Renata Korsakiene

Approach to innovative activities by Lithuanian companies in the current conditions of development

Abstract The paper aims to reveal the approach of Lithuanian companies towards innovations. In order to take into account conditions, specific to the considered country an, overview of Lithuanian economy with a closer look at demographic and employment tendencies is presented; analysis of statistically estimated innovation performance and state innovation policy performed. Insight into factors driving innovations into Lithuanian business companies is being made through questioning the randomly chosen 1001 Lithuanian business companies. The performed survey allows us to disclose how companies react to factors fostering and restricting innovations, how they perceive role of state policy in the process of innovative activities. Obtained results provide us with empirical evidences how business companies react to specific economic conditions, and if there is a sufficient correspondence between educational system and supply of know‐how susceptible employees demanded by business companies.

The innovative approach to relationships with customers

Customer relationship management is a relatively new discipline, which became popular in the last decade. It has to be noted that customer relationship management is oriented toward current customers and allows to attract new customers. Therefore, customer relationship management is related to long‐term success in the market. The paper analyses infrastructure, institutional and internal issues which restrict customer relationship management in Lithuanian real estate companies. Presented investigation is based on questioning of real estate companies which encounter the problems of economy slowdown.

Foreign capital destinations: Baltic States versus India

The presented paper aims to elaborate which factors have the biggest influence on investment decisions while choosing between India and the new EU members ‐ Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. For analysis purpose the Baltic States have been juxtaposed to India, as the latter represents emerging market, and, according to almost unanimous prognosis, is one of the main FDI destinations for the nearest future. The Baltic States are considered as attractive recent entrants of the EU demonstrating high growth and representing new unsaturated market. FDI inflows into those rather different countries started in approximately 1991, thus driving forces behind international capital movement serve as object of scientific interest. The data retrieved and used for considerations embraces period from 1999 to 2008. Authors ground premises about significance of certain sets of driving factors and use multi‐criteria evaluation methods to indicate driving forces determining propensity to invest into the Baltic States’ region and India. Results of speculative analysis are supposed to add to better understanding of contemporary investment behaviour of well‐developed economies.

Exploration of strategy: Objectives, competencies and competitive advantage

The notion that all companies should have a strategy is widely accepted. It has to be noted that a companys competitiveness describe objectives, competencies, competitive advantage and strategies. The linkages among objectives, competencies and competitive advantage are influenced by competitive forces in the market. The purpose of this paper is to propose a conceptual framework for analysis of a strategy and to present results of a survey carried out to explore the strategies of Lithuanian construction companies. The determinants of strategy such as objectives, competencies and competitive advantage can further be used as a guide for setting a strategic agenda for construction companies with different characteristics and operating in different markets.

The knowledge‐based economy in Lithuania: Analysis of tendencies

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the tendencies of knowledge‐based economy in Lithuania by looking at a knowledge economys major dimensions ‐ the structure of economic activity and the infrastructure of knowledge economy. The knowledge‐based economy is the dominant post‐industrial economic development paradigm. The emergence of this paradigm in the 1980s created preconditions to emphasize the role of knowledge creation and distribution as the primary driver in the process of economic development and growth, the distribution of income, development of knowledge‐based networks among firms and the interface between government, business and citizens in the advanced economies.

Lithuania – Belarus Economic Relations: How the EU Accession Impacted Bilateral Trade

Lithuania among other 10 Central and Eastern European countries joined the European Union on 1 May 2004. A lot of forecasts about transformations in international trade relationships had been discussed; overall shift towards the EU had been expected. The paper aims to verify what actual effect newly imposed trade regulations have. Presented elaboration of discussed issue would be performed in the following sequence. At first, trade structure by product groups of trade between Lithuania and Belarus in the years 2000 and 2005 would be juxtaposed. Volumes of import and export would be considered respectively. Changes in trade regime would be taken into account. Adopted approach allowed us to trace which changes in trade regime impacted trade character and which not.

Boundaryless career management: theoretical perspective on individual and institutional agency

Majority of researches have investigated boundaryless career from individuals perspectives. Hence, boundaryless career is perceived as an individual agency. Meanwhile, only limited number of studies adopted different approach towards boundaryless career and brought back organisational perspective. These studies aimed to analyse boundaryless career as an organisational agency and stressed the need for counselling or social support in dynamic labour market. Although both streams of studies have expanded career management perspective, much less attempts were made to combine individual and institutional perspectives. Taking into consideration theoretical approaches, the paper develops research methodology, which aims to answer the main questions: 1) how middle-aged or senior employees adapt to new roles as proactive designers of their own careers; 2) what institutional support do they need from employment service organisations, career consultants, coaches and mentors.