of tourists during the summer due to their beaches and pristine nature. Only the three main islands are permanently inhabited, supporting a modest tourist industry. The diffuse hotel model („Albergo Diffuso“) is defined as creating visitor accommodation by reusing and restructuring existing houses, which must be located within an inhabited town center and therefore has multifold economic, social and environmental benefits for local communities. The core of the scattered hotel concept envisages its interaction with small village communities. The paper analyzes the socio-economic and environmental characteristics of this innovative approach to enhancing tourism activities and restoring the valuable cultural, natural, and historical heritage of the Elaphites

The Kyoto Protocol: Can We Meet?

Integration into the EU is one of strategic foreign policy goals of Croatia. Before accession, Croatia has to align with the EU policies and legislation. The European Commission in its Croatia 2007 Progress report identified ratification of the Kyoto Protocol as progress regarding environmental chapter of accession negotiations. By ratifying the Kyoto Protocol in May 2007 Croatia pledged to reduce greenhouse gases by 5% in the first commitment period, 2008-2012, from the amount released into the atmosphere in 1990. Based on international, European and domestic tools for meeting the Kyoto Protocol and the Croatian draft Strategy and Action plan for mitigation of climate change we analyse feasibility of meeting the Kyoto target. Importance to align with the Kyoto target is finally evaluated from the perspective of Croatia\u27s efforts to join the EU

Can Evaluation Trigger Change? The Case of the Interim Evaluation of the Croatian Tourism Development Strategy

The paper is focused on the results of the first conducted sectoral interim evaluation in Croatia, that of the Croatian Tourism Development Strategy till 2020. The authors reflect on the methodology used, the applied approach, the objectives and scope of the recently implemented interim evaluation of the mentioned Strategy. They comment on the purpose and functions of this sectoral evaluation and observe objectively its role from the point of view of achieving effectiveness, long term, and concrete and sustainable development impacts in the sector of tourism. The main findings of the conducted evaluation are presented, based on a number of held interviews and a survey with the main policy makers, civil servants as well as all key stakeholders in the tourism industry. Particular focus is given to evaluation questions and judgement criteria based on the evaluation criteria of effectiveness, impact and sustainability. The authors indicate some of the positive achievements, and particularly the current problems and challenges in the segment of tourism in Croatia in the period until 2020 and beyond. Along with observations related to the issues of accountability in the sector, the paper also provides reflections on the learning effects as the end result of such an evaluation, contributing to further policy development and policy learning in the sector of tourism. The authors indicate that their experience with this first interim evaluation could serve as a good practice example for conducting similar sectoral evaluations in Croatia as well as a tool for further long term development of tourism in the country, since the sector is of pivotal importance for Croatia’s local, regional and urban development as well as its overall economic competitiveness. Particular attention is given to some of the noted deficiencies and needs for further improvements in this sector, vital for Croatia’s further development. Recommendations are provided for improvements of the overall Croatian tourism development policy, with specific focus on the effectiveness of the so far achieved results as well as sustainable implementation of the Strategy and overall policy, aiming at reaching major and more concrete development impacts in the field of tourism