Polish Journal of Management Studies

1

Authors: Ioan Constantin Dima, Ştefan Vlăduţescu

The book “Persuasion Elements Used in Logistical Negotiation: Persuasive Logistical Negotiation” (Saarbrucken, LAP Lambert, 2012), by Ioan Constantin Dima, Ştefan Vlăduţescu, is an scientific events. The study is interdisciplinary and lays at the intersection of persuasive communication with the negotiation of logistic type. The research that has been made so far considers negotiation as a rational act, either as a principled act (Roger Fisher, William Ury and Bruce Patton speak of "the method of principled negotiation") or as a conditioned act (Gavin Kennedy sees negotiation as based on "if-then") or as a rational activity (M. H. Bazerman and M. A. Neale militate for" negotiating rationally"). The interesting and well proofed thesis of the book is that logistical negotiation is prevalent persuasive. "Negotiation" is not a strictly rational approach and implemented inferentially. It always involves an emotional component and a major dose of persuasion. Therefore, any "negotiation" and, particularly, logistic negotiation reveals a persuasion feature. To argue-prove the thesis arguments of authority are used, acknowledged examples and an experiment on 20 subjects in the logistics field, on which the "low ball" ("low balling") technique-stratagem is tested. In relation to the concept of persuasion (substantiated by Ştefan Vlăduţescu, in "Negative Journalistic Communication" published in 2006 by the Romanian Academy) as a mechanism with four operations (seduction, fiction, myth, and lies), the book conclude that the logistic operator seduces, captures, delights, fascinates, designs fiction, exploits emotional attachment, lies, deceives, cheats, deceives. In other words, it follows that in logistic negotiating persuasive communication prevails. We conclude that the book present high relevance in the space of logistics, of negotiation, and of logistical negotiation

7

Authors: Aneta Herbuś, Beata Ślusarczyk

In this article, the authors present the issues related to the conception of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR ) and its location in the strategy of the company . CSR for several years quite rapidly developing in Poland . Among the main topics of CSR are mentioned pro-social and pro-environmental action . In particular, a wide range of responsible initiatives implement energy companies which, more often treat CSR as a part of business management. This paper presents the actions taken by the company Fortum , with special emphasis of pro-social initiatives.

8

Authors: Władysław Pękała, Piotr Szopa

The paper discusses the distribution channels , their structural and functional classification and the importance of intermediaries in the flow of goods between the manufacturer and purchaser . Pointed to the rapidly growing share of electronic distribution channels and the conditions of their market dominance in the medium term.

9

Authors: Emilia Vasile, Mariana Balan, Gheorghe-Stelian Balan, Iwona Grabara

The greenhouse gas emissions from transport have registered a severe increase over the years about 23% of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions resulted from burning fossil fuels worldwide. In this context, it is observed the increasing need to shift to sustainable transport patterns for taking into consideration a wide-scale use of alternative energy sources (e.g. bio-fuels, biogas) and also, the investments in environmental technologies research and development etc. Romania has a national transport system situated on average level in terms of conventional standards of Europe's transport system. But, it was noted that the infrastructure of roads, railways, maritime and air transport is vulnerable in terms of extreme weather conditions. Considering the indirect effects of climate change, they are manifested by deteriorating road and rail infrastructure. The paper presents some of the measures adapted by Romania to reduce the greenhouse emissions produced by the transport sector. The adaptation of the Romanian transport sector to climate change impacts should take into account the use of technologies by focusing on increased safety standards, and ensuring continuity of services. In order to implement these measures it is increased the need to invest into designing vehicles that can withstand the adverse effects of climate change. The new transport infrastructure and means of transport should be designed, beginning with the design phase, in order to be resilient to the effects of the climate change.

10

Authors: Klaudia Smoląg

Knowledge and processes of knowledge management in enterprises today are of essential importance to their existence. Because of the challenges of virtualization of the economic processes that include virtualization of labour space, knowledge management, with particular focus on tacit knowledge, should be considered with particular care. The aim of the present study is to present the essence of knowledge personalization in the aspect of virtual labour space. The study provides characterization of the concept of knowledge personalization. The virtual elements of labour space were presented. The focus was on selected activities to support knowledge personalization in virtual labour space and presents a holistic approach to managing tacit knowledge in virtual labour space.

10

Authors: Jarosław Łapeta

Crisis management is a very important part of public safety. Its history has been changing over the last ten years, starting from the political changes, through various changes of its structural services, to the challenges have been put by all atmospheric phenomena in recent years. These changes caused that all services, after the years of theoretical discusses over the strategic documents, must be proceeded to implement them in practice. Today, in general, we can say that having a wealth of practical experience, it is possible to undertake the evaluation of the effectiveness in this area of public policy. The purpose of this paper is an attempt to assess the logistics support as key element of crisis management systems. Based on the assessment, becomes possible run the actions in purpose to evaluate the system. Irrelevant is here to judge the services from the subjective and political point of view only, but first of all, consider the implementation of an effective assessment model, which allows to approach to this such very important problem in the most objective way.

12

Authors: Emil Crisan

Globalization is measured by the number of countries where companies have subsidiaries. Being present on different markets, owning manufacturing capabilities in countries with inexpensive labor force or ensuring the direct supply of raw materials are decisions made by all companies which consider the expansion and the power of their business. The goal of this article is to discuss about choosing the best alternative for expansion if governance mechanisms are considered. Two alternatives exist: one is to expand by acquisition; the other is to enter another country through partnerships. Considering simple corporate governance, both alternatives contain supplementary elements, creating in this manner more complex environments. Multinational Companies (MNCs) add to the simple - domestic corporate governance the next elements: multi-national governance systems characteristics and forms of expansion, but also local business cultures. Supply chain governance contains the elements presented for MNCs, while other should be considered: forms of collaboration, partner’s power within the relation. Both these complex governance forms are further presented. The main conclusion is that MNCs governance practices can be borrowed for supply chain governance. Some authors consider that supply chains are forms of outsourcing and so avoiding corporate governance.

12

Authors: Imran Zawwar, Shailesh Munankarmi

The study of International Relation (IR) can be traced back to the 17th century, since then IR has been dominated by informal trans-governmental and trans-national relations between counties. This paper defines an International Policy Framework in light of theories such as New Institutional Economics and Spatial Economics, whereby economies can enhance their export income and societal benefits. States can facilitate growing their economic pie; expanding access to wealth. Concurrently they can increase their tax base and enhance their ability to deliver quality public services. After establishing a general understanding of the macroeconomic activities within an economy, the theory of comparative advantage has been defined to validate sector-specific openness whereby trading partners can benefit mutually. Finally an Input/Output model is used to evaluate the economic activities and a general framework is established defining key steps for identifying and implementing successful IRs.

12

Authors: Pavlína Dalíková, Vlasta Doležalová

World economy is continuously driven by changes that influenced also small and medium sized enterprises management. These business types represent the vast majority of economy all over the world and simultaneously, are the fundamental driving force for European Union economy. The current business trend is to be focused on planning and monitoring so called process management. The systematic approach is to make an organization’s workflow more effective, more efficient and more capable of adapting to a variable and unstable environment. The aim of the paper is to analytically describe process management in practice of small and medium sized enterprises in South Bohemia region in the Czech Republic within various business sectors. On the examined sample was performed quantitative-qualitative research funded by grant project GAJU 068/2010/S. The obtained data were statistically analysed within core business sectors. Furthermore, based on results were suggested certain advices for more effective process management.

13

Authors: Avo Schönbohm

The aim of this research is to analyse to what extent Polish companies conform to international sustainability reporting standards. Furthermore, this study seeks to assess whether they are aware about sustainability dimensions or whether they use sustainability reporting simply as a tool for good reputation and marketing. Therefore, a scoring model was developed to assess the sustainability reports from all companies of the WIG 20 and mWIG 40.

16

Authors: Michał Dziadkiewicz

The article raises the subject of the functioning of workers’ representatives of municipal companies in supervising bodies of these companies i.e. supervisory boards. Pursuant to the analysis of the regulations of the code of trading companies and regulations which normalise the functioning of local government and municipal economy of the units of local government, the article presents an institution of the board of supervisors, the creation of these authorities, their competence and methods of realising supervisory tasks, emphasising the peculiarities which distinguish supervisory boards of communal companies in comparison with supervisory boards of companies without the participation of local government units. It also discusses practical consequences of the existing legal status in the field of participation of municipal companies’ employees in their supervisory boards on the basis of the study carried out in one-man companies of a local government unit. The author’s conclusions about the participation of municipal company workers in supervisory boards indicate a necessity to explicitly and homogeneously regulate this issue with regard to all the communal companies.