Volume 7, Number 2

Impresum

DETERMINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN LEADERSHIP PRACTICES AND LEADERSHIP NEEDS IN SAUDI CONSTRUCTION COMPANIES
Nasser Abdulkarim ALBAHALI, Abdelnaser OMRAN

Abstract:Effective leadership is demonstrated by influencing and guiding the activities of the team toward achieving its goals. This study attempts to determine the relationship between leadership practices and leadership needs in construction companies in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. A postal questionnaire survey was conducted to achieve the main aim of this research. Questionnaires were mailed to 155 construction companies in Jeddah city between September and October 2012. Of these, only 138 questionnaires were returned and analyzed. Significant associations were found among all variables. It was found that the two dimensions’ personal competence (B=0.370, t=4.393, p<0.01) and professional competence (B=0.312, t=3.05, p<0.01) as leadership needs were significant towards leadership practices. This study suggests that the company leader, director, executive and non-executive should give direct reports autonomously and encourage others to face challenges, solve problems, and develop their own accountability which could significantly increase the effectiveness of company leaders in the construction industry of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Keywords: Leadership, Practices, needs, Personal, Professional, Construction companies.

INFLUENCE OF ADVERTISING ON CONSUMER-BASED BRAND LOYALTY
Mihalj BAKATOR, Slađana BORIĆ, Mina PAUNOVIĆ

Abstract: This paper examines the relationship between advertising and brand loyalty. Further, mediating dimensions are included in the research: brand trust and perceived quality. The data was collected via online survey. The data processing included a t-test analysis, regression analysis, and correlation analysis. Next, the findings have shown moderate influence of advertising on brand loyalty. Overall, satisfactory results are achieved. Certain limitations with online surveys didn’t affect the results of the research. Furthermore, the findings in this paper contribute to future research, offering a solid basis for a more complex investigation of the marketing environment.
Keywords:Advertising, Brand trust, Perceived quality, Brand loyalty.

NEW VIEWS ON STRATEGIC MANAGEMENT
Srđan BOGETIĆ, Miloš VORKAPIĆ, Snežana LEKIĆ

Abstract: Globalisation is the only economic way for national economies all around the world. The globalisation process is marked by the following characteristics: uneven industrial development, intensive application of information and communications technologies (ICT), the development of innovations, the improvement of productivity, and the need to increase the level of competitiveness. As a result of increased ICT application in business, a new business model – sharing economy - has been established and it is increasingly present in practice. However, these changes have significantly influenced the end users themselves who are more and more demanding when using the Internet, smart phones and tablets while shopping for goods or services. With a view to developing competitiveness, developing countries have to follow the changes of the global market, but they also have to create their own national economy growth models. Alongside national economies, companies also have to adapt to new trends. Companies today face great challenges set to them by both the market and the end users.
Keywords:Strategic management, Competitiveness, Globalisation, Information and communications technologies, Business strategies.

ANALYSIS OF POSSIBILITIES FOR IMPROVING ENTREPRENEURIAL BEHAVIOUR OF YOUNG PEOPLE – RESEARCH RESULTS IN CENTRAL BANAT DISTRICT
Dragan ĆOĆKALO, Dejan ĐORĐEVIĆ, Milan NIKOLIĆ, Sanja STANISAVLJEV, Edit TEREK

Abstract: Unemployment, especially among young population, represents one of key economic problems. All important institutions have to be included in overcoming these problems, with the aim of stimulating young people to be involved in entrepreneurial processes. In this paper, global and European trends and trends in the Western Balkans are shown, related to unemployment of young population (aged 15-24). The central part is dedicated to the analysis of possibilities for improving entrepreneurial behaviour of young people in the Central Banat District, on the basis of trends, statistical indicators and the results of conducted research on attitudes of young people towards entrepreneurship and starting their own business. The research sample conducted in 2016 consisted of 350 respondents. The young are often unmotivated to get involved in entrepreneurial processes – they wish to start their own business, but most frequently claim to be distracted by: lack of funds, lack of experience in running a company, lack of knowledge, as well as lack of the right idea. Factors, which distract respondents from starting their own business, represent the result of non-existing adequate environment for supporting young entrepreneurship.
Keywords: Unemployment, Entrepreneurship, Young as entrepreneurs, Self-employment, Regional development.

THE IMPACT OF INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL AND LEADERSHIP ON THE BUSINESS PERFORMANCE OF COMPANIES
Nikola PETROVIĆ, Dragana SAJFERT, Dragica IVIN

Abstract:This paper gives an overview of the impact of intellectual capital, leadership and knowledge, as values significant for a company which intends to develop and improve itself and be as competitive as possible on the market. Intellectual capital is each individual's asset and an aspect of inexhaustible source of knowledge which cannot be taken away by anyone. One's knowledge should constantly be improved in order to be more competitive on the market. Leadership is one of the processes in which one man, with his influence on the working group, achieves common goals and it represents a way of managing a modern organization. Modern business requires that there is a team of leaders who will transfer their knowledge to employees within the organization.
Keywords:Intellectual capital, Leadership, Knowledge, Organization, Information.

SIMLATION OF LINEAR BUSINESS PROCESSES
Branko POPOVIĆ, Ljiljana Z. MILETIĆ

Abstract: Business processes are applied in business organizations, with interconnected and interactively working activities, which convert input into output elements. These are sets of linked and structured activities or tasks that create a specific process outcome. Characteristics of business processes are: definition, orderliness, user knowledge, identification of additional values for users, connection in the organizational structure and functionality of the activity. In a business activity, it is usual to differentiate business processes, production and service processes. Business Process Management focuses on workflow optimization and business process optimization, which usually includes any combination: modeling, simulation, automation, execution, verification and optimization of business activity flows to achieve the goals. Business processes in the new Six Sigma System apply process simulations, which enable rapid checking of the effectiveness and efficiency of the process, with certain levels of trust and risk. Simulation is the imitation of physical and abstract processes or systems, in the real world over time, with a developed model that represents the system itself, with the application of certain analytical and computer techniques. The best known is the computer simulation technique of linear business processes, which is quite detailed here so it can be routinely applied in practice of compressed air flow.
Keywords:Business process. Simulation, Linear business simulation.

THE CHALLENGE OF GOING DIGITAL
Marijana VIDAS-BUBANJA, Iva BUBANJA

Abstract:Modern business environment changes under the influence of the second wave of disruptive digital technologies such as mobile applications, social networks, cloud computing, big data analytics and Internet of things. The specificity of these digital innovations defined as The Fourth industrial revolution is that they bring about changes in the complete industry sectors becoming in this way a key condition for further competitive business operations in the global market. This paper analyses the contribution of new digital technologies to economic growth of national economies and higher productivity and competitiveness of companies. In order to maintain competitiveness level, modern enterprises have to start the process of digital transformation that requires new organization models, redesigned business processes and new ways of communication with partners and customers. According to some authors this is the biggest transformation in business the world has seen in over a century. The untapped potential here really is enormous and it represents big challenge for all industries and national economies. EU experiences in the development of digital entrepreneurship are analyzed, as well as challenges of digital change in domestic companies.
Keywords: Information-communication technology, Growth, Productivity, Innovation, Competitiveness.