Miltiadis Chalikias

Environmental sustainability and financial feasibility evaluation of woodfuel biomass used for a potential replacement of conventional space heating sources. Part I: a Greek case study

The issue of the introduction of new environmental friendly and economical fuels to the everyday energy-consuming human activities is controversial and imperative. The recent European legislation, relative to the introduction of biofuels at local and national levels, is conformed to the above direction. The present study is driven to the wider implementation of biofuels, by applying the high heating value Woodfuel that is prolifically cultivated in the Northern Greece context. The administrative tool of the present study is the application of the RETScreen International software developed by Natural Resources Canada. The software methodology is oriented to simulate space heating of houses and domestic water heating by providing a rough and costless initial estimation of the proposed energy projects with very promising results, relevant to its financial feasibility and environmental sustainability.

Environmental sustainability and financial feasibility evaluation of woodfuel biomass used for a potential replacement of conventional space heating sources. Part II: a combined Greek and the nearby Balkan countries case study

Nowadays, the proposal of biofuels introduction to the existing energy network of European countries is directed through the recent European Legislation. The above proposal’s implementation would be successfully materialized by exploiting the Renewable Energy Sources, which are abundant in the Greek context. At the present study, the biofuels entrance to the Greek energy network is investigated through the three woodfuel biomass sources of Common Beech, Aleppo Pine and Common Fir. The above selection of the three specific woodfuel types is further examined via the potential imports of the above biomass from the nearby Balkan countries. The above woodfuel quantities are accumulated to the existing local woodfuel production, after appropriate modification of Part I experimental parameters. Additionally, the relevant proportion among the woodfuels types is examined and an environmental, economic and socioeconomic evaluation is conducted. Finally, a critical comparison between the Part I and Part II studies outcomes revealed the significant determining parameters of the scenarios’ prosperity.

Implementation of F.W. Lanchester’s combat model in a supply chain in duopoly: the case of Coca-Cola and Pepsi in Greece

The purpose of this study is to investigate the possibility of applying some of the most widely known mathematical theories of war in the case of firms. In this research, Frederick William Lanchester’s combat models, that seemed to be particularly useful to the U.S. Army at the Pacific campaign against the Japanese fleet during World War II, were examined. These mathematical models were based on differential equations and their main purpose was to predict the outcome of battles. After the appropriate theoretical assumptions were set, the examined models were applied to the case of Coca-Cola™ and Pepsi™ supply chains in the Greek market. These models have been applied to these firms by other researchers too. The results of the implementations have led to the conclusion that the theoretical models are almost identical to the reality, which means that they are applicable in business under the right conditions.

The Strategic Role of Information Technology in Tourism: The Case of Global Distribution Systems

During the last two decades of the digital era millions of people are using web technologies to communicate with other people around the world. The development of Information Technology (IT) and particularly the use of web technologies has turned the world to a much smaller place and opens up the possibility of new forms of engagement and relationship. On the other hand, IT has a major role in every organisational aspect. Through the use of IT and the internet, it is likely that in the next years all the organisations will be reshaped and will come across new challenges. The aim of this paper is to study the idea of IT and especially the role of Global Distribution Systems in the tourist industry. IT is the lifeblood of travel and tourist industry. It connects travellers, travel industry and suppliers. IT is essential for the efficient and timely processing and distribution of that information, and has dramatically enhanced the efficiency and accessibility of travel industry organisations.

Students’ Satisfaction from Their Educational Context through DREEM and LOT-R

Quality is a matter of vital importance in today’s higher education. Along with it, students’ satisfaction from their educational context is equally important. Students’ satisfaction from their educational context is a very important element of the total quality in higher education. This paper concerns the satisfaction of the Technological Education Institute (T.E.I.) of Piraeus Business Administration Department students. Data from 100 students’ answers to DREEM and LOT-R questionnaires have been statistically analyzed. Factor analysis has been operated as well as a regression analysis to certain of the factors resulted from the previous factor analysis. The results were interesting since the understanding of the factors concerning the students’ satisfaction became feasible.

Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Current Aspects

Many researchers mention that, in developed economies, the key to the enterprises’ development is innovation. The aim of the present study is to investigate this association. In order to do so, the authors first approach conceptually the term entrepreneurship and then review the relevant data that examine its association to innovation. Finally, the role of the European Union in the implementation of innovation in small and medium sized enterprises is also examined.

The Impact of ISO 9001 Quality Management System Implementation in Tourism SMEs

During the last few decades service industry is one world’s economy most growing industries. Modern management science’s philosophy considers service quality as a possible standard of excellence for any organisations around the world. The concept of service quality has been presented in the international literature as a reliable index for the evaluation of any organisation results. Service quality is central to the marketing concept, with evidence of strategic links between service quality and overall service performance. On the other hand it is already obvious that the rapid international developments in the business world form new standards and conditions in the organization and production sector. Within this framework enterprises would proceed to the development and use of more effective implements and methods, which will allow them to evaluate the service and product quality as well as the satisfaction of their domestic and foreign clients. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the impacts of ISO 9001 on Small and Medium size Tourism Enterprises (SMEs). The main emphasis of the literature review will critically analyse the literature on quality, Total Quality Management (TQM), Quality Management Systems (QMS) and characteristics of ISO (International Standardisation Organisation) systems.

Elderly Consumers’ Perceptions on Self-medication Using Over the Counter Medicines

Elderly people are the largest consumers of over the counter medicines (OTC) worldwide. They are using OTC medicines, on a daily basis, to treat minor health issues; however little is known regarding the attitudes and beliefs of the elderly consumers in Greece regarding the purchase and use of OTC drugs and how decisions to self-medicate are made. The OTC medicine market constitutes a key source of business expansion and leads to a significant competitive advantage. The aim of this paper is to examine the attitudes of third age Greek consumers in over the counter medicines market. We have used the Theory of Planned Behavior to explore the influence of beliefs about Medicines – particularly the OTC medicines (Beliefs about Medicines Questionnaire), the influence of subjective norms and perceived behavioral control, as predictors of intent to self-medicate. Beliefs about medicines –OTC medicines emerged as the most significant predictor of intent to self-medicate, while subjective norms and perceived behavioral control were found to be secondary factors in the decision to self-medicate. Furthermore, intent to self-medicate significantly predicted (Self - Medicating Scale - SMS) the attitude of purchase and use of OTC medicines for self-medicating minor health issues. The results of the statistical analysis have shown that third age consumers in Greece do not use often OTC medicines, unlike consumers in the same age group of other countries. A significant positive correlation between the frequency of the use of OTC medicines and chronic diseases is recorded while a negative one is recorded effect among variables of the frequency of OTC medicines use and the health status of participants. The results of the survey indicate that self-medication with OTC is more likely when necessity regarding their use outweigh the concerns arising from their use.

Erratum to: A Survey on the Use of Social Networking Sites in Greece

1 Laboratory of Management Information Systems and New Technologies, Department of Business Administration, School of Business and Economics, Piraeus University of Applied Sciences (T.E.I. of Piraeus), 250 Thivon & Petrou Ralli Av., 12244 Egaleo, Greece drososd@teipir.gr, ntsotsol@unipi.gr, mskordoulis@gmail.com 2 Department of Business Administration, School of Business and Economics, Piraeus University of Applied Sciences (T.E.I. of Piraeus), 250 Thivon & Petrou Ralli Av., 12244 Egaleo, Greece mchalikias@hotmail.com, laertis@teipir.gr

Knowledge Management for Business Processes: Employees’ Recruitment and Human Resources’ Selection: A Combined Literature Review and a Case Study

Nowadays many businesses have been focused on the recruitment and selection of the appropriate employees, in order to deploy their entrepreneurial activities. Besides, on the employees’ behalf, the increased competitiveness in a worldwide level of analysis necessitates that all employees to be facilitated with advanced capabilities throughout the organizational hierarchy. In effect, these businesses adopt and develop contemporary processes for their employees’ recruitment and selection, in order to ensure increased productivity and effectiveness in a liquefied economic environment. The development of appropriate schemes of selection and recruitment, in line to the ongoing and in-field investment of education, skills and training, are determining factors to the prosperity of manufacturing industry. The ultimate goals of knowledge management in a strategic, innovative, and operational level of decision making is the achievement of greater awareness of the interactive role of science, engineering, and technology towards businesses’ success, as well as the development of flexible organizational structures that encourage entrepreneurial creativity, structural flexibility, and managerial change. In the present study, the determining parameters of employees’ recruitment and human resources’ selection are presented in a literature overview, while the inclusion of a Case Study –being based on an innovative-oriented pharmaceutical company– reveal this company’s prominent role of indentifying new markets and opportunities that might emerge and then choosing to respond to these long-term visions by activating its competitive advantages in a Management-Technology-Strategy tripartite pattern, rather than being forced into action by competitors.