Sustainability

Research

24 pages, 4185 KiB

Open AccessArticle

From Start-Up Capital to Diversification and Sustainability of Personal Branding Activities

by Agnieszka Walczak-Skałecka

Sustainability 2023, 15(24), 16698; https://doi.org/10.3390/su152416698 - 9 Dec 2023

Viewed by 791

Personal branding has become a common practice in the business world. In a knowledge-based economy, this seems to be a natural direction for the development of individuals’ professional activities. However, the diversity in the activities undertaken is significant. Therefore, it is important to [...] Read more.

Personal branding has become a common practice in the business world. In a knowledge-based economy, this seems to be a natural direction for the development of individuals’ professional activities. However, the diversity in the activities undertaken is significant. Therefore, it is important to examine not only the final results of the activities undertaken but also their internal variation and sources, which can influence the long-term development of the individual and the ability to maintain these activities in the long term. The purpose of this article is to present the results of research on the impact of an individual’s start-up capital and occupation on the diversification of activities undertaken while building a personal brand. Literature research was conducted to identify the components of start-up capital and to establish the relationship between the personal branding process and the start-up capital possessed. The empirical research used a diagnostic survey method, a questionnaire technique. It was conducted among a representative sample of Polish internet users in May 2021. Analyses revealed relationships between individual components of start-up capital and the variation in personal branding activities undertaken, as well as among those in occupations requiring creativity, broad decision-making and dependence on individual performance. The study provides relevant information for the discussion on how the concept of personal branding can be practically applied among people from different social and professional groups. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Organizations and Their Products in a Turbulent Environment)

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21 pages, 3232 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Application of Performance and Efficiency Indicators in Measuring the Level of Success of Public Universities in Poland

by Ewa Multan, Marzena Wójcik-Augustyniak, Bartosz Sobotka and Jakub Bis

Sustainability 2023, 15(18), 13673; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151813673 - 13 Sep 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 762

Abstract

Success can be interpreted and assessed in various ways. This article proposes evaluating university success through performance and efficiency indicators, inspired by the Positioning School of Strategy and New Public Management. This approach faces challenges, such as limited economic data for Polish public [...] Read more.

Success can be interpreted and assessed in various ways. This article proposes evaluating university success through performance and efficiency indicators, inspired by the Positioning School of Strategy and New Public Management. This approach faces challenges, such as limited economic data for Polish public universities. The article aimed to identify factors and success levels for public universities in the higher education sector. The research question, “What are the measures and levels of success of public universities?”, was divided into three specific inquiries: key success factors, performance and efficiency indicators, and success levels for selected Polish public universities. The study involved analysing international and Polish university rankings, interviewing 53 public university experts in Poland, and examining efficiency indicators for 10 selected public universities. Critical success factors (research excellence, education excellence, international cooperation) and critical performance indicators were identified. Efficiency indicators demonstrated the good financial condition of selected institutions. Critical success factors and critical performance indicators were defined, and performance and efficiency measures were used to assess the success of Polish public higher education institutions. The authors acknowledge the need for parametric and non-parametric methods to fully evaluate success. The proposed performance-oriented measurement tool can assist public university leaders in making strategic decisions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Organizations and Their Products in a Turbulent Environment)

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24 pages, 343 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Influence of Pro-Environmental Attitudes on the Choice between Tangible and Virtual Product Forms

by Paulina Jusiuk

Sustainability 2023, 15(13), 10419; https://doi.org/10.3390/su151310419 - 1 Jul 2023

Viewed by 1206

Abstract

The development of modern technology has contributed to changes in consumer shopping trends. Increasingly, there is a departure from traditional to digital sales channels and similar trends are also being observed for different categories of products—e.g., books or movies. The most important reasons [...] Read more.

The development of modern technology has contributed to changes in consumer shopping trends. Increasingly, there is a departure from traditional to digital sales channels and similar trends are also being observed for different categories of products—e.g., books or movies. The most important reasons behind such a shift includes purchase convenience, storage ease, or a supposed lower environmental impact. The purpose of this research was to verify whether the pro-environmental attitudes represented by consumers are a moderating variable in the choice between the traditional and digital form of a product. In order to do this, a survey questionnaire was first developed and then a representative sample of 1000 Polish respondents were surveyed. The research procedure included an exploratory factor analysis used for extracting consumers’ pro-environmental attitudes, as well as an indicator of propensity to choose either digital or traditional products; Ward’s hierarchical analysis and the k-means method for grouping participants into clusters based on such attitudes and then evaluating the willingness to choose a particular product in each cluster; differences between clusters (Mann–Whitney’s U and Kruskal–Wallis H tests); as well as a correlation between those attitudes and the preferred product form. The research proved that there were consumer groups taking similar actions related to environmental issues, as well as tending to choose a particular product form. The conducted analyses revealed that isolated, pro-environmental attitudes were positively correlated with a willingness to choose a digital product, although such a relationship is weak. Additionally, it was proven that groups with general pro-environmental orientation are more willing to buy products in traditional form, whereas digital forms were visibly more popular in groups with more neutral or negative approaches towards the environment. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Organizations and Their Products in a Turbulent Environment)

28 pages, 4421 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Flow-Based Formulation of the Travelling Salesman Problem with Penalties on Nodes

by Przemysław Kowalik, Grzegorz Sobecki, Piotr Bawoł and Paweł Muzolf

Sustainability 2023, 15(5), 4330; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15054330 - 28 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2889

Abstract

The travelling salesman problem (TSP) is one of combinatorial optimization problems of huge importance to practical applications. However, the TSP in its “pure” form may lack some essential issues for a decision maker—e.g., time-dependent travelling conditions. Among those shortcomings, there is also a [...] Read more.

The travelling salesman problem (TSP) is one of combinatorial optimization problems of huge importance to practical applications. However, the TSP in its “pure” form may lack some essential issues for a decision maker—e.g., time-dependent travelling conditions. Among those shortcomings, there is also a lack of possibility of not visiting some nodes in the network—e.g., thanks to the existence of some more cost-efficient means of transportation. In this article, an extension of the TSP in which some nodes can be skipped at the cost of penalties for skipping those nodes is presented under a new name and in a new mathematical formulation. Such an extension can be applied as a model for transportation cost reduction due to the possibility of outsourcing deliveries to some nodes in a TSP route. An integer linear programming formulation of such a problem based on the Gavish–Graves-flow-based TSP formulation is introduced. This formulation makes it possible to solve the considered problem by using any integer linear programming optimization software. Numerical examples and opportunities for further research are presented. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Organizations and Their Products in a Turbulent Environment)

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15 pages, 619 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Creating Agile Institutions with Organizational Trust in the Finance Sector of Turkey: The Mediating Role of Psychological Empowerment in Times of COVID-19

by Mehmet Kiziloglu, Oleksandr Dluhopolskyi, Jan Laskowski and Agnieszka Laskowska

Sustainability 2023, 15(4), 3019; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15043019 - 7 Feb 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1468

Abstract

The study aims to evaluate the way for creating agile institutions with organizational trust. Besides that, the understanding of the mediating role played by psychological empowerment during COVID-19 pandemic is one of the major objectives of this study. The way psychological empowerment affects [...] Read more.

The study aims to evaluate the way for creating agile institutions with organizational trust. Besides that, the understanding of the mediating role played by psychological empowerment during COVID-19 pandemic is one of the major objectives of this study. The way psychological empowerment affects the creation of agile organizations is another major aspect that the study investigated. The philosophical stance that the research has adopted is the positivism philosophy. The study was done by collecting and analyzing quantitative data. The approach for the study is deductive whereas the design of the research is descriptive. The study used a survey method for collecting information. Structural equation model was used for analyzing quantitative information. The study was done on 325 samples who are working at the finance sector of Turkey. All the samples have a residence in Turkey. It was identified that the leadership approach of a company has a huge impact on the psychological construction of the samples. Descriptive statistics and t-test for inferential statistics were done by the researchers. There is a strong positive relationship between the centricity of the organization towards the workforce or customer and employee performance. It was identified that the leadership approach helps employees to address and adopt the change in the marketplace. It was also found that an agile organizational structure has more possibilities to modify the processing based on the change in the marketplace. The structural equation model was used to represent the relationship between the variables. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Organizations and Their Products in a Turbulent Environment)

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20 pages, 1679 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Digital Financial Inclusion: COVID-19 Impacts and Opportunities

by Oleksandr Dluhopolskyi, Olena Pakhnenko, Serhiy Lyeonov, Andrii Semenog, Nadiia Artyukhova, Marta Cholewa-Wiktor and Winczysław Jastrzębski

Sustainability 2023, 15(3), 2383; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15032383 - 28 Jan 2023

Cited by 11 | Viewed by 3411

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the acceleration of digitization and the consideration of digital financial inclusion as a means to minimize negative economic consequences and increase the resilience of households and SMEs. The purpose of this article was to assess the impact of [...] Read more.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused the acceleration of digitization and the consideration of digital financial inclusion as a means to minimize negative economic consequences and increase the resilience of households and SMEs. The purpose of this article was to assess the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on digital financial inclusion by constructing and calculating an integral index of digital financial inclusion (DFI) based on Global Findex Database indicators. The approach to calculating the DFI index and two sub-indices that characterized passive participation in financial relations and active use of digital technologies was based on a linear mathematical model of the integrated indicator and on the use of the Fishburn formula to calculate the weight coefficients. The obtained results proved the acceleration of digital financial inclusion in 2021 and revealed significant differences in DFI between countries and groups of countries according to income level as well as problems of financial exclusion of the most vulnerable groups of population, especially in developing countries. The obtained results regarding the level of DFI are discussed from the point of view of COVID-19 impacts: both directly by influencing consumer behavior and decisions regarding digital financial services and from a broader perspective by influencing business entities, financial service providers, and regulation. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Organizations and Their Products in a Turbulent Environment)

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14 pages, 933 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Optimal Design of Transport Tax on the Way to National Security: Balancing Environmental Footprint, Energy Efficiency and Economic Growth

by Yaryna Samusevych, Serhiy Lyeonov, Artem Artyukhov, Volodymyr Martyniuk, Iryna Tenytska, Joanna Wyrwisz and Krystyna Wojciechowska

Sustainability 2023, 15(1), 831; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010831 - 3 Jan 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1609

Abstract

To ensure the progress of sustainable development and overcome threats to national security, the development of tools for balancing ecological, economic and energy aspects of economic activity acquires special importance. This study is related to the influence of choosing different functional elements of [...] Read more.

To ensure the progress of sustainable development and overcome threats to national security, the development of tools for balancing ecological, economic and energy aspects of economic activity acquires special importance. This study is related to the influence of choosing different functional elements of transport taxes on their effectiveness in ensuring national security. For calculations, panel regression modelling with panel-adjusted standard errors based on the use of the Durbin–Watson test using dummy variables was chosen. The assessment involves the selection of the main factor variable (tax revenues from transport taxes, as well as an additional dummy variable) and compliance with a country’s transport taxation system, with a certain criterion for its application. The resulting criterion was chosen as an integral indicator of national security, which summarizes the parameters of environmental footprints, economic growth, energy efficiency and security. Calculations were made for nine countries (i.e., the Czech Republic, Finland, France, Ireland, Israel, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia and Turkey) for the period 1996–2019. The calculations proved that the establishment of transport taxes, depending on the type and weight of the car, increases their effectiveness on ensuring national security or, depending on the cost and age of the car, weakens such effectiveness. The use of emissions generated by the car, its capacity and its type of fuel requires additional research; the obtained results did not allow for unambiguously determining their impact on the effectiveness of transport taxes. The conducted research forms the basis for choosing the optimal design of transport taxes to ensure the maximization of their regulatory effectiveness. The developed approach can be extended to evaluate the effectiveness of other environmental taxes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Organizations and Their Products in a Turbulent Environment)

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16 pages, 999 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Health Risks and Country Sustainability: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic with Determining Cause-and-Effect Relationships and Their Transformations

by Nataliia Letunovska, Mariya Kashcha, Oleksandr Dluhopolskyi, Serhiy Lyeonov, Nadiia Artyukhova, Marcin Gąsior and Monika Sak-Skowron

Sustainability 2023, 15(1), 222; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010222 - 23 Dec 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1437

Abstract

The authors investigated the coronavirus pandemic as a health and safety risk factor for sustainable state development. The main purpose is to determine the cause-and-effect relationships between the key spheres of society life: economic, financial–budgetary, political-–institutional. The authors hypothesize that these spheres influence [...] Read more.

The authors investigated the coronavirus pandemic as a health and safety risk factor for sustainable state development. The main purpose is to determine the cause-and-effect relationships between the key spheres of society life: economic, financial–budgetary, political-–institutional. The authors hypothesize that these spheres influence each other and that this influence becomes more obvious and important to consider during significant shifts such as health threats and transformations in the public health system. As part of the calculations, the methodology of canonical regression analysis was used, which made it possible to evaluate the influence of a set of indicators using the construction of a correlation matrix. Aggregation of the complex of development indicators for each direction was carried out, and their mutual influence and degree of importance within each group of indicators was determined. The identified interdependencies are valuable for predicting the state of various industries in the future. It was concluded that there were no significant changes between the indicators of the analyzed components of a country’s development in the pre-and post-pandemic period. This makes it possible to state with a high probability that forecasting in the long-term perspective of a country’s development is possible based on the degree of interrelationships between the indicators of individual areas of development. Forecasting can also be based on the trends occurring in a specific related field to correct the upward or downward movement of a particular indicator, and to change the functioning of the complex system under the influence of threats to public health. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Organizations and Their Products in a Turbulent Environment)

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25 pages, 4474 KiB

Open AccessArticle

“Silver” Generation at Work—Implications for Sustainable Human Capital Management in the Industry 5.0 Era

by Agnieszka Laskowska and Jan Franciszek Laskowski

Sustainability 2023, 15(1), 194; https://doi.org/10.3390/su15010194 - 22 Dec 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2595

Abstract

The demographic low, and thus the inevitable aging of the populations of economically developed countries, makes it necessary to extend the working life of citizens. Therefore, an increasing percentage of workers are representatives of the so-called “silver” generation, i.e., people over 50 years [...] Read more.

The demographic low, and thus the inevitable aging of the populations of economically developed countries, makes it necessary to extend the working life of citizens. Therefore, an increasing percentage of workers are representatives of the so-called “silver” generation, i.e., people over 50 years of age. The main objective of the study is to characterize the system of values, attitudes to work, and related expectations of professionally active women and men over 50 years of age and to determine whether, and if so, how the hierarchy of values, attitudes to work, and job satisfaction affect the further development of their professional careers. In order to achieve such a goal, a CAVI survey was conducted on a sample of n = 600 respondents. The statistical significance of the differences between the groups was tested with the Mann–Whitney U test. To verify the main hypothesis, ordinal logistic regression models were built. The results of the study were supplemented with elements of descriptive statistics. In the course of the research work, it was confirmed that there are significant differences between the studied men and women in the assessment of traits concerning their value hierarchy, attitudes towards work, and career prospects. Traits such as value hierarchy and attitudes toward work have a significant impact on the career development of both women and men of the “silver” generation, while job satisfaction shows a significant impact on career development only for women. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Organizations and Their Products in a Turbulent Environment)

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29 pages, 1537 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Purchase Motives and Factors Shaping Consumer Behaviour on the Ecological Product Market (Poland Case Study)

by Krystyna Mazurek-Łopacińska, Magdalena Sobocińska and Joanna Krupowicz

Sustainability 2022, 14(22), 15274; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142215274 - 17 Nov 2022

Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2413

Abstract

The growing demand for ecological products is in line with the trend towards the ecologisation of consumption, which has become key in times of striving to achieve sustainable development that aims to satisfy consumer needs while respecting the natural environment and future generations. [...] Read more.

The growing demand for ecological products is in line with the trend towards the ecologisation of consumption, which has become key in times of striving to achieve sustainable development that aims to satisfy consumer needs while respecting the natural environment and future generations. The shaping of pro-ecological attitudes and behaviours in consumers requires continuous monitoring of such behaviours on the market of ecological products and investigation of the factors that influence consumers’ decisions and market choices. The aim of the article is to present the motives behind the purchase of ecological products, and the factors that shape the purchasing decisions of these products by Polish consumers. The article is based on an in-depth study of the literature and the results of proprietary empirical quantitative research conducted on a national sample of 1032 respondents, of whom 509 had purchased an ecological product within the last 3 months, and 523 had not made such a purchase in this period. Analysis of the results revealed the motives for purchasing ecological products, divided into egotistical motives and altruistic motives. The variation in these motives was also indicated depending on the socio-demographic characteristics of the consumers studied. It was shown that there is a dependency between consumers’ self-assessment of their level of knowledge on the functioning of the natural environment and the effect of humankind on it, and the purchase of ecological products. Analysis was also conducted of the factors perceived by consumers as restricting the purchase of ecological products, as well as the likelihood of a growth in the demand for and consumption of such products. There was shown to be a dependency between the reasons perceived by respondents for restricting the purchase of ecological products or the decision not to make such purchases, and consumer attitudes towards ecology. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Organizations and Their Products in a Turbulent Environment)

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22 pages, 1199 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Intellectual Capital: A New Predictive Indicator for Project Management Improvement

by Łukasz Kański, Jan Chadam and Grzegorz Kłosowski

Sustainability 2022, 14(22), 15182; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142215182 - 16 Nov 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1629

Abstract

Effective project management has contributed to successful operations and process management. The goal of this article is to look at the link between a project’s success (PS) and the amount of intellectual capital (IC) an organization has. Instead of being reactive to measuring [...] Read more.

Effective project management has contributed to successful operations and process management. The goal of this article is to look at the link between a project’s success (PS) and the amount of intellectual capital (IC) an organization has. Instead of being reactive to measuring the cost, timeliness, and quality (customer requirements), a more predictive indicator of a project’s success is needed. Nearly 300 people who work in the field of digital (information and communication) technology took part in the survey research. The survey contains 88 questions. Several statistical techniques are utilized for the data analysis. Based on the comprehensive surveys, the findings show the strong possibility for IC to be adapted as a predictor of the success of investment projects, especially for digital upgrade and improvement. IC plays a key role in assuring the effective (and successful) project management. The study highlights the impacts of effective project management on industrial and organizational operations. This highlight is based on the attempt to determine whether IC contributes to a PS. In this study, in addition to the three traditional factors of cost, timeliness, and quality (or requirements), IC should be considered as a prediction for the project management’s success. The survey was addressed to selected companies from the ICT industry (IT projects). The sample selection is based on non-probability sampling. The author’s method of converting the respondents’ answers into binary form was adopted. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Organizations and Their Products in a Turbulent Environment)

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14 pages, 1852 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Trust as a Catalyst of Economic Growth: A National and Regional Breakdown

by Iryna Storonyanska, Olena Ivashko and Elena Mieszajkina

Sustainability 2022, 14(22), 15168; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142215168 - 16 Nov 2022

Viewed by 1549

Abstract

Given the fact that Ukraine declares a European path of development and considers itself a potential member of the European Union, the study mainly examines the relationship between trust and economic growth in Ukraine and other countries of the world, including post-Soviet countries. [...] Read more.

Given the fact that Ukraine declares a European path of development and considers itself a potential member of the European Union, the study mainly examines the relationship between trust and economic growth in Ukraine and other countries of the world, including post-Soviet countries. The hypothesis that general trust has a positive effect on economic growth in general is tested, and a comparative assessment of the level and factors of trust across the regions of Ukraine has been carried out. The results show an historical tradition of mistrust of the state and its institutions particular to Ukraine as the country where the state has been perceived as foreign by most of the population for over 70 years; exceptional weakness and corruption of state administration, even by the standard of third-world countries; availability of influential and consistent stereotypes, partially universal and partly specific to post-communist countries. It causes polarization in society and within certain social groups and governmental institutions. Ukrainian society is characterized by the waste of symbolic capital of confidence in authorities. Meanwhile, there is some symmetry between mistrust of the system and trust in entities created by people to meet their spiritual, social, psychological, and other needs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Organizations and Their Products in a Turbulent Environment)

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17 pages, 487 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Migration Influence on the Forecasting of Health Care Budget Expenditures in the Direction of Sustainability: Case of Ukraine

by Tetiana Zatonatska, Olena Liashenko, Yana Fareniuk, Oleksandr Dluhopolskyi, Artur Dmowski and Marzena Cichorzewska

Sustainability 2022, 14(21), 14501; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114501 - 4 Nov 2022

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 1378

Abstract

The start of the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war caused the largest wave of migration in the 21st century. More than five million Ukrainian citizens left for EU countries within a few months of the start of the conflict. The purpose of this paper is [...] Read more.

The start of the full-scale Russian-Ukrainian war caused the largest wave of migration in the 21st century. More than five million Ukrainian citizens left for EU countries within a few months of the start of the conflict. The purpose of this paper is to forecast the level of health care expenditure in Ukraine for 2023–2024, considering the scale of migration and the fall in the level of GDP. The authors propose three scenarios for the development of Ukraine’s economy in 2023–2024, taking into account changes in the age structure of the population, migration, and the amount of health care expenditure: (1) Pessimistic, in which economic growth will resume only in 2024, with a GDP rise of 5.6%, provided that the war concludes at the end of 2022. Under this scenario, inflation will be about 21% in 2023–2024, a slight decrease compared with the previous year. Some 12% of the population of Ukraine will have emigrated, resulting in a corresponding 12% drop in health care expenditure in 2023–2024. (2) Basic (realistic), in which economic growth will be about 5% in 2023–2024, inflation will be under 10%, and migration will have accounted for 5% of the country’s population. Under this scenario, there will be an increase in health care expenditure of more than 40% in 2023–2024. (3) Optimistic, according to which rapid economic growth is expected in 2023–2024, inflation will not exceed 7%, the majority of those who left Ukraine in the early months of the war will return, and health care expenditure will increase by more than 70% in 2023–2024. The methodology of forecasting public expenditure on health care has been based on a six-step cohort method. The results have indicated that the cost of updating the age structure of Ukraine’s population every year will decrease due to the aging of the population, and the overall impact of demographic processes will be negative. The impact of mass migration due to the war creates a significant change in health care costs, requiring administrative bodies to monitor the situation promptly and make appropriate changes to the structure of budget expenditure. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Organizations and Their Products in a Turbulent Environment)

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13 pages, 2188 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Brand Experience: The Case of The Witcher Brand in the Eyes of Polish Customers

by Agnieszka Barbara Bojanowska and Agnieszka Surowiec

Sustainability 2022, 14(21), 14274; https://doi.org/10.3390/su142114274 - 1 Nov 2022

Viewed by 1592

Abstract

This article addresses the issue of brand recognition in the context of its elements and the products that use it. This is a study of customer experience with the brand. The example of The Witcher brand was chosen for consideration as this brand [...] Read more.

This article addresses the issue of brand recognition in the context of its elements and the products that use it. This is a study of customer experience with the brand. The example of The Witcher brand was chosen for consideration as this brand has recently been extremely popular both in Poland and other countries. The purpose of this article is to indicate the course of The Witcher brand formation process in the eyes of Polish consumers in relation to selected products related to the brand. The aim of the article is realized through research conducted by a diagnostic survey method among 538 respondents. The survey was conducted via an online questionnaire in February 2022. The results obtained allowed us to conclude that customers who have known the brand for more than 5 years pay attention to it primarily through books, not just a game or series. The article also indicates that customers who have seen advertising with The Witcher characters buy products related to the brand. However, the research did not confirm that The Witcher brand recognition is most strongly supported by the Netflix production. This research may have practical implications (e.g., for entities using the Witcher image or name in their products) and theoretical ones (including to expand knowledge of branding mechanisms for many products using it). Further research direction for the future can be indicated: research should be expanded to other countries, as The Witcher brand is recognized almost all over the world. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Organizations and Their Products in a Turbulent Environment)

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12 pages, 288 KiB

Open AccessArticle

The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Behaviours of Polish Consumers in the Organic Products Market

by Barbara Urszula Buraczyńska, Anna Elżbieta Żelazna and Agnieszka Barbara Bojanowska

Sustainability 2022, 14(19), 11821; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141911821 - 20 Sep 2022

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1327

Abstract

The main purpose of this article is to verify whether the COVID-19 pandemic affects customers’ behaviours. The examined behaviours are: buying Polish products, buying organic products, buying more at one time, paying attention to prices, asking others to go shopping, and shopping online. [...] Read more.

The main purpose of this article is to verify whether the COVID-19 pandemic affects customers’ behaviours. The examined behaviours are: buying Polish products, buying organic products, buying more at one time, paying attention to prices, asking others to go shopping, and shopping online. For this purpose, an online survey was conducted. The questionnaire was completed by 1000 Polish consumers. The collected data were analysed statistically, and it was shown that the COVID-19 pandemic has an influence on consumers’ behaviours. This is particularly visible in paying attention to prices more frequently, more frequent online shopping, and more frequent purchases of larger amounts of products. Consumers are more likely to buy Polish products and organic products. The largest changes in behaviour were observed among women, people aged under 35, people with higher education, and those with the highest incomes per family member. The research identified the group of consumers who more often do online shopping, purchase more products, and more often buy Polish and organic products; this information may be used by commercial enterprises to create sales strategies. It is advisable to develop online sales and to display information about the fact that products are made in Poland, and information about their ecological origin. The value of this article is to identify the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on consumer behaviour in the organic market in Poland, to identify groups of consumers whose behaviour has changed, and to indicate the directions of those changes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Organizations and Their Products in a Turbulent Environment)

11 pages, 737 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Smart Transition to Climate Management of the Green Energy Transmission Chain

by Olena Borysiak, Tomasz Wołowiec, Grzegorz Gliszczyński, Vasyl Brych and Oleksandr Dluhopolskyi

Sustainability 2022, 14(18), 11449; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141811449 - 14 Sep 2022

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 1928

Abstract

Climate challenges in recent decades have forced a change in attitude towards forms of environmental interaction. The International Climate Conference COP26 evidences the relevance of the climate issue at the global level in Glasgow (November 2021). A decrease in natural energy resources leads [...] Read more.

Climate challenges in recent decades have forced a change in attitude towards forms of environmental interaction. The International Climate Conference COP26 evidences the relevance of the climate issue at the global level in Glasgow (November 2021). A decrease in natural energy resources leads to a search for alternative energy sources. Given this, this article is devoted to studying the peculiarities of the transition to climate management of the green energy transmission chain based on the circular economy and smart technologies. This paper has used simulation modeling to develop an algorithm for applying a smart approach to climate management of the green energy transmission chain based on the work of Industry 4.0 technologies. The result of this modeling will be the importance of strengthening the ability to develop intersectoral partnerships to create climate-energy clusters based on a closed cycle of using energy resources and developing smart technologies. At the same time, it has been found that COVID-19 has changed the behaviour of energy consumers towards the transition to the use of energy from renewable sources that are carbon neutral. With this in mind, this article has assessed the climate capacity of industries to use green energy from renewable sources based on resource conservation (rational use of energy resources) and climate neutrality. The industries of Ukraine, which are the largest consumers of energy and, at the same time, significantly affected by climate change, were taken for the study: industry, transport, and agriculture. The methodology for determining the indicator of the climate capacity of sectors in the transition to green energy has been based on the correlation index (ratio) of the consumption indicator of various types of energy by industries (petroleum products; natural gas; biofuels and waste; electricity) and the indicator of gross value added of industries in pre-COVID-19 and COVID-19 conditions. The results have indicated that the use of energy from renewable sources (biofuels and waste) for the production of goods and services, as well as the economical nature of the provision of raw materials (biomass and faeces) are factors that ensure climate industry neutrality and enhance its climate capability. The prospects of such effects of assessing the climate capacity of sectors will be the basis for the rationale to develop intersectoral partnerships to create climate-energy clusters based on a closed cycle of using energy resources and developing smart technologies. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Organizations and Their Products in a Turbulent Environment)

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11 pages, 2400 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Quality of Education and Science in the Context of Sustainable Development Goals—From Millennium Goals to Agenda 2030: Factors of Innovation Activity and Socio-Economic Impact

by Artem Artyukhov, Iurii Volk, Agnieszka Surowiec, Sylwia Skrzypek-Ahmed, Kseniia Bliumska-Danko, Oleksandr Dluhopolskyi and Volodymyr Shablystyi

Sustainability 2022, 14(18), 11468; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141811468 - 13 Sep 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 2177

Abstract

The relevance of the analysis of Sustainable Development Goals is based on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The purpose of the study is to create a model of management/regulation of the quality of education and scientific research systems based on Sustainable Development [...] Read more.

The relevance of the analysis of Sustainable Development Goals is based on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The purpose of the study is to create a model of management/regulation of the quality of education and scientific research systems based on Sustainable Development Goals. The data of the ratings that reflect certain tasks of the Sustainable Development Goals, including those related to educational and scientific activities, are analyzed. The methodology of calculating the index of the success of realization of separate purposes of sustainable development is used. Bibliometric analysis as a research tool is used to create a quality of education management model. The example of the roadmap for achieving SDGs within the relationship chain “quality of education and science + partnership and networks–innovation–socio-economic impact–sustainable development goals” is provided. The suggested methodology for determining the index of success in achieving Sustainable Development Goals includes managing education systems, implementing scientific research, and managing/regulating the economy on micro-(university), meso-(regional), and macro-(national) levels. The tool in this case is a strategy for achieving KPIs, which can be fundamentally implemented in the form of a roadmap, with detailing of its elements using other tools. The “management/regulation” stage of the process of achieving Sustainable Development Goals is concretized by a mind map. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Organizations and Their Products in a Turbulent Environment)

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11 pages, 391 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Mitigating Risks for Effective Personnel Management in the Organization of the Energy Sector due to the COVID-19 Pandemic

by Nazar Podolchak, Volodymyr Martyniuk, Natalia Tsygylyk, Stanislaw Skowron and Tomasz Wołowiec

Sustainability 2022, 14(16), 10055; https://doi.org/10.3390/su141610055 - 14 Aug 2022

Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1323

Abstract

One of the three most important components of the effective work of an organization or enterprise in the energy sector is properly organized staff work. Thus, all the risks arising in this process should be given proper consideration. Conventional methods can hardly be [...] Read more.

One of the three most important components of the effective work of an organization or enterprise in the energy sector is properly organized staff work. Thus, all the risks arising in this process should be given proper consideration. Conventional methods can hardly be of any assistance, which is why this paper proposes the innovative rapidly adaptive model for the evaluation of existing risks and the forecasting of emerging ones due to the COVID-19 pandemic in modern personnel management. The model employs a probability theory and applies it to four major risk groups, which are related to many factors. It also describes the methods of mitigating these risks. This made it possible to improve personnel management efficiency, thus offsetting the adverse consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Organizations and Their Products in a Turbulent Environment)

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17 pages, 2177 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Sustainable Development Competences of Engineering Students in Light of the Industry 5.0 Concept

by Barbara Mazur and Anna Walczyna

Sustainability 2022, 14(12), 7233; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14127233 - 13 Jun 2022

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2177

Abstract

In 2021, the European Commission set out the direction of changes in the field of European enterprise activities by establishing the principles of Industry 5.0. One of the indicated directions was the implementation of sustainable development principles in European industry. The aim of [...] Read more.

In 2021, the European Commission set out the direction of changes in the field of European enterprise activities by establishing the principles of Industry 5.0. One of the indicated directions was the implementation of sustainable development principles in European industry. The aim of this article is to examine the level and nature of competences in the field of sustainable development among students at two Lublin universities: the Lublin University of Technology and the University of Life Sciences in Lublin. This is to enable the assessment of students’ preparation for the implementation of sustainable development principles in their future professional activities. The research sought to determine the relationship between the type of university and the competences of students, through the self-assessment of competences. The conceptualization and operationalization of competences in the field of sustainable development was based on the de Haan and Cebrian models, respectively. The tool used was the author’s own questionnaire based on the self-assessment of 25 statements, grouped into five areas of competence: knowledge, action, values and ethics, emotions and systems thinking. The results of the study confirmed differences between students in the areas of knowledge and activity. However, a relationship between the type of university and self-esteem in areas related to systemic thinking, emotions, and ethics and values was not found. Various self-assessment patterns (clusters) were observed in individual areas among the respondents. Differences in the assessment of the statements indicated the existence of factors that influenced responses. The results of the study confirmed the usefulness of the tool in identifying competency gaps of students based on which the tool can be recommended for use in the design of study programs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Organizations and Their Products in a Turbulent Environment)

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