1. The importance of business model factors for cloud computing adoptionKristina Bogataj Habjan, Andreja Pucihar, 2017, original scientific article Abstract: Background and Purpose: Bringing several opportunities for more effective and efficient IT governance and service exploitation, cloud computing is expected to impact the European and global economies significantly. Market data show that despite many advantages and promised benefits the adoption of cloud computing is not as fast and widespread as foreseen. This situation shows the need for further exploration of the potentials of cloud computing and its implementation on the market. The purpose of this research was to identify individual business model factors with the highest impact on cloud computing adoption. In addition, the aim was to identify the differences in opinion regarding the importance of business model factors on cloud computing adoption according to companies’ previous experiences with cloud computing services.
Methodology: Based on literature review, prior research results, and interviews with cloud computing providers and users, a research model was developed. Statistical analysis focused on identification of factors’ importance on cloud computing adoption and differences in opinions according to respondents’ previous experiences with cloud computing services. The study was done among 80 companies and five major cloud computing providers in Slovenia.
Results: The research results reveal statistically significant differences in opinions on the importance of cloud computing business model factors according to respondents’ previous experiences with cloud computing services. The results can provide orientation for redesign or innovation of existing business models towards the creation of a customer-oriented business model for the more successful exploitation of cloud computing services and business opportunities. For potential users, the findings represent guidelines for the successful adoption of cloud computing services.
Conclusions: In our research, the investigated business model factors could be classified into so-called “business model organizational factors”, as they primarily need to be considered by cloud service providers when defining or innovating their business models. For future research, the model should also include the impact of environmental factors, such as Competition, Business Partners, Legislation, Economic Situation, in order to investigate their impact on cloud adoption.
Keywords: cloud computing adoption, SaaS, IaaS, business model factors
Published: 01.09.2017; Views: 52; Downloads: 0
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2. Organizational learning supported by machine learning models coupled with general explanation methodsMarko Bohanec, Marko Robnik Šikonja, Mirjana Kljajić Borštnar, 2017, original scientific article Abstract: Background and Purpose: The process of business to business (B2B) sales forecasting is a complex decision-making process. There are many approaches to support this process, but mainly it is still based on the subjective judgment of a decision-maker. The problem of B2B sales forecasting can be modeled as a classification problem. However, top performing machine learning (ML) models are black boxes and do not support transparent reasoning. The purpose of this research is to develop an organizational model using ML model coupled with general explanation methods. The goal is to support the decision-maker in the process of B2B sales forecasting.
Design/Methodology/Approach: Participatory approach of action design research was used to promote acceptance of the model among users. ML model was built following CRISP-DM methodology and utilizes R software environment.
Results: ML model was developed in several design cycles involving users. It was evaluated in the company for several months. Results suggest that based on the explanations of the ML model predictions the users’ forecasts improved. Furthermore, when the users embrace the proposed ML model and its explanations, they change their initial beliefs, make more accurate B2B sales predictions and detect other features of the process, not included in the ML model.
Conclusions: The proposed model promotes understanding, foster debate and validation of existing beliefs, and thus contributes to single and double-loop learning. Active participation of the users in the process of development, validation, and implementation has shown to be beneficial in creating trust and promotes acceptance in practice.
Keywords: decision support, organizational learning, machine learning, explanations
Published: 01.09.2017; Views: 50; Downloads: 0
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3. Homecare service providers as an organizational form of support for the elderlyPolona Šprajc, Iztok Podbregar, Alenka Brezavšček, 2017, original scientific article Abstract: Background and Purpose: Different studies have highlighted health care allocation problems in Slovenia that indicate the increased need for homecare services for the elderly. It was also found that Slovenian municipalities differ dramatically in the availability of elder care services. A number of older people with diverse unmet needs for care remains. Therefore, the need for the establishment of an additional type of formal homecare services for the elderly exists.
Design/Methodology/Approach: Although many positive effects of home elder care against institutional care are stressed in the literature, the results of many studies performed in recent years have indicated that accessibility of homecare for elderly in Slovenia remains scarce, and it is not equally accessible throughout the country. To mitigate this problem, a new organizational form called “elder homecare service provider” is indicated. The aim of the provider is to offer a variety of different services for the elderly (e.g. homemaking, social networking, transfer services, basic life needs, basic health services, etc.). The establishment of such an organization needs to be designed carefuly, while the unique characteristics and specific needs of the target population must be addressed to optimize desired outcomes.
Results: The aim of the paper is to provide fundamental guidelines for the establishment of elder homecare service provider. All essential characteristics of such an organization are defined. To ensure an appropriate level of service quality, the primary focus is oriented towards the planning of personnel team capacity. For this purpose, the service provider was described using the stochastic queueing model, which enables service capacity optimization considering different performance measures. The usefulness of the model was illustrated with a numerical example, which has shown that the results obtained provide valuable information for decision support.
Conclusion: The establishment of a homecare service provider network would have many positive effects on society in general. The quality of the everyday life of the elderly is expected to be improved considerably, particularly in the rural areas where a lack of institutional care support is reported. Guidelines proposed in the paper together with the quantitave model for planning of its optimal capacity provide useful information, which are especially relevant in the preliminary phase of the establishment of service providers.
Keywords: elderly, service provider, performance measures, capacity planning
Published: 01.09.2017; Views: 56; Downloads: 0
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4. Trust, innovation and prosperityStanislav Szabo, Vojtech Ferencz, Andreja Pucihar, 2013, original scientific article Abstract: Economic development and its determinants, esp. trust or innovation are subjects of several scientific studies. Several authors claim the importance of innovation for economic development. Some studies identified that one of the most crucial factor for economic growth and prosperity is the trust between people. Within the research in this paper we have tried to identify the role of interpersonal trust within the innovation vs. prosperity relation.For this purpose and for causality analysis, we have applied decision tree models. Through our analysis of country based data (involved in trust related WVS surveys) in opposition to current studies, we have identified, that interpersonal trust is more significant determinant of innovation development as prosperity.
Keywords: trust, innovation, development, prosperity, study
Published: 08.08.2017; Views: 32; Downloads: 2
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5. Individual and organisational creativity and innovationRudi Rozman, Jure Kovač, 2015, original scientific article Abstract: Due to the development of technology, production and other business functions, customers have entered in the focus of enterprises’ endeavours, displacing mass-produced standardized products. Efficiency is no longer sufficient: flexibility, creativity and innovation have become vital. Creativity and innovation processes started to be studied, first at the level of individuals and then within organizations. It became obvious that creativity and innovation depend on individuals themselves and, within social units, also on their organisation. From the organisational point of view, practitioners and researchers attempt to determine the organisational variables that positively influence creativity. In this paper, the authors describe both the process and characteristics of creativity and innovation conducted by an autonomous individual as well as the same process conducted by members of a social unit. The appropriate organisation supporting the development of a creative and innovative social unit is established by management whose responsibility is to assure a rational achievement of new useful ideas and their development into products, services and processes. Therefore, the authors focus on three processes, emphasizing their relationships: individual creativity and innovation processes, organizational creativity and innovation processes, and the management of creativity and innovation.
Keywords: creativity, innovation, management, organisational creativity and innovation process, management of creativity and innovation
Published: 04.08.2017; Views: 28; Downloads: 0
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6. Contemporary network organizations in SloveniaJure Kovač, Brigita Gajšek, 2014, original scientific article Abstract: Modern organisations are confronted with enormous challenges. The need to continuously adapt to changing environments represents a main challenge for modern organisations. In order to adapt to the requirements of modern environments more easily and more rapidly, organisations become connected into networks. A network organisation is fast becoming a favourite form of the modern organisation. On the basis of an analysis of members in the field of network organisations, this contribution presents the dimensions and definitions of network organisations. In the follow-up, the starting point for a theoretical explanation of network organisations and their different existing forms is presented. The emphasis of the empirical part of the contribution focuses on presenting an analysis of forms of network organisations that are present in Slovenia from the perspective of their shape, development and actual state. Based on an analysis of relevant documentation, it may be concluded that it was the institutional environment which initiated and directed the start-up processes that led to the establishment of contemporary network organisations within Slovenia.
Keywords: organisation, network organisation, types of network organisations, Slovenia
Published: 04.08.2017; Views: 23; Downloads: 2
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7. Awareness of cloud computing in Slovenian and Croatian micro-enterprisesBorut Werber, Marina Klačmer Čalopa, Igor Pihir, Anja Žnidaršič, 2015, original scientific article Abstract: This paper presents a comparison of the two studies conducted in Slovenian and Croatian micro-enterprises (µE) about the awareness of the cloud computing (CC). We were interested in the issues relating to the characteristics of µE and the latter's use of information and communication technology (ICT) in business processes. Also, the characteristics of owners and µE were investigated. We found that the results obtained in the two countries were similar. In both cases, the most important CC characteristics were reliability, security and performance. Given that CC could represent a good business opportunity for µE, some managerial implications are proposed.
Keywords: comparison, cloud computing, cloud computing services, micro-enterprise
Published: 03.08.2017; Views: 23; Downloads: 0
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8. Vpliv internega marketinga na zavzetost zaposlenihAlenka Mekiš, Damjan Maletič, Matjaž Maletič, 2016, original scientific article Abstract: Raziskovalno vprašanje (RV): V kolikšni meri dimenzije internega marketinga vplivajo na zavzetost zaposlenih?
Namen: Namen študije je raziskati odnos med internim marketingom in zavzetostjo zaposlenih na primeru slovenskega proizvodnega podjetja.
Metoda: Uporabili smo empirične podatke pridobljene s pomočjo ankete med zaposlenimi v slovenskem podjetju. Za proučevanje vpliva dimenzij internega marketinga na zavzetost zaposlenih smo uporabili eksplorativno faktorsko analizo in multiplo regresijsko analizo.
Rezultati: Rezultati so pokazali, da dve dimenziji internega marketinga pozitivno in statistično pomembno vplivata na zavzetost zaposlenih, in sicer "Empatija in pozornost pri vodenju" ter "Kakovosti dela in nagrade".
Organizacija: Ugotovitve raziskave se kažejo tudi v smernicah za prakso. Organizacije naj bi se osredotočale na interni marketing z namenom povečanja zavzetosti zaposlenih. Le-ta se smatra kot pomemben element pri doseganju poslovne odličnosti.
Družba: Potrjeno je bilo, da ima interni marketing pomemben vpliv na družbo, predvsem na zaposlene. V nadaljevanju bi lahko trdili, da zavzetost zaposlenih posledično izboljša tudi počutje zaposlenih.
Originalnost: Čeprav so predhodne študije že potrdile, da interni marketing vpliva na zavzetost zaposlenih, ta študija obravnava raziskovalno področje z vidika poslovne odličnosti.
Omejitve/nadaljnje raziskovanje: Ena od raziskovalnih priložnosti je raziskati faktorje oziroma determinante, ki pospešujejo ali zavirajo interni marketing. Poleg tega, bi lahko vplivali na povezavo med internim marketingom in zavzetostjo zaposlenih tudi številni drugi faktorji. Nadaljnje študije bi lahko raziskale možne moderatorje in mediatorje (kot je to zadovoljstvo na delovnem mestu) na tej povezavi. Ravno tako bi s povečanjem vzorca lahko izboljšali posploševanje ugotovitev raziskave.
Keywords: interni marketing, zavzetost zaposlenih, regresija, poslovna odličnost
Published: 02.08.2017; Views: 47; Downloads: 0
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9. Voditeljstvo in uvajanje modela odličnosti EFQM v slovenskem visokem šolstvuMaja Pungeršek, Matjaž Maletič, Jana Suklan, Maja Meško, 2015, original scientific article Abstract: Raziskovalno vprašanje (RV): Kakšno je udejstvovanje voditeljev pri dejavnikih voditeljstva v slovenskem visokem šolstvu (VŠ) in kakšna je možnost vpeljave modela EFQM v celotno slovensko VŠ?
Namen: Namen prispevka je proučiti udejstvovanje voditeljev pri dejavnikih voditeljstva v slovenskem VŠ in uvajanje modela EFQM v slovensko VŠ ter nakazati možne usmeritve za izboljšanje stanja.
Metoda: Prispevek temelji na teoretičnem in empiričnem delu. Teoretični del zajema analizo in kritično presojo obravnavanega koncepta kakovosti in voditeljstva. Empirični del temelji na kvalitativni raziskavi. Za pridobivanje podatkov je bil uporabljen spletni intervju. Raziskava je bila izvedena z voditelji visokošolskih zavodov (VZ) v slovenskem javnem in zasebnem VŠ.
Rezultati: Ključna ugotovitev, ki izhaja iz raziskave se navezuje na nerazumevanje koristi, ki jih model poslovne odličnosti in ustrezno voditeljstvo prinese visokošolskemu zavodu (VZ). Ugotovitve kažejo, da slovenski visokošolski prostor še ni pripravljen za učinkovito izvajanje modela EFQM.
Organizacija: Rezultati raziskave ponujajo vodstvu VZ koristno informacijo o tem, na kaj morajo biti pozorni za prehod slovenskega VŠ iz obstoječih sistemov kakovosti na model EFQM.
Družba: Raziskava prikazuje zavedanja in spremembe, ki so po mnenju voditeljev slovenskih VŠ potrebne za vpeljavo sprememb na področju voditeljstva v slovenskem VŠ in posledično za vpeljavo modela EFQM v celotno slovensko VŠ, kar bi lahko prispevalo k celovitemu dvigu zavesti in kakovosti v celotnem slovenskem VŠ.
Originalnost: Raziskava izvirno in celovito prikazuje in pojasnjuje voditeljstvo VZ in kakovost, odličnost ter ugled slovenskega VŠ, prav tako pa dopolnjuje dosedanje ugotovitve na obravnavanem področju.
Omejitve/nadaljnje raziskovanje: Raziskava je omejena na spoznanja o trenutnem stanju voditeljstva v slovenskem VŠ in predstavlja osebna mnenja in poglobljene vpoglede sodelujočih v raziskavi. Prav tako pa raziskava predstavlja izhodišče za nadaljnja raziskovanja, na primer raziskovanje mnenj zunanjih udeležencev VŠ.
Keywords: CAF, EFQM, intervju, kakovost, visoko šolstvo, menedžment, vodenje, voditeljstvo, odličnost
Published: 02.08.2017; Views: 26; Downloads: 0
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10. The effects of career planning educationMarija Turnšek Mikačić, 2015, original scientific article Abstract: Research Question (RQ): We employed a qualitative approach to study the effects of career planning education, perceiving it as an effective way to gain a deeper understanding of introductorily-organised career education.
Purpose: We researched important areas to formulate a questionnaire for quantitative analysis.
Method: We used a qualitative research approach in order to develop a theoretical framework for the exploration, interpretation and identification of the impact of education on career plans, on the changing attitudes towards careers, the raising of self-esteem and perception of personal growth. We used Neuro-linguistic programming as a tool to develop and achieve personal excellence within the career planning.
Results: We constructed a paradigmatic model and developed the final theory. By means of qualitative analysis, we identified the elements of design criteria for the construction of the questionnaire; we measured the effects of education on career plans.
Organization: The findings of the research will prove useful in personal management and career management in the process of planning and organizing the promotion of individuals within the organizations in accordance with the needs of those organizations.
Originality: A career plan as a building block of personal growth, based on the model of career education with the in-built elements and tools of NLP, has been confirmed by the most recent studies in neuroscience. This represents a novelty, and, therefore, this study offers a genuine contribution, and is an indicator of contemporary knowledge, based on the results of the research.
Limitations/Future Research: The model of career education and the results of this study open new directions for further research of the influence of career planning on the organisation of companies and their success, which is the phase of the study which was not carried out.
Keywords: career planning, qualitative analysis, neuro-linguistic programming, personal excellence
Published: 02.08.2017; Views: 24; Downloads: 0
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