IMPROVING LEARNING THROUGH CASE STUDY COMPETITIONS: CHALLENGES FOR TEACHERS AND STUDENTS

The main aim of this research paper is to identify the different perspectives of students and teachers from two SEE countries on the case learning method in local case study competitions. This research investigates the benefits and challenges of participating in case study competitions for students and mentors. Previous research is extended to include the teachers’ perspectives. Qualitative research has been conducted in Serbia and Croatia to obtain a better insight into the perspectives of all parties involved. Students are found to have difficulties with time management and identifying financial and sales implications of marketing strategies. Mentors, on the other hand, emphasize that students have difficulties with negotiation skills and identifying financial and sales implications of the marketing strategy recommended.Recommendations on how to improve learning through case study competitions are made. They should serve as guidelines for both teachers and students to help them to improve the learning process using marketing case studies

TEACHING CASE STUDY: Digital marketing strategy of Accor Hotels: shaping the future of hospitality

Purpose – The main aim of this case study is to explain the digital marketing strategy for different target segments of Accor Hotels, the most diversified hotel player. Design – We present a business case study about Accor Hotels, together with teaching notes that teachers will be able to use in the classroom. Methodology – The business case study methodological approach, using secondary data from a variety of valuable sources, was applied to present the success story of the digital marketing strategy of Accor Hotels. The case study consists of the Opening paragraph, Introduction, Hospitality industry players, About Accor Hotels, Customer journey in the hospitality industry, Digital marketing strategy for Accor Hotels, Conclusion and Teaching notes. Approach – Authors are focusing on a case study example to present best practices from the hospitality indstry in the era of digitalization. Findings – The major input for developing the right digital marketing strategy is understanding the stages of the digital customer journey. The case study present the hotels’ current (loyal) and potential clients as well as hotel marketing strategies. Marketing strategies include changes in the hotel portfolio offering, different pricing levels, communication and content marketing strategy, and partnership deals with all players in the hospitality industry. This case study is interesting for both the academia and industry experts. Originality of the research – We explain how hotel managers define client value proposition for Accor Hotels, with a better understanding of modern trends in the hospitality industry: digitalization, personalization, innovative business models and faster response to client needs. This case study is intended for teaching in Digital Marketing or Hospitality Management courses for masters or undergraduate students

Validation of bucket wheel drive component model through vibration monitoring: a torque arm key study

During excavation, the drive assembly of the bucket wheel of a bucket-wheel excavator is exposed to active and reactive forces. These forces often have adverse effects on the drive assembly, especially if the system has not been adequately sized (poor geometry) and if loads are not properly introduced into the supports (proper positioning of supports). The design of certain drive assemblies includes a torque arm, whose role is to protect the drive assembly from reactive forces. In other words, the torque arm needs to introduce reactive forces into a very stiff system via a support (in the present case the boom of the bucket wheel). Following installation of the new bucket wheel drive on excavator SRs1300.26/5+VR, vibrations were measured at characteristic points to validate the numerical model. Special attention was devoted to the dynamic performance of the torque arm because it is a potential source of failure. The optimization/validation of the bucket wheel torque arm of excavator, aimed at extending the life cycle of both the drive assembly and its components, is discussed in the paper

Extensive vibrations of the belt conveyor drive electromotor of a bucket wheel excavator as a result of intensified wear-and-tear of its mount support

The results of vibration measurements at characteristic points on the belt conveyor drive of bucket wheel excavatorSRs400 manufactured by Takraf are presented in the paper. The operating processes (transport of material on the belt conveyor) belong to the category of impacts, such as fitting, acceleration, sudden loading, and the like, which are extremely pronounced in mining machinery. For monitoring purposes, measurement was undertaken in all three directions, upon overhaul and after 11,850 hours of operation. Movement, speed and acceleration of oscillations were plotted using measured data and the effect of the rear connection of the electromotor mount support on its proper performance was determined

Genetic variability of free energy in a function of drought tolerance in common bean accessions

Characterisation of bean genotypes, particularly local landraces is important for ongoing breeding programs, especially for drought tolerance. Susceptibility to drought is emphasized when bean is grown as a stubble crop and sown at the middle of summer. The aim of this study was to compare variability of ten bean genotypes to optimal (25 degrees C) and higher (30 degrees C) temperatures in combination with optimal (80%) and reduced (40%) field water capacity (FWC), from the point of growth (root and shoot length and fresh matter accumulation) and thermodynamic parameters of free energy (calculated parameter after drying at 60 degrees C, 105 degrees C and 130 degrees C) during the early seedlings stage. Significant and positive correlation between root length and fresh matter with free energy at symplast and chemically bound water occurred under temperature stress (i.e. 30 degrees C). Root growth and elongation were affected by drought stress, i.e. under a combination of high temperature (30 degrees C) and water deficit (40% FWC). Based on higher energy consumption, the ability of shoot to continue a growth in stressful conditions could be possible to achieve, as was confirm through significant and positive correlation between evaluated growth parameters in shoot and free energy of free water. It could be concluded that most of the examined dry bean accessions expressed some sensitivity to stress applied. Among genotypes tested, local landrace zecak expressed lesser susceptibility to stresses applied. Accession Maksa was more tolerant to changes at cytoplasmic level, while Medijana and Sataja 425 expressed root i.e. shoot stress tolerance. Those accessions could be considered as potentially drought tolerant genotypes

Prothrombotic Genetic Risk Factors in Stroke: A Possible Different Role in Pediatric and Adult Patients

The role of thrombophilia in the pathogenesis of stroke is still controversial, especially in the pediatric stroke. In order to examine the role of common thrombophilic mutations in children and adults with stroke, a case-control study was carried out in a group of 80 children and 73 younger adult patients. The control groups encompassed 100 healthy children and 120 healthy blood donors. Our results showed no significant differences in the frequency of factor V (FV) Leiden, FII G20210A, and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T variants between patient groups and corresponding controls. According to our results, carriers of 677CT genotype have 3.62 higher risks to develop stroke in children than in adults (P lt .001). The obtained data indicate that heterozygosity for MTHFR C677T variant represents a possible important risk factor for pediatric stroke and suggest a different role of this gene variant in etiology of stroke in pediatric and adult patients

Factors affecting patient satisfaction in the health care sector in Serbia

Introduction/Objective. The aim of this paper was to highlight and understand factors that influence the quality of healthcare services in Serbia in private and public health institutions. Methods. The data was collected during May of 2017 and June of 2017 through an on-field questionnaire. Out of 500 questionnaires in total, 406 were completed and returned, resulting in a response rate of 81.2%. Results. The following four most influential factors for patient satisfaction in Serbia’s healthcare sector were identified: admission process, doctor care, staff care, and technology tools. Conclusion. The model describes that 66.2 variance for the doctor care variable is based on three constructs: admission process, technology tools, and staff care. The hypothesis that technology tools will have a positive effect on staff care was not confirmed

Creating value added to customers: Marketing and sales role

This paper presents the new trends in sales and marketing areas which reshaping markets and changing the way business is done. Marketing and sales management need a well-defined strategy for added value exploration, creation and delivery. The holistic marketing process involves all stakeholders and required them to participate in the value added creation process

Offer alternation at local market: Case study Terranova Serbia

Primary goal of the contemporary companies imposes monitoring of customer needs and appropriate responses to them, in order to achieve a significant competitive advantage in terms of profit growth and increased market share. In this sense, it can be concluded that the adaptation of supply accordingly to consumer needs presents a very significant component of increased competitiveness and overall business performance. This is achieved through adjustment of offered goods, by taking care of the consumers' needs and the efficient circulation of information from local vendors who are in direct contact with customers and senior decision making management levels. In this paper, authors analyze offer adjustment to the local market on the example of TEDDY S.p.A., at Serbian market, identify importance and role of project management in defining what the organization offers, and analyze project management of offer adjustment. Through selected case study, example of process of defining new company offer in accordance with the characteristics of the local market is presented as well as its impact on profitability growth. Furthermore, the role of offer adjustment in creating the market position of the organization is presented as well as the necessity of implementing such a project in time of expressed differences in the needs of consumers in different local markets

TEACHING CASE STUDY: Digital marketing strategy of Accor Hotels: shaping the future of hospitality

Purpose – The main aim of this case study is to explain the digital marketing strategy for different target segments of Accor Hotels, the most diversified hotel player. Design – We present a business case study about Accor Hotels, together with teaching notes that teachers will be able to use in the classroom. Methodology – The business case study methodological approach, using secondary data from a variety of valuable sources, was applied to present the success story of the digital marketing strategy of Accor Hotels. The case study consists of the Opening paragraph, Introduction, Hospitality industry players, About Accor Hotels, Customer journey in the hospitality industry, Digital marketing strategy for Accor Hotels, Conclusion and Teaching notes. Approach – Authors are focusing on a case study example to present best practices from the hospitality indstry in the era of digitalization. Findings – The major input for developing the right digital marketing strategy is understanding the stages of the digital customer journey. The case study present the hotels’ current (loyal) and potential clients as well as hotel marketing strategies. Marketing strategies include changes in the hotel portfolio offering, different pricing levels, communication and content marketing strategy, and partnership deals with all players in the hospitality industry. This case study is interesting for both the academia and industry experts. Originality of the research – We explain how hotel managers define client value proposition for Accor Hotels, with a better understanding of modern trends in the hospitality industry: digitalization, personalization, innovative business models and faster response to client needs. This case study is intended for teaching in Digital Marketing or Hospitality Management courses for masters or undergraduate students