Roberto Biloslavo

Web sites as tools of communication of a “green” company

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is first, to review current literature on corporate identity, image and reputation; second, to analyse the “green reputation” on a sample of Slovene companies based on their web sites and third, to present implications for companies and further research.Design/methodology/approach – Content analysis and discourse analysis were used to examine sections of web sites related to sustainable development of 20 Slovene companies representing the pharmaceutical, chemical, energy, food production, retailing, automotive, construction, logistics, sales of oil products and domestic appliance industries.Findings – The web sites of 20 Slovene companies studied show that all companies present their values about environment protection and social responsibility, which they relate to sustainable development. However, “green” identity is not fully exploited in terms of being used as a distinctive feature of a company and as such it does not sufficiently contribute to gaining competitive a...

Mission statements in Slovene enterprises

Purpose – The paper sets out to observe the absorption of strategic management practice in a leading Central and East European (CEE) economy, and to provide insight into institutional differences influencing the content of mission statements.Design/methodology/approach – The content of mission statements from large Slovene enterprises is compared with research on US mission statements.Findings – Mission statements in Slovene firms tend to emphasize customers, shareholders, and strategic suppliers significantly less often than do US firms. Corporate reputation, customer‐market scope and quality are also mentioned significantly less often in Slovene statements. Although some gaps between the theoretical ideal and corporate practice may exist in both settings, many differences may be explained by macroeconomic volatility, industry structure, and institutional environments.Research limitations/implications – Although the Slovene sample size is smaller than comparable US studies, it is an equivalent sample of ...

Knowledge management and organisational culture in higher education institutions

This paper focuses on the higher education area in a small Central European country. Its purpose is to explore the concept of culture, the concept of knowledge management (KM) as well as the correlations among their dimensions at the university level. Since we assume that it is educational personnel who is involved in KM processes, our research covered the teaching staff. Our questionnaire is based on a similar research carried out by Wilkens et al. (2004). The literature is reviewed and the empirical analysis is performed in order to examine and to explain the relationship between organisational culture and knowledge management. The findings presented in the paper can be important for further development of the higher education sector in Central and Eastern European countries as well as for other profit oriented industries. Dieser Artikel beschaftigt sich mit dem Bereich der hoheren Bildung in einem kleinen mitteleuropaischen Land. Ziel ist, die Konzepte von Kultur und Wissensmanagement, sowie die Zusammenhange zwischen ihren Dimensionen auf der universitaren Ebene zu untersuchen. Da wir der Meinung sind, dass der Wissensmanagementprozess im Bildungswesen besonders das Personal betrifft, fokussiert unsere Untersuchung auf das Lehrpersonal. Unser Fragebogen basiert auf einer ahnlichen Untersuchung von Wilkens et al. (2004). Neben einer Betrachtung der Literatur wird eine empirische Analyse durchgefuhrt, um die Beziehung zwischen Organisationskultur und Wissensmanagement zu untersuchen bzw. zu erlautern. Die Ergebnisse dieser Studie konnen fur die weitere Entwicklung der hoheren Bildung in Mittel- und Osteuropa wie auch fur profitorientierte Organisationen bedeutsam sein.

Integrating group Delphi, analytic hierarchy process and dynamic fuzzy cognitive maps for a climate warning scenario

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to present the common use of Delphi method, analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and dynamic fuzzy cognitive maps (DFCM) for development of future scenarios in correlation with climate warnings.Design/methodology/approach – The developed global model is based on a cognitive map composed of 28 factors. Among these factors two are independent, namely human consciousness and living standard. These two factors represent the most important levers of control within the designed model. Two approaches to scenario development have been applied, so that the comparison of the results between conventional fuzzy method and dynamic fuzzy method could give some further insights about global climate development and sustainability, as well as about differences between the two approaches.Findings – Results of the first model (no‐time‐delay in cause‐effect relation) show that in general there is no absolute convergence to a single vector C(tn+1) for various initial values for C(0). But an ...

Managing dualities for efficiency and effectiveness of organisations

Purpose – The paper presents the concept of duality, which presupposes the synthesis of two apparently opposing organisations properties. The purpose of the paper is to empirically verify whether management of dualities correlates with effectiveness and efficiency of organisations.Design/methodology/approach – The research examines 21 dualities at the normative and strategic level of organisational policy. The research was undertaken in two phases. In the first phase, effectiveness and efficiency indicators were defined by applying the analytic hierarchy process method within an expert group. In the second phase, a questionnaire was sent to 49 CEOs of mid‐size and large companies operating in the food, beverage and foodstuff production industry in Slovenia. The questionnaire applied the semantic differential scale.Findings – The fundamental research hypothesis argues that organisations that are able to transcend the so‐called duality paradox thus enhance their effectiveness or/and efficiency. The results...

The influence of selection factors on evolutionary change methods

Purpose – The basic purpose of this research is to study the influence selection factors have on the effectiveness of evolutionary change methods in civil engineering companies in Slovenia.Design/methodology/approach – A combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches to research work was applied. In the process of quantitative data analysis, the statistical methods of bivariant and multivariant analysis were used.Findings – Based on the results of the research, the authors can conclude that the size of a company has no effect on any of the dimensions in selection factors. On the other hand, in seven of the 16 evolutionary change methods applied by the companies, the research results have confirmed the importance of selection factors.Research limitations/implications – In the interpretation of research findings, it should be taken into account that, at the time the research was conducted, the civil engineering industry was undergoing a period of crisis and was ranked among the least profitable indu...

Scenario planning for climate strategies development by integrating group Delphi, AHP and dynamic fuzzy cognitive maps

A hybrid approach to scenario planning by integrating group Delphi method, AHP (analytic hierarchy process) and dynamic fuzzy cognitive maps is proposed in the paper. The group Delphi method is employed to help group of experts to identify which worldwide forces have a major impact on climate related issues and how they interact together. In the second phase is assessed the value range that different variables of the proposed system can achieve and the impact that they have on each other. Assessment of the impact is done by use of the multiplicative AHP. During this phase the expert group also identifies which mathematical function (e.g. linear, sigmoid, concave, convex etc.) most properly describes relation between different forces. Based on this data a fuzzy cognitive map is developed as a base for a dynamic simulation of the world climate development. The simulation aims to serve as a source of guidelines about future organisational and technological changes, which can deliver a superior competitive position based on sustainable development strategy.

Influence Factors in Change Methods Choice and Their Impact on Change Deficiencies: A Case Study of Construction Industry in Transition Economy*

The basic purpose of this research is to examine if influence factors in change methods choice are linked to an inappropriate approach (i.e. deficiencies) towards change. A combination of qualitative and quantitative approaches to research work was applied. The data were obtained by a semi-structured interview together a questionnaire, and then processed using the method of factor analysis and multiple regression. Based on research findings we can conclude that between the factors of choice of change methods and deficiencies in the implementation of change taken as a whole, there is no direct link. However, two dimensions of the factors in the choice of method of change have a positive influence on deficiencies arising during the implementation of change.

The factors of choice of change methods: What is their impact on consequences of change?

The basic purpose of this research is to examine which factors have an influence on the choice of method of change and how they are linked to negative consequences which result from an inappropriate approach towards change. A quantitative approach to research work is applied. The data was obtained by a questionnaire, and then processed by using the method of factor analysis and multiple regression. Based on research findings we could conclude if between the factors of choice of change methods and negative consequences exists a direct link. The research is especially important for managers in the transition period when they approach different change methods proposed by consulting companies, academics and others. If management during this process will consider inappropriate factors in selection of change methods we believe the probability of failure, understood as lower added value for organization stakeholders, will increase. The research introduces new findings concerning the link between factors of choice of change methods, and the extent of the undesired consequences of change. Research studies of this nature are not presently to be found in the literature on change management.

Organizational Identity and Value Triangle: Management of Jungian Paradoxes to Enable Sustainable Business Model Innovation

Biloslavo et al. add a much-needed new lens to understanding the nature of sustainable business models. Drawing on an interdisciplinary approach and adopting a Jungian dialectical approach, they explore the connections between organizational identity, paradoxes, and sustainable business model innovation. A sustainable business model framework termed the “Value Triangle” is applied to an illustrative case study of Japanese firm Muji. The result is a new perspective on designing sustainable business models incorporating paradoxical characteristics of organizational identity. This chapter supports the contention that organizational identity and sustainable business models can be mutually constitutive.