Radoslav Škapa

Reverse logistics in Czech companies: increasing interest in performance measurement

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore whether Czech companies believe that value is being generated by reverse logistics (RL), and whether (and how) they track its costs and benefits. The quality of performance measurement of RL was related to three corporate attributes. The findings were then compared to the results of an older study to describe developments over the past five years, and to evaluate the changes during this time period.Design/methodology/approach – This exploratory research is based on data from 102 Czech companies collected in 2009. The basic statistical tests were applied in the analysis. A part of the paper takes the form of longitudinal research.Findings – One third of Czech companies surveyed reported that RL had a positive influence on their profits. A positive relationship between the profitability of RL activities and a companys strategic focus on RL was also identified. The level of interest by companies in performance measurement has increased; however, the companie...

Global Youth and Mobile Games: Applying the Extended Technology Acceptance Model in the U.S.A., Japan, Spain, and the Czech Republic

The global mobile game industry expects spectacular growth in the coming years. Ubiquitous entertainment has been drawing much attention from the “global youth” segment, which seeks innovative, efficient, and enjoyable pastimes. However, little is known about the adoption behavior of mobile games across cultures. This study aims to fill this gap by examining the factors influencing mobile game adoption in the U.S.A., Japan, Spain, and the Czech Republic. The technology acceptance model has been extended by incorporating two variables: inherent novelty seeking and social norms. Our research model received strong support from the American and Japanese samples. However, only modest support was found for the Czech sample. In closing, after recognizing important limitations, we discuss the managerial and theoretical implications.

Řízení zpětných toků

Monografie představuje cast výsledků empirickeho výzkumu, kteremu se autoři věnuji několik let a který se zaměřuje na přistup ceských podniků k řizeni zpětných toků z hlediska vnimani potencialni hodnoty. Soucasti monografie je kompilace stavajicich poznatků o řizeni zpětných toků a o tvorbě hodnoty v ramci těchto toků.

Companies’ Approach to Reverse Flows Management: The Case of the Czech Republic

Over the last two decades reverse flows have become a recognized part of supply chain management. It is primarily the material flow that moves in the supply chain in the opposite direction from the material processed into the form of the final product from suppliers to customers into their processes of consumption. In this chapter the answers to the fundamental questions of the management of reverse flows using the example of the Czech Republic are presented, namely on the basis of collected data and information from the long-term empirical research carried out between managers of 150 Czech companies. The first question is why reverse flows are generated, and why do companies pay or not pay attention to them. Furthermore, who carries out the processes associated with these flows and how they are realized, whereas part of this question is, how the performance of these processes and their economic consequences for businesses are monitored. Three accompanying mini-case studies contribute to a better understanding of the present knowledge targeted at reverse logistics management practices.

Efektivnost v systému zpětných toků

Kniha pojednava o ekonomicke strance reverzni logistiky: hlavni pozornost je tak věnovana různým druhům ztrat, ktere v tomto podnikovem systemu vznikaji a snižuji jeho výkonnost a nasledně i konkurenceschopnost podniku jako celku. Cilem knihy je definovat výzkumne problemy; konkretně uzka mista omezujici opětovne ziskavani hodnoty za zpětných toků. Text sestava ze tři tematických casti: prvni se věnuje sledovani výkonnosti reverzni logistiky, druha rozebira outsourcing a třeti podporu zpětných toků ze strany informacnich systemů. Vsechny kombinuji teoreticke poznatky z literarni reserse s empirickými zjistěnimi: jednak z kvantitativniho dotazovani mezi zastupci v CR působicich podniků a take z připadove studie konkretniho podniku.

Reklamační politika a její ekonomické souvislosti

Kniha se věnuje oblasti, již zahranicni literatura oznacuje jako return policy.Do cestiny je zde přeložena jako reklamacni politika a rozumi se ji způsob řizeni reklamaci, ktere prodavajici obdrži z titulu faktických vad produktu a připadně i vad subjektivně vnimaných zakaznikem. Reklamacni politika je představena primarně jako marketingový nastroj spoluutvařejici tzv. rozsiřený produkt. Text doplňuji tři empiricke studie zkoumajici chovani ceských spotřebitelů.

Specifika řízení zpětných toků

Cilem předkladane monografie je prezentovat dalsi výsledky z několika-leteho empirickeho výzkumu věnovanemu řizeni zpětných toků v Ceske republice a to zejmena výsledky analýz, věnovaných hledani vztahů a sou-vislosti mezi různými proměnnými, jež byly předmětem zkoumani. Vztahy a souvislosti přinasi hlubsi a detailnějsi pohled do ramcove situace zkou-mane problematiky, ukazuji mimo jine, jake podniky, tj. jake charakteristi-ky podniků a jake charakteristicke prvky jejich řizeni zpětných toků souvisi s jinými charakteristikami zkoumaných podniků a s dalsimi prvky řizeni zpětných toků. Vztahy a souvislosti take umožňuji najit odpověď na formu-lovane hypotezy o předpokladanem chovani podniků, postojich, praktikach a dopadech tohoto chovani v konkretně vymezených oblastech.

How Multinational Enterprises Develop their Advertising Strategy in New EU Member States: A Qualitative View

The European market is increasingly important in the world economy. The expansion of the European Union (EU) advanced further in 2004, by adding ten new member states, a total of 77 million people, and over 700,000 square kilometres of territory. The incorporation of eight central and eastern European countries (Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Hungary and Slovenia) and two Mediterranean islands (Cyprus and Malta) was one of the most ambitious initiatives in the five-plus-decade history of European integration. This drastic expansion has changed the way in which multinational enterprises (MNEs) operate their businesses in Europe. Because of these countries’ low labour costs and investment incentives (e.g., tax reduction, construction aid), many firms have moved their production facilities from other regions to these new Member States. In particular, the Czech and Slovak Republics, Hungary and Poland have attracted almost three-quarters of foreign investment (Sheram and Soubbotina 2000), while MNEs have rapidly become the largest advertisers in these countries. To date, however, little research has been available regarding advertising or marketing strategy in this region.