Makoena Sebatjane, Amir Hossein Nobil, Erfan Nobil
Cross-docking is a widely used strategy for inventory consolidation and distribution in complex retail supply chains involving multiple suppliers, products, and retailers. This strategy reduces the costs of managing inventory in retail operations by streamlining the supply chain from the point of origin to the point of sale. Environmental sustainability is a crucial concern in operations management, necessitating the monitoring of emissions generated by supply chain activities. Additionally, quality control is vital in retail supply chains to ensure consumer health is not compromised by the sale and consumption of poor-quality products. Taking these factors into account, this paper proposes a sustainable inventory model for a cross-docking system that includes multiple suppliers, retailers, and items with imperfect quality, all under cap-and-trade emissions regulation. Data from a retail company with a single warehouse and multiple stores is used to formulate the inventory system as a mixed-integer non-linear programming problem. The warehouse serves as a hub for cross-docking operations, consolidating inventory from multiple suppliers and distributing it to various stores. The results indicate that the fraction of imperfect quality items, carbon emissions cap, and price for emissions in the open carbon market significantly impact total inventory costs and emissions. Incorporating these variables results in a 9% increase in total costs compared to scenarios where they are excluded. However, this approach enables precise quantification of emissions. To explore the impact of stock shortages on retail operations, the model is extended to include backordering. The extension demonstrates that stock shortages adversely affect total costs.
Systems engineering, Marketing. Distribution of products
Forecasting demand and determining safety stocks are key aspects of supply chain planning. Demand forecasting involves predicting future demand for a product or service using historical data and other external and internal drivers. Stockouts and excess production can be reduced by accurately forecasting demand. This allows companies to plan production, inventory, and logistics more effectively. Companies maintain safety stocks in their inventory to protect against unexpected changes in demand or supply. A company must find the appropriate safety stock level to meet customer demands while avoiding excess inventory and carrying costs. Forecasting demand and determining safety stocks work together to help companies reduce costs, improve customer service, and optimize inventory levels. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are commonly used to measure model performance. Classical forecasting models mostly concern themselves with minimizing forecast errors. However, the impact on inventory costs is not directly considered. In this paper, we introduce a Key Performance Indicator to be used in the demand forecasting process that produces more efficient results in terms of inventory costs. We also propose a novel approach to determining the best level for safety stock. This approach considers logistic network supply reliability and seasonality indices identified within historical demand patterns. We use real-life data and show that the proposed method can improve efficiency in forecasting and safety stock levels by reducing the risk of stockouts and excess inventory.
Marketing. Distribution of products, Management. Industrial management
During the pandemic, smartphone sales in Indonesia increased, especially for companies that continued to innovate, emphasize product quality, and develop creative products. This research aims to examine whether brand image, product quality, and lifestyle affect iPhone purchasing decisions. The method used in this study is a quantitative research method using primary data, conducted through surveys by distributing questionnaires in Yogyakarta Special Region Province, Indonesia. Respondents in this research are iPhone users in Indonesia, and the sampling method in this research involved purposive sampling. After passing the test phase, and through validity and reliability tests, 200 responses were collected. Data analysis tool uses multiple linear regression analysis. The results showed that product quality and lifestyle had positive and significant effect on purchase decision, but brand image does not influence purchase decision. In this case, brand image does not have an influence on consumers from Indonesia when buying a smartphone.
The relevance of circular economy has significantly grown in the last years, thanks to the spread of sustainability principles among companies, policy makers and practitioners. The European Union has given an important impulse the dissemination of circular economy in business practice, with the introduction of the Regulation on taxonomy for sustainable activities. It is a regulation for the classification of sustainable economic activities, aimed at creating a common language for investors, which favour ventures that have a significant positive impact on the climate and the environment. Starting from the theoretical background offered by the so-called “R” Framework, the paper attempts to close the gap between scholars and practitioners, providing real cases of implementation of circular economy.
Consumers are constantly seeking out new and memorable experiences. This study empirically examines how external factors, such as the characteristics of innovation (relative advantage, trialability, observability, low complexity, compatibility) and exterior store design, and internal factors (positive mood, hedonic motivations, consumer innovativeness) aff ect young consumers’ impulse intention toward visiting pop-up stores in the South African context. Survey data was collected from a convenient sample of 461 students from two universities in South Africa via a self-administered questionnaire. Multiple regression analysis revealed that (a) external factors related to the characteristics of innovation (i.e., compatibility and low complexity), (b) exterior store design, and (c) the internal factor, consumer innovativeness, had a signifi cant influence on consumers’ impulse intentions to visit pop-up shops. The study examined pop-up retail through the lens of impulse behaviour in an emerging market. The study contributes to the understanding of factors influencing the success of pop-up stores in emerging markets. In particular, the understanding of the factors that lead to impulse intentions towards pop-up retail, which has been overlooked in research.
Marketing. Distribution of products, Management. Industrial management
This paper attempts to identify the factors behind the sovereign default risk, as measured by sovereign CDS spreads. By analyzing monthly data from January 2007 to September 2015 using instrumental variable approach, we find that European sovereign default risk is partly a response to a macroeconomic environment characterized by poor fiscal policies and deteriorating economic factors. Specifically, higher unemployment rate, debt levels and lower current account balances have increased the sovereign CDS spreads. These results do not allow us to reject the hypothesis that the sovereign default was driven by weak economic fundamentals. But the relative importance of these factors changes over time and group of countries. The presence and absence of Greece have played a key role in the developments of the spreads in the euro area countries. The rating downgrades in Greece and the higher European risk aversion had contributed to a significant rise in the CDS spreads of euro and non euro area countries. Our VECM analysis does suggest direct spillovers from Greece to Euro area periphery via non fundamental channels. Finally, our results suggest that the emergence of the debt crisis was caused by weak fundamentals but has also a self-fulfilling character.
Cet article tente d'identifier les facteurs à l'origine du risque de défaut souverain, tel que mesuré par les spreads de CDS souverains. En analysant les données mensuelles de janvier 2007 à septembre 2015, nous constatons que le risque de défaut souverain européen répond en partie à un environnement macroéconomique caractérisé par de mauvaises politiques budgétaires et une détérioration des facteurs économiques. Plus précisément, la hausse du taux de chômage, le niveau d'endettement et la réduction des soldes de la balance courante ont accru les spreads des CDS souverains. Ces résultats ne permettent pas de rejeter l’hypothèse selon laquelle le défaut souverain a été motivé par des fondamentaux économiques faibles. Mais notre analyse montre que l'importance relative de ces facteurs change avec le temps et le groupe de pays. La présence et l'absence de la Grèce ont joué un rôle clé dans l'évolution des spreads dans les pays de la zone euro. Notre analyse suggère ainsi que la dégradation des notations en Grèce et l'aversion accrue pour le risque de la part des Européens ont contribué à une augmentation significative des spreads de CDS des pays de la zone euro et des autres pays. Enfin, nos résultats suggèrent que l'émergence de la crise de la dette a été causée par des fondamentaux faibles mais a aussi un caractère auto-réalisateur.
Commercial geography. Economic geography, Marketing. Distribution of products
The purpose of this article is to analyze the behavior of service buyers in a multi-channel environment. The main research question is: Whether and which consumers generations tend to voluntarily migrate to the e-channel in the process of purchasing services. Author used data from survey based on CAPI method that was conducted in 2015 on a group of 1103 respondents, the research sample was determined using a quota-random method. In the analysis service purchase process was divided into four stages: pre-purchase stage, service purchase stage, post-purchase stage, resignation from service. Two marketing channels were taken into consideration – online channel and offline channel. Quantitative data was used in MANOVA analysis. In order to answer the research question, author considered the potential differences in intention to use online channel and offline channel at each of four stages in service buying process and in case of each of three consumer generations (BB, X, Y). Depending on the nature of this difference it was be possible to identify one of three situations in reference to customers’ (service buyers’) multichannel behaviour: a) difference in the intention to use both marketing channels is not statistically significant, so both offline channel and online channel is equally important for customers in service buying process – it refers to only Y generation in two stages of the purchase process (pre-purchase and post purchase stage); b) intention to use offline channel is significantly higher than the intention to use online channel – there is no real customers migration to the online channel and offline channel is still preferred in the purchase process – it refers to BB and X generation in the whole service purchase process and Y generation at the purchase and resignation stage. c) intention to use online channel is significantly higher than the intention to use offline channel, these are the research signs of voluntary migration to the online channel – such a situation was in no case. It turned out that only the Y generation channel shows a real interest in the buying process online, what is important only at the pre-purchase and post-purchase. The key stages (purchase and resignation) will still be implemented in the offline channel. Both older generations have strong preferences for the offline channel regardless of the stage in service buying process. Such research findings can be significant for better understanding of service buyers behaviour in multichannel environment, especially in the context of e-channel migration strategy. Research findings provide the basis for a significant implication for service supplies. Still a lot of effort should be put in convincing service buyers about the benefits of online channel. Each stage in service buying process demands separated attention in order to reduce perceived risk. The results of the study show the current consumer behavior in multichannel environment. It is valuable to point out rather poor intention of Polish consumers to voluntarily migrate to the online channel when purchasing services. The results of the study indicate the non-obviousness and lack of automatic transition to the online channel, even among the younger generation of consumers.
Marketing. Distribution of products, Economics as a science
Personnel management is the main factor of modern society economic success. This significantly
changes the very concept of “human resources management” - it goes from a simple prompt solution to
the determination of problems arising the definition of people future needs, as well as the development
of both their labor and creative potential. In this regard, it should be emphasized that in business, especially
in large-scale one Personnel management is focused on solving strategic tasks of the organization
innovative development, in other words, its goals and principles must comply with the organization
basic strategic concept, and the function of personnel management must be taken into account when
developing the organization strategy. The aim of the study is to determine the new technologies effectiveness
in public administration. This is called service-oriented thinking. In short, service systems are
the location of systems that create value and include people sharing information, technology and organizations,
as well as language, measures, models, laws, etc. The main carrier of new competitive ideas,
solutions, non-standard tasks or new ways of solving standard problems is the personnel. Creation of an
efficient and effective system of public administration is a necessary condition for ensuring the dynamic
social and economic development of our country. Therefore, the number one task remains to improve
the effectiveness of public administration, strict observance of the rule of law by state officials, and the
provision of high-quality public services to the public. Thus, the urgency of researching innovative methods
of the personnel management system in a state institution is due to the need for timely formation
and development of innovative mechanisms for making managerial decisions that are adequate to the
requirements of the modern economy, scientific and technical and information progress. Analyzing the
foreign experience of the above countries, it should be noted a number of features that are of practical interest
and can be taken into account in the process of improving the public service system of Kazakhstan:
- in the countries examined, the professionalization of the state apparatus is carried out on an ongoing
basis;
- flexible methods of human resources management (personnel management);
- there are mechanisms for transferring the best employees with experience between the public and
private sectors.
Analyzing the experience of foreign countries, it is necessary to determine the level of public confidence
in the system of competitive selection and the level of confidence of civil servants and citizens in
the mechanism for implementing the principles of meritocracy, that is, raising the career ladder with merit.
During the development of innovative methods, knowledge of the program being implemented in the
public service is acquired; knowledge of the best personnel technologies used in the modern public service
of foreign countries; knowledge of the possibilities and limitations of the use of traditional and innovative
human resources management tools in the civil service management practice; the ability to make a reasonable
choice of a specific staff tool, taking into account the purposes of its application, as well as the specifics
of the given situation; skills of developing procedures and documents by the personnel department.
This is called service-oriented thinking. In short, service systems are the location of systems that create
value and include people, share information, technologies and organizations, as well as language,
measures, models, laws, and so on.
Economics as a science, Marketing. Distribution of products
تهدف هذه الورقة البحثية إلى تحليل السياسة العامة الصحية في الجزائر ومكانة الإنفاق الصحي ضمن الإنفاق العام, مع الاستعانة بمقاربة تاريخية منذ الاستقلال, وقد ركزت على بعض المعالم التي ميزت السياسة الإنفاقية في مجال الصحة خلال فترة البحث مع الإسهاب في أبرز المصادر التي تغذي الإنفاق الصحي في الجزائر, واستعمال الدراسة القياسية ,من أجل اختبار مدى وجود الارتباط بين الإنفاق الصحي ومصادره, ولقد خلصت هذه الدراسة إلى أن قطاع العائلات مصدر مهم في الآونة الأخيرة ,ويمكنه أن يؤثر على الإنفاق الصحي, هذا إلى جانب صناديق الضمان الاجتماعي التي تراجع دورها بسبب العجز الذي تعاني منه.
Frequent changes in consumers' preferences cause the need for constant adjustment of manufacturers' offer, which all give much importance to building appropriate brand architecture, that organizes company's portfolio. As a reaction to current growing price sensitive market segment, manufacturers have developed fighting brands and downward vertical brand extensions, while private labels are offered by retailers, so to fulfill expectations coming from the market. Different branding strategies used in fruit juice market in Serbia are the subject of this research and both quantitative and qualitative research methods were used. The results show that low - cost brands are present in this category. However, there's no unique branding strategy. Consumers recognize various levels of products' quality, which influence their readiness to pay for it. Also, manufacturers' presence across different price levels doesn't negatively affect their image amongst the consumers and the level of trust given to manufacturers is generally higher compared to products' brands. In fruit juice category, manufacturers' brands dominate private labels, although 'blind' test results show that quality of these two brands' types doesn't necessarily differ.
The aim of the article. The article defines its main goal as the assessment of the resource potential of agricultural sector of Ukraine and description the opportunities of its usage in achieving competitive advantages of the state on foreign markets.
The results of the analysis. During the research it was established that the resource potential of agricultural sector of Ukraine provides conditions for formation of powerful competitive advantages in world markets. In the period of exacerbation of the global food crisis the prospects of Ukraine become apparent. However, it has been found out that the state does not use its opportunities and, moreover, turns into an import-dependent country. Transformation processes that began in the village after gaining Ukraine’s independence, had to withdraw the agrarian economy to a qualitatively new level of development, however, led to the decline of the industry. Land as the main national wealth turned out to be in the hands of those who were unable to take care of it, and is rapidly losing its value. Most newly formed agricultural farms work on short-term lease that does not induce them to make efforts for the implementation of land improvements, but only provokes predatory exploitation of the soil. The problem is exacerbated due to lack of effective legal base and state control over business activities in rural areas. At the same time, there is no sense to speak about the state support, which is missing for small structures are at the disposal to close to power managers of agricultural holdings, which puts the market participants in unequal conditions of competition. The results of investigation confirmed that several of agricultural holdings, which operate in the state procure more than half of the equipment and, thus, have a higher level of productivity. Small companies have no funds for it, and this undermines their competitive position, and gives them neither the access to world markets, nor the opportunity but further development.
Conclusions and directions of further researches. The analysis gives reasons for the conclusion about the ineffective usage of the resource potential of Ukraine’s agrarian sector, its actual neglect which is the consequence of unsystematic character and incoherence of define stages of agrarian reforms and can lead to a serious social, economic and ecological crisis. The awareness of this predetermines the necessity of searching the ways of urgent solution of the problems. The first steps in this direction are the following: the improvement of the legal field of agrarian reforms, simplification of administrative procedures of running business, fighting corruption and building a qualitatively new system of state regulation of distribution and use of productive resources of the agrarian sector. It has been indicated that the main task of the current stage of reforms should be the creation of optimal conditions for a substantial increase in social investment and productive capacity of the earth, its transformation into an independent factor of economic growth. The fulfillment of this task must be insured by the comprehensive application of instrument of economic and administrative methods of management that should be implemented as a part of general economic reform, and in searching the balance between which there are prospects for further research.
Economics as a science, Marketing. Distribution of products
This paper analyzes the methodological and publication trends in the literature on cross-border mergers and acquisitions over three five-year periods, 1996–2001, 2001–06, and 2006–11. Based on a selection of 23 journals and a sample of 170 articles, we use advanced cross-tabulations to study the publication and methodological trends that have emerged in North America, Europe, and other regions. Our main findings are as follows. A+-rated journals tend to accept the use of regression as a key technique. Top-tier journals accept papers primarily in finance and accounting and international business. Researchers’ interest in international business has increased at a rising rate, and increased at a falling rate in finance and accounting. The publication of conceptual quantitative articles has increased significantly by 45 percent over the 15-year period. About 98 percent of the total sample uses modeling as a methodology and is accepted by A+- and A-rated journals. Cross-sectional studies are more popular than longitudinal studies. The financial institutions industry has been studied the most in all parts of the world and at an increasing rate over the period under review. Researchers’ interest in manufacturing industries has, however, declined over the 15 years in all regions.
Organizational behaviour, change and effectiveness. Corporate culture, Marketing. Distribution of products
Though the notion of marketing as exchange has proved conceptually robust since its introduction more than 10 years ago, few empirical marketing studies have used exchange as a guiding paradigm. The author examines male- and female-placed personal advertisements as examples of complex, heterogeneous marketing exchange. Several hypotheses about the exchange resources possessed and sought by men and women are tested.
Le Développement Durable et plus précisément la Responsabilité Sociétale d’Entreprise (RSE) comporte une dimension sociale qui fait évoluer les politiques RH
au sein des sociétés qui ont choisi de s’engager dans cette voie.
Le pilier «social» du Développement Durable comporte les relations avec les communautés locales, les règles de gouvernance et de transparence de même que la gestion des RH. Malheureusement, pour améliorer sa visibilité et sa réputation, l’entreprise priorise trop souvent les dons à des organismes de charité et néglige la dimension RH. Alors quel devrait Assurer la stabilité des emplois, encourager la mobilité à l’interne, et aussi partager ses employés avec des compétiteurs et des entreprises d’autres secteurs d’activité.
W artykule autorzy podejmują próbę przedstawienia wykorzystania funduszy strukturalnych przez gminy. Jako obszar badań przyjęto teren województwa małopolskiego. Analizę objęto dwa programy operacyjne współfinansowane z funduszy strukturalnych UE, które były wdrażane w Polsce w okresie programowania 2004-2006. Były to Sektorowy Program Operacyjny „Restrukturyzacja i modernizacja sektora żywnościowego oraz rozwój obszarów wiejskich” oraz Zintegrowany Program Operacyjny Rozwoju Regionalnego. Analizy poprowadzono z uwzględnieniem specyfiki i zróżnicowania budżetów lokalnych.
The subject of this paper is focused on the instruments for the measurement of corporate reputation. Recent research of the elements which influence the success of a company shows a growing interest in intangible values. Corporate reputation itself has been identified as one of the key intangible assets which create the company’s added value. Understanding of the importance of corporate reputation has been determined as a significant component of the company’s competitiveness, that is, of its competitive edge. Reputation is a normal part of our life and an integral part of our society. Our interest in the honesty and integrity of others is firmly established in all cultures and nowadays the focus of this interest is switching increasingly on companies. Corporate reputation can be acquired by means of strong, well-developed strategies, which are crucial for the opinion of stakeholders regarding future stability and competitive sustainability of the company. On the other hand, it should be emphasized that in order to manage it, corporate reputation has to be measured first. However, although the concept of corporate reputation is universally accepted and its significance has been recognized especially in the last two decades, the process of its measurement is still at an early stage and there is no universally accepted instrument for its measurement. Therefore, the author of this paper gives an overview of the instruments used for the measurement of corporate reputation which have gained a foothold through former practical usage.