1. Using the nominal group technique to design an appropriate communication strategy among strategic procurement and internal stakeholdersBožidar Lenarčič, Armand Faganel, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Background/Purpose: The implementation process of the procurement strategy requires consensus among in - ternal stakeholders. An effective procurement strategy aligns with specific business requirements and accommo- dates the individual introversion of internal stakeholders. From the latter, we formulate our research question: How is the classification of internal procurement stakeholders designed in the validation of the procurement strategy? The research objective is to present the result in the form of a schematic description and a recommendation for a communication strategy, based on insights from existing theoretical knowledge and the formulation of professional references. Methods: Nominal Group Technique (NGT) with 13 participants has been applied to analyze viewpoints on pro - curement functions. To ensure reliability and validity, Cronbach’s alpha test, Spearman coefficient, and t-tests have been used. Results and Conclusion: Study categorizes internal procurement stakeholders into four groups based on their stance towards strategy implementation: positive, cautiously positive, negatively independent, and negative stake - holders. For each group, we recommend a tailored communication strategy that includes elements such as inform - ing, guiding, motivating, and providing credible data. The research results offer important insights into the dynamics among organizational stakeholders and how communication impacts the success of strategy implementation. We have found that under-standing and adapting to various types of stakeholders are crucial for success, from those highly involved and positively inclined to those with the potential to oppose or hinder implementation. Employing specific communication strategies for each group can significantly enhance the chances of successful implementa- tion and sustainable execution of strategies.
Keywords: procurement strategy, internal stakeholder management, communication strategy, nominal group technique, internal communication
Published in DKUM: 13.08.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 1
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2. Having each other’s back : the mediating role of supportive behaviours in the relationship between team autonomy and team effectivenessJoana Alexandrino, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Background and Purpose: Incorporating autonomy in teams has been an increasingly popular practice, but the mechanisms that make autonomous teams effective still need to be completely understood. Adopting a multidimensional approach to team effectiveness, the aim of this study was to analyse the mediating role of team members’ supportive behaviours in the relationship between team autonomy and team effectiveness (team performance, team viability, quality of group experience and team process improvement). Methods: This research adopts a group-level analysis with a sample of 90 teams of 40 organisations from different sectors. Regression analysis was used to analyse the data, namely the product of the coefficients method. Results: A positive relationship between team autonomy and supportive behaviours, which, in turn, is positively related to the four criteria of team effectiveness, was found, suggesting that supportive behaviours are a team process that explains the relationship between team autonomy and team effectiveness. Conclusion: This research enriches our knowledge of the antecedents of team effectiveness and explains the mechanisms through which team autonomy relates to team effectiveness, encouraging organisations to incorporate autonomy into teams’ design to enhance supportive behaviours and team effectiveness.
Keywords: work teams, team autonomy, team effectiveness, supportive behaviours, quality of group experience, team performance
Published in DKUM: 11.08.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 3
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3. Structural and functional model for the socialization and development of children with intellectual disabilities in group workViktorija Kovalenko, Maria Aleksandrovich, Natalia Sinopalnikova, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: The aim of the article is to introduce an effective structural and functional model for the socialization and development of these children through group work, implemented in out-of-school education institutions (SFM). The study presents a comprehensive model comprising target, substantive, organizational, procedural, result-oriented, and analytical components. It outlines content and methodological support for socialization and development in various areas, such as naturalistic, tourist, local history, artistic, and aesthetic domains. It also highlights the essential spatial-subject, psycho-didactic, and social conditions required for an inclusive educational environment.
Keywords: children with intellectual disabilities, socialization, development, structual and functional model, group work
Published in DKUM: 29.07.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 7
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4. Siderophore production, diversity of siderophore receptors and associations with virulence-associated genes, phylogroups and bacteriocin production in Escherichia coli strains isolated from humans, animals and organic fertilizersMarina V. Kuznetsova, Veronika S. Mihailovskaya, Polina A. Selivanova, Darja A. Kochergina, Natalia B. Remezovskaya, Marjanca Starčič Erjavec, 2025, original scientific article Abstract: Iron uptake plays an important role in the persistence of Escherichia coli in the host and for its survival in the environment, and it is known that E. coli has a variety of siderophore systems for iron uptake. We investigated the ability to produce siderophores, the genetic diversity of the siderophores and their correlation with virulence-associated genes (VAGs), phylogroups and bacteriocin production in E. coli strains isolated from different sources: uropathogenic E. coli (UPEC) from urine of patients with urinary tract infections, avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) from organs of birds with signs of colibacillosis, fecal E. coli (FEC) from feces of healthy cattle and E. coli from organic fertilizers based on poultry and cattle manure (OFEC). A high variability in siderophore production was found among the UPEC strains studied, while the OFEC strains showed the highest siderophore production among all groups. Genes for aerobactin and yersiniabactin receptors were most frequently found in the UPEC strain, followed by the APEC, FEC and OFEC strains. The greatest diversity of siderophore receptors was found in the APEC strain. We also found that iutA-positive E. coli isolated from animals contained more VAGs than iutA-negative strains. The profiles of the siderophore genes of APEC and OFEC from poultry manure were very similar, indicating that APEC can be transmitted via organic fertilizers, suggesting that poultry manure is an environmental risk. The data obtained complement the information on the prevalence of siderophore producers and contribute to our knowledge on the biodiversity of E. coli pathotypes.
Keywords: siderophore, Escherichia coli, virulence-associated genes, phylogenetic group, bacteriocin, microcin
Published in DKUM: 18.07.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 1
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5. Private firm valuation using multiples : can artificial intelligence algorithms learn better peer groups?Timotej Jagrič, Dušan Fister, Stefan Otto Grbenic, Aljaž Herman, 2024, original scientific article Abstract: Forming optimal peer groups is a crucial step in multiplier valuation. Among others, the traditional regression methodology requires the definition of the optimal set of peer selection criteria and the optimal size of the peer group a priori. Since there exists no universally applicable set of closed and complementary rules on selection criteria due to the complexity and the diverse nature of firms, this research exclusively examines unlisted companies, rendering direct comparisons with existing studies impractical. To address this, we developed a bespoke benchmark model through rigorous regression analysis. Our aim was to juxtapose its outcomes with our unique approach, enriching the understanding of unlisted company transaction dynamics. To stretch the performance of the linear regression method to the maximum, various datasets on selection criteria (full as well as F- and NCA-optimized) were employed. Using a sample of over 20,000 private firm transactions, model performance was evaluated employing multiplier prediction error measures (emphasizing bias and accuracy) as well as prediction superiority directly. Emphasizing five enterprise and equity value multiples, the results allow for the overall conclusion that the self-organizing map algorithm outperforms the traditional linear regression model in both minimizing the valuation error as measured by the multiplier prediction error measures as well as in direct prediction superiority. Consequently, the machine learning methodology offers a promising way to improve peer selection in private firm multiplier valuation.
Keywords: private firm valuation, multiples, peer group, peer selection, artificial intelligence, self-organizing map
Published in DKUM: 01.07.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 3
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6. Survival camps in nature as a form of social skills trainingMatej Vukovič, 2021, original scientific article Abstract: This paper presents survival camps in nature as a form of social skills training. The camps are aimed primarily at adolescents with behavioural and emotional difficulties. They comprise many everyday social skills where both the group and the individual in the group are important. Social skills are among the many skills we teach in survival camps. Participants become acquainted with the content, methods and skills, and they strengthen the competences that help them to better integrate and function in the society. We shall present to what extent and in what way the social skills of young people are strengthened at survival camps, how young people gain vital experiences and competences and develop their potential.
Keywords: adolescents, social skills, training, survival, group
Published in DKUM: 30.06.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 14
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8. Trees with distinguishing index equal distinguishing number plus oneSaeid Alikhani, Sandi Klavžar, Florian Lehner, Samaneh Soltani, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: The distinguishing number (index) D(G) (D'(G)) of a graph G is the least integer d such that G has an vertex (edge) labeling with d labels that is preserved only by the trivial automorphism. It is known that for every graph G we have D'(G) \leq D(G) + 1. In this note we characterize finite trees for which this inequality is sharp. We also show that if G is a connected unicyclic graph, then D'(G) = D(G).
Keywords: automorphism group, distinguishing index, distinguishing number, tree, unicyclic graph
Published in DKUM: 11.03.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 22
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9. The Graovac-Pisanski index of connected bipartite graphs with applications to hydrocarbon moleculesMatevž Črepnjak, Martin Knor, Niko Tratnik, Petra Žigert Pleteršek, 2021, original scientific article Abstract: The Graovac-Pisanski index, also called the modified Wiener index, was introduced in 1991 and represents an extension of the original Wiener index, because it considers beside the distances in a graph also its symmetries. Similarly as Wiener in 1947 showed the correlation of the Wiener indices of the alkane series with the boiling points, in 2018 the connection between the GraovacPisanski index and the melting points of some hydrocarbon molecules was established. In this paper, we prove that the Graovac-Pisanski index of any connected bipartite graph as well as of any connected graph on an even number of vertices is an integer number. These results are applied to some important families of hydrocarbon molecules. By using a computer programme, the graphs with a non-integer Graovac-Pisanski index on at most nine vertices are counted. Finally, an infinite class of unicyclic graphs with a non-integer Graovac-Pisanski index is described.
Keywords: modified Wiener index, Graovac-Pisanski index, graph distance, automorphism group, hydrocarbons, carbon nanostructures
Published in DKUM: 14.02.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 8
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10. Communicating sentiment and outlook reverses inaction against collective risksZhen Wang, Marko Jusup, Hao Guo, Lei Shi, Sunčana Geček, Madhur Anand, Matjaž Perc, Chris T. Bauch, Jürgen Kurths, Stefano Boccaletti, Hans-Joachim Schellnhuber, 2020, original scientific article Abstract: Collective risks permeate society, triggering social dilemmas in which working toward a common goal is impeded by selfish interests. One such dilemma is mitigating runaway climate change. To study the social aspects of climate-change mitigation, we organized an experimental game and asked volunteer groups of three different sizes to invest toward a common mitigation goal. If investments reached a preset target, volunteers would avoid all consequences and convert their remaining capital into monetary payouts. In the opposite case, however, volunteers would lose all their capital with 50% probability. The dilemma was, therefore, whether to invest one's own capital or wait for others to step in. We find that communicating sentiment and outlook helps to resolve the dilemma by a fundamental shift in investment patterns. Groups in which communication is allowed invest persistently and hardly ever give up, even when their current investment deficits are substantial. The improved investment patterns are robust to group size, although larger groups are harder to coordinate, as evidenced by their overall lower success frequencies. A clustering algorithm reveals three behavioral types and shows that communication reduces the abundance of the free-riding type. Climate-change mitigation, however, is achieved mainly by cooperator and altruist types stepping up and increasing contributions as the failure looms. Meanwhile, contributions from free riders remain flat throughout the game. This reveals that the mechanisms behind avoiding collective risks depend on an interaction between behavioral type, communication, and timing.
Keywords: social dilemma, free riding, climate change, negotiation, group size, COVID-19
Published in DKUM: 07.01.2025; Views: 0; Downloads: 4
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