<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

One of the best-known innovations of the recent past is blockchain. Due to its usability, it has generated considerable interest in several economic areas. A decentralised system’s approach can potentially reshape existing industries or make them redundant. Such technology can add a new dimension to processes, which is particularly relevant for the banking sector in the future. This demonstrates a great necessity to deal with blockchain with respect to market position and competition. This paper aims to provide insight into the current potential of blockchain applications in banking procedures. The benefits of process improvement in the financial sector are also outlined. This research shows that many experiences and adequate knowledge are already available. According to recent research, this technology will benefit banks’ business models, performance, and capabilities. However, blockchain is still in the phase of research and development, which is a crucial aspect of the banking industry.
</abstract>

Blockchain as an Instrument for Improving Banking Processes

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

Agile transformation is identified as a facilitator to keep pace with frequent changes within product development. Although initial research exists, the empirical literature on the implementation process of the agile approach, specifically using pilot projects as a change strategy, is scarce. The purpose of this article is to contribute to closing this gap by investigating into effects of piloting agile change projects. To shed light on agile pilots a project within the context of mechatronic system development in the high-tech industry was accompanied over six months. After the initiation of the members and a period of practicing agile a survey was performed. The interviewed team members are bringing up interesting findings, as although they had a different understanding of agile at the beginning of the pilot, they recognized agile values, principles and methods as supportive to the products cycle and specifically development time. Further findings are indicating that professional third-party support is a key success factor. Also piloting, as a change strategy for agile adoption, is proven to be supportive. Although piloting is proven a supportive strategy, the downsides, such as limited scalability caused by extraordinary setups, are identified and analyzed. The limiting factor of this single-case study is the small sample size of data due to the intention of the pilot project to limit impact and risk on the organization.
</abstract>

Agile Transformation: A Case Study on Early Stage of Agile Adoption

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

Development aid, one of the most important mechanisms for the redistribution of global wealth, represents financial flows with economic growth and social improvement as their primary objective. Recently, international development cooperation has been in the process of change that requires the involvement of new actors, the use of new instruments, and expanding the fields of work. In this article, the authors introduce the Slovenian model of international development cooperation, emphasising the criteria for deciding the direction of development cooperation. The criteria are clear interest of the beneficiary state, content priority fields, and geographical priority areas. The authors also discuss Slovenia’s active collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organization in international development cooperation. Special attention is given to three successful development projects in Africa that Slovenia recently financed. All three selected projects are based on principles of sustainable development and were realized in Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda.
</abstract>

A Model of International Development Cooperation: The Case of Slovenia

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

This paper examines the influence of the size and participation of women in the board of directors on the dividend policy of banks in Western Balkans. The research covered 104 banks, observing their dividend policy from 2017 to 2019. The dividend payout ratio was measured by the dividend policy. A relatively small number of banks paid dividends during the observation period. By applying the Fixed-Effect model, it was determined that the size of the board of directors has a statistically significant positive impact on the dividend policy of observed banks. Concerning the participation of women on the board of directors, a statistically significant impact on the dividend policy of banks was not identified. In addition to contributing to the existing literature on corporate finances, the research results can be crucial to investors when deciding to invest funds in bank stocks.
</abstract>

Characteristics of the Board of Directors and Dividend Policy: A Case Study of Banks in Western Balkans

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

The COVID-19 pandemic enhanced digital transformation. With the spread of the pandemic and the introduction of epidemiological measures, citizens were enforced to use the Internet to an increased extent. The digital divide among citizens and the capability of citizens to get an equal level of services has also come to the fore. The paper explores the changes in the use of e-government services and the impact of the pandemic on the citizens’ attitudes toward Internet use in Croatia. The analysis is based on the survey data. The results show that due to the pandemic, citizens became more dependent on IT equipment. Citizens spend more time using digital public services than in the pre-pandemic period. The results also reveal differences in the COVID-19 impact on the use of digital public services between different groups of population.
</abstract>

Digital Divide and the Use of Digital Public Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic

<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

This paper aims to assess and compare the relative efficiency of commercial banks in six Western Balkan developing countries (North Macedonia, Serbia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&amp;H), Kosovo<xref ref-type="fn" rid="j_ngoe-2023-0004_fn_002">1</xref>, and Albania), using the leading nonparametric methodology Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) for the period 2016-2020, and investigating the impact of the COVID-19 pandemics on the performance of banking systems in these countries. The output-oriented DEA model has been implemented with interest expenses and non-interest expenses as inputs and interest revenue and non-interest revenue as outputs. Our findings show that the average efficiency of the six Western Balkan banking systems differs, and Kosovo’s banking system has noted the highest average efficiency in the whole observed period (2016–2020). In contrast, the banking system in Bosnia and Herzegovina noted the lowest average efficiency. The COVID-19 pandemic decreased the relative efficiency of the banking sectors in all six of the Western Balkan countries observed, except Kosovo. However, additional research that includes all pandemic years is recommended to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the banking systems in the Western Balkans. This study provides invaluable insights for academic members, banking management and regulatory bodies, governments, and the interested public. It is the first empirical study that includes a glimpse of the first impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on banking systems in the developing countries of the Western Balkans.
</abstract>

The Impact of COVID-19 on Bank Efficiency in the Western Balkans: A DEA Approach

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Naše gospodarstvo/Our economy

Volume 69 (2023): Issue 1 (March 2023)

Review Paper

Blockchain as an Instrument for Improving Banking Processes

Agile Transformation: A Case Study on Early Stage of Agile Adoption

A Model of International Development Cooperation: The Case of Slovenia

Original Scientific Article

Characteristics of the Board of Directors and Dividend Policy: A Case Study of Banks in Western Balkans

Digital Divide and the Use of Digital Public Services During the COVID-19 Pandemic

The Impact of COVID-19 on Bank Efficiency in the Western Balkans: A DEA Approach

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