<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>The European Union (EU) and International Maritime Organisation (IMO) strongly feel the need for initiating measures to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from international shipping lines regionally and globally using a package of tools called Green Shipping Practices (GSP). The GSP includes the use of global market-based mechanisms (MBMs), adoption of the energy efficiency design index (EEDI), establishing compulsory energy efficiency standards for all new ships, and the ship energy efficiency management plan (SEEMP) recommended as a new management tool for ship owners. Furthermore, the European Commission (EC) has proposed that owners of large ships using EU ports should report their verified emissions (Monitoring, Reporting and Verification of Carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions (MRV)) from 2018. In addition, IMO has introduced collection and reporting of ship fuel consumption data (SFCD) under the IMO SFCD scheme based on similar conditions, but related to global shipping. By providing a holistic analysis of the above-mentioned tools with a special focus on MRV and SFCD, this paper presents their economical and operational implications on the maritime transport processes. The working hypothesis that there is a correlation between the introduction of MRV and SFCD tools and reduction of maritime transport anthropopresure has been proved.</abstract>

Economic and operational impact of the MRV implementation on maritime transport processes

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>At present, under the conditions of some turbulent changes observed in our environment, micro-enterprises seek for opportunities to win their competitive positions in the market and in the sectors in which they operate The aim of the article is to present marketing and logistics management as one of the methods applied to achieve the market objectives of micro-enterprises. As an integrated method, marketing and logistics management may contribute to the improvement in competitiveness; hence, the recognition of conditions required for the application of this method may also contribute to the improvement in competitiveness. In the article, a review of literature related to the discussed problems is presented. The expert literature on the analysed subject does not provide any publications on micro-enterprise management, and scientific research in that sector is very scarce and provides only some general data. Therefore, it is necessary to analyse the processes taking place in the micro-enterprise sector in more detail, especially in the field of modern methods of management. In the article, some considerations on the specificity of integrated logistics and marketing processes are presented. Research methods: a review of expert literature and the Author’s own case-study research. The research was carried out in the years 2015-2018 among a group of micro-enterprises in the Kujawsko-Pomorskie Province, Łódzkie Province, Mazowieckie Province and Wielkopolskie Province. The aim of the research was to identify conditions required for marketing and logistics management in micro-enterprises and to define the impact exerted by the factors that determine the implementation of that process. Recognising knowledge as a fundamental determinant of the implementation of modern management methods in the aspect of micro-enterprise operation requires some in-depth analysis. The article presents the results of the research based on the case-study of integrated marketing and logistics management, on the example of a virtual micro-enterprise. The main conclusions: In a virtual micro-enterprise, it is possible to indicate the field of integration of marketing and logistics processes and to define their courses and conditions. Knowledge of logistics and marketing allows us to extend the field referring to the environment of the analysed company in virtual space.</abstract>

Determinants of marketing and logistics management in a micro-enterprise

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Purpose – This study aims to examine the current state-of-the-art foundation, organization, role, processes, and functioning of internal audit (IA) within Croatian hotel companies in order to suggest improvements.
Design/Methodology –qualitative research was conducted using a questionnaire distributed to Croatian hotel companies that quote their stocks on the capital markets, noted destinations, and internationally renowned hotel companies that operate in Croatia from March to May 2023. Based on the responses received, semi-structured interviews were conducted with internal auditors who are or have been employed by hotel companies in order to obtain more detailed information about the organization and performance of the internal audit function (IAF).
Findings – The results showed that not many hotel companies in Croatia have organized IAF because it is not a legal obligation for the hospitality industry. The current stage of IAF in these companies is infrastructural or integrated, which shows possibilities for its improvement. The role of internal audit is not recognized because it is seen as a time-consuming activity and an additional expense for the hotel company, without awareness of its real purpose, opportunities to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of hotel operations, and other benefits of this function.
Research limitations – the small sample of hotel companies that have IAF organized within and also a limited number of internal auditors that have experience, knowledge, and qualifications to work in the hospitality industry.
The originality of the research – the first study regarding the organization of IAF in the hospitality industry.
</abstract>

Internal audit function in the Croatian hospitality industry

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>The article aims at providing characterisation of social venture capital in Europe. The introductory part of the contribution deals with its origins and classification. The attention is devoted to various factors that have led to emergence of SVC such as existence of market gap, global crisis, monetary policy, disintermediation and financial innovations. The article also emphasises the fact that there is no unified market and, moreover, that the boundaries between social institution and traditional investors are becoming blurry. The main contribution of this article is to characterise the current state and to describe the latest development of SVC in Europe. The focus of analysis was aimed at defining the investment focus, priorities and resources of SVC. Western Europe is the main target region of SVC during all examined period, followed by Africa and Asia. In all years, top financial beneficiaries are people suffering from poverty followed by children and youth. Amongst the top five targeted beneficiaries are also people with disabilities, unemployed people and women. Whilst trend in geographical focus and financial beneficiaries is stable, focus in investment sector changes over time. Financial inclusion alongside with economic and social development currently represents top sectors that attract more than half of total investments in 2017–2018. At the same time, SVC is becoming more attractive to investors in Europe what confirms the fact that the number of organisation is rising alongside with their budgets.</abstract>

Current state and latest development of social venture capital in Europe

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Today, almost one third of the world population are digital buyers. The hypothesis that more life moves online, the less damage to our environment is still unclear. E-commerce sites and the underlying supply chain can have both positive and negative impacts on the environment. Sustainable web design is an approach to designing websites that puts people and the planet first. It is a growing movement as organizations look for opportunities to reduce their influence on the environment. This research elaborates on determinants of consumer behavior that shape online purchase processes and affect the final consumer decision to buy. It discusses the importance of website design on consumer decision-making in e-commerce. Consumer decision-making and behavior during online shopping in the literature are measured by numerous models. One of the primary motivators for any online store to attract customers is the quality of website design. Website quality refers to the overall excellence, effectiveness, and usability of a website. It influences consumers’ perceptions of product quality and affects online purchase intentions (Sun, Chen, and Huang, 2014) and even continuation intentions (Chawla et al., 2015). Website quality as well positively affects online impulse buying behaviour (Akram et.al. 2018). The design of a website interface plays an important role in online purchasing, and customers are more likely to visit and buy from better-designed websites (Chiu and Yang, 2016). This paper proposes that website design quality is a multi-dimensional construct. To support the importance of the construct, a review of different studies is conducted elaborating on the impact of website design on consumer attitude and behavioral intention in North Macedonia. This study has theoretical and practical implications on the existing knowledge and provides managerial insights for e-vendors implying that to promote online shopping, they need to improve the quality features of the website and enhance users’ trust.
</abstract>

The impact of website design on consumer decision making – evidence from North Macedonia

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title> The aim of the article is to present the significance of neighbouring countries in the structure of inbound tourism for the member countries of the European Union. In order to achieve this aim, some secondary materials presenting the volume and the structure of tourist traffic in the analysed countries have been referred to. The structure of the article allows the Author to provide a detailed analysis of the particular problems in the discussed field. Firstly, a review of scientific literature on tourist traffic and the significance of neighbouring countries for inbound tourism is provided. The next part of the text presents the countries adjacent to the European Union member states. Subsequently, the significance of these destinations is indicated, due to the data that present the structure of inbound tourism. It transpires that in most analysed countries, their neighbouring states come as a significant - and often even the most important - segment in inbound tourism. Furthermore, neighbouring countries often take the top positions on the list of the countries the citizens of which visit particular destinations most frequently. The analysis of the structure of inbound tourism in Poland in the years 2012-2016 also indicates that the neighbouring markets form the most important segment, regardless of some changes that took place during the analysed time period. Due to the review of some relevant documents, it is indicated (on the example of Poland) that neighbouring countries are often of priority significance in the assumptions and development plans for tourism, although the ranks of the particular countries can be different. On one hand, the considerations presented in the article allow the Author to evaluate the significance of neighbouring countries for inbound tourism in the particular countries; on the other hand, they indicate the necessity of including these countries into the tourism policy, along with promotion activities undertaken in the foreign markets.</abstract>

Neighbouring countries – an important segment in inbound tourism An example of the European Union member states

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Currently, sustainable development of a country refers to targeted economic growth that does not harm the environment (or, better yet, is integrated into natural cycles or a circular economy) and also contributes to solving social problems. Thus, a balance is maintained between the territory’s economic, environmental, and social development, which has accelerated and continues to form its own set of tools for promoting sustainable development, most often integrated into global directions.
The purpose of the study is to identify and analyze the main problems of sustainable development of the economy of Portugal as one of the EU countries, including those related to natural factors, labor resources, sociocultural characteristics, the development of modern technologies, infrastructure, economics, political and legislative features. The study used comparative descriptive and analytical methods, as well as an analysis of modern statistics, literature, and Internet resources. The paper identifies, classifies, and analyzes the most critical barriers and challenges for the country’s economy in the present and the future, as well as the possible consequences of these challenges.
</abstract>

Challenges to the sustainable development of the Portuguese economy

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
With an ever-increasing pace of change, dwindling resources, and an aging population, modern societies face harsh questions regarding effective governance systems. Moreover, with lingering problems brought on by COVID and ongoing inflationary pressures, the situation for growing numbers of aging women who have outlived their partners and are living on their own is increasingly grim. In Canada, when the elderly cannot manage independently, even the least expensive full-care retirement home options can have a formidable cost, which can be a heavy burden for many. Therefore, it is of utmost importance for society to support independent living as long as possible.
Independent living models are being developed with various constraints and often with profit in mind. However, we were interested in the most economically feasible and socially acceptable solution. One such development is <italic>La Maison des Babayagas</italic> in Paris, France. This innovative government-subsidized housing project has been developed for retired independent women who pay rent for small apartments according to their means. The residents live in independent units and support one another in an economic and social arrangement that promotes friendships, fights loneliness, and helps each maintain a healthy outlook.
This research aimed to gather data to create an inventory questionnaire to select independent retired women in Canada to live together harmoniously in a housing project based on the successful model developed in Paris. The questionnaire is based on analyzing the Babayagas House charter and resident journals and an extensive review of related inventories and questionnaires. The criteria retained will be explained, and examples of the questions will be presented.
</abstract>

Developing selection criteria for harmonious co-living: la Maison des Babayagas and beyond

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Companies need and want to become more inclusive entities. Inclusion encompasses a variety of dimensions, including gender equality and unbiased treatment because of sexual orientation. Cultural inclusion, however, is often overlooked.
Based on available research, this article analyses critical Polish management practices and appropriate attitudes of managers towards employees from other cultural backgrounds. It also advocates organizational initiatives to improve the situation, especially in the context of the wartime mass migration of Ukrainian citizens to Poland.
</abstract>

The impact of cultural inclusion on human resource management practices

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
The objective of the study is to assess the extent to which the HRM practices of the Qatari Ministry of Culture have been effectively integrating sustainability principles to improve both organizational performance and employee well-being. A mixed-methods approach was employed, which involved interviews with stakeholders, staff members, and HR managers, analyzing documents, administering questionnaires, and conducting interviews.
The findings demonstrated that the Ministry of Culture recognized the significance of sustainability and implemented measures to foster work-life balance, enhance diversity and inclusion, provide opportunities for professional growth, and establish transparent governance and accountability procedures. These activities have positive impacts on the efficiency of the organization, as well as on employee engagement and satisfaction. The study emphasizes integrating sustainability principles into human resource management (HRM) practices and aligning HR strategy with sustainable development objectives.
Furthermore, the study provides details regarding strategies and programs to improve sustainability in HRM. The study’s distinctiveness lay in its focus on the Ministry of Culture, thereby augmenting the existing body of research on sustainability in HRM. The objective is to encourage the implementation of similar strategies in other companies by educating decision-makers, HR professionals, and organizational executives about the benefits of sustainability initiatives.
</abstract>

Sustainability and Sustainable HRM Case Study: Sustainable HRM in Light of Ministry of Culture, Qatar

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Nutrition’s significance lies at the very core of human existence - from fostering good health and upholding individual well-being to indulging in the pleasures of food, its importance is undeniable. Reviewing the scientific literature, diverse definitions of functional food try to define its meaning precisely. The food is labeled “functional” when it fulfills basic nutritional needs and positively influences health, diminishing the risk of specific diseases and enhancing overall vitality. Considering that food expenses constitute a substantial portion of household budgets, a significant economic dimension exists when planning an individual’s diet. The assortment of functional foods is constantly evolving, prompting modern consumers to analyze their dietary choices more rigorously than ever before. This surge in interest has evoked the attention of researchers, manufacturers, and consumers. However, a comprehensive analysis of Croatia’s consumer behavior and functional foods must still be available. The present study builds upon the theory of planned behavior, a framework well-fitted for social research and exceptionally skilled at investigating the multiple factors pointing to consumer decisions. Drawing insights from empirical research conducted in Croatia, a robust correlation was established through linear regression between attitudes, subjective norms, concern for personal health, and the intent to purchase functional foods.
</abstract>

Perception of Functional Food Among Croatian Consumers

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
Sustainability is a term that resonates throughout society in the broadest sense: from countries across continents, individual actors within communities or states – business entities, educational institutions and households, and public administrations. This is because the earth is highly likely to become unviable if we do not pursue sustainability. So many are aware of this and see sustainability as an important and no doubt long-term megatrend that affects us all. Businesses are not standing on the sidelines either, although it must be acknowledged that sustainability and economics do not always go hand in hand; however, projects with various practical sustainability benefits can be found. Unfortunately, sustainability is sometimes perceived as a topic that can be exploited in marketing in the form of “greenwashing.” This article addresses the challenges of green marketing communication, and examples from the Czech Republic are presented. Questionnaires were conducted to analyze and evaluate consumers’ attitudes and buying behavior toward sustainable products in the Czech Republic.
</abstract>

Sustainable Marketing and the Challenges of Green Marketing Communication: Survey of Consumer Attitudes and Buying Behaviour for Sustainable Products in the Czech Republic

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>Prediction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is important to minimise their negative impact on climate change and global warming. In this article, we propose new models based on data mining and supervised machine learning algorithms (regression and classification) for predicting GHG emissions arising from passenger and freight road transport in Canada. Four models are investigated, namely, artificial neural network multilayer perceptron, multiple linear regression, multinomial logistic regression and decision tree models. From the results, it was found that artificial neural network multilayer perceptron model showed better predictive performance over other models. Ensemble technique (Bagging &amp; Boosting) was applied on the developed multilayer perceptron model, which significantly improved the model’s predictive performance.</abstract>

Machine learning model development for predicting road transport GHG emissions in Canada

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
The concept of leadership has been evolving for ages. Today, leadership focuses on the behaviour of leaders during organizational change and processes related to creating a vision for the future, as well as involving employees in undergoing transformations. Thus, leadership development is a key factor in the success of modern businesses. The twenty-first-century leader must analyse a rapidly changing reality, respond to unexpected events and recognize the benefits they generate. He or she should be characterized not only by flexibility but also by empathy towards his or her employees, provide safe working conditions and build solidarity within a team. The article presents the concept and definition of leadership, which are evolving when an organization’s environment changes. The crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has shown that the role of a strong leader has become more important. The pandemic has become a test for leaders around the world. The aim of the discussion is to answer the question about leadership competencies during and after the crisis and explain how organizations should support the leaders of today’s organizations to ensure their market success in the event of future crises. The paper examines the role of leadership in business management, taking into account the challenges and problems caused by COVID-19. The study aims to answer questions about similarities and differences in work organization during the pandemic, to diagnose problems in managing a company in a situation of security threat to employees and an organization, and to compare the behaviour of leaders in managing teams of employees. It concludes by proposing solutions for leaders in the event of future crises.
</abstract>

The Role of Leadership In the COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>The aim of this study was to show the relationship between the level of the confidence indicator and the innovation of the economies of individual Scandinavian countries in the context of the new institutional economy (NEI). Literature studies and analysis of available results of social research indicate the importance of formal and informal institutions in Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Finland in making these countries world leaders in innovation.</abstract>

Institutions, trust and the high level of innovativeness in the Scandinavian countries

<abstract>
<title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>
The crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic led to an increase in budget deficits. This resulted in significant growth in the general debt of many countries. The average debt in the European Union countries has exceeded 90% of GDP and is still growing. General government debt is one of the world’s most significant financial and economic problems today. The main objective of this work is to present the scale and reasons for the increase in general government debt in the European Union countries during the current crisis. In addition, attention was paid to the impact of debt on economic growth.
</abstract>

The increase in general government debt during the coronavirus crisis in the EU countries

<abstract><title style='display:none'>Abstract</title>This article examines whether and how several audit-specific attributes influence auditor’s motivation. Following the literature, the research project focuses mainly on the impact of risk preference, task complexity and the liability situation in this issue. A 2x2 mixed-subjects case-based experiment was conducted to gain data for in-depth insights. In sum 209 master students with a major in accounting and auditing participated in the experiment. The results indicate that increased risk aversion leads to a higher observed task motivation. Regarding the task complexity, data analysis shows that increasing task complexity lowers auditor’s motivation. This study contributes to the stream of judgment and decision making literature and offers new insights in to the relationship and dependence of inherent auditor-specific factors.</abstract>

A matter of Motivation - The Effects of Risk Preference and Task Complexity on the Auditor’s Motivation

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WSB Journal of Business and Finance

WSB Journal of Business and Finance is an international, scientific journal published by WSB Merito University Gdansk that has been conducted since 2008. The Journal promotes theoretical and...

WSB Journal of Business and Finance is an international, scientific journal published by WSB Merito University Gdansk that has been conducted since 2008....