Business In Germany Research Articles

Rooted in Sustainability: Developing an Integrated Assessment Framework for Horticulture—The Example of Potted Plants

The increasing importance of sustainability in our society also affects horticulture. Ornamental plants are a multi-billion-euro business in Germany, with EUR 4.1 billion for potted plants, EUR 1.5 billion for fruit/ornamental shrubs as well as cut flowers and EUR 0.3 billion for flower bulbs, identifying potted plants as the largest stakeholder. In terms of sustainability, the potted plant branch in Germany is interesting due to its almost year-round production and cold winters. For example, a decision must be made as to whether a greenhouse should be heated all year round, possibly with fossil fuels, or whether cuttings should be imported from warm climate zones. In order to provide a farm manager with information about the degree of sustainability of their own production and to communicate sustainable production, an assessment method is necessary. As there is no comprehensive sustainability assessment system in German horticulture so far, especially in the field of potted plants, this study aims to fill this gap. This article reviews the state of the research of theoretical sustainability assessment. As the most important topics of sustainability assessment and as essential components of the framework, the system boundaries, indicators, base value, measurement level, target values, implementation, acceptance, data collection, assessment, aggregation and weighting, as well as communication and certification, are identified and discussed. An integrated framework for the assessment of sustainability in potted plant companies is developed.

Climate Friendly Transport

Retail is currently in a state of upheaval due to digitalization and the associated booming online trade. Sales figures in stationary retail are stagnating. Online trading offers advantages through convenience and quick availability that customers no longer do not want to miss. Due to climate change, retailers and customers have changed their mind set towards more sustainability. Consumers are increasingly demanding sustainable products, so retailers must act appropriately to be both digital and climate-friendly in the future. The aim of this exploratory study is to use the example of floristry retailers to analyze whether they are growing with digitalization and whether they are taking sustainable initiatives to act as climate-friendly as possible. In addition, the florists' whole value chain is examined for climate friendliness. The results of the exploratory online survey of 68 floristry businesses in Germany show that both digitalization as well as climate and sustainability awareness play a significant role in floristry retail.

Examining the impact of Russia-Ukraine conflict and China support on the supply chain of German family-owned SMEs in 2022

ABSTRACT The geopolitical situation created by Russia and China over Ukraine has made it difficult for businesses in Germany, mostly small and medium-sized enterprises, to manage their logistics and supply chain processes effectively. The objective of this paper was to examine the impact of the geopolitical situation on the supply chain of German family-owned SMEs in 2022, focusing on the Russia-Ukraine conflict and China. The researchers used a quantitative research study that sampled 50 participants drawn from four family-owned SMEs in Germany. Questionnaires were used to collect data from the participants. The path analysis results reveal a significant relationship between price changes and Germany's family-owned SMEs’ supply chain processes (b = 0.716, t = 15.469, t < 0.05). The positive sign indicates that an increase in the independent variable results in an increase in the dependent variable. The positive sign indicates that an increase in organizational characteristics increases attitude towards green practices. The study concludes that supply inflation, price cost, and supply cost fundamentally affect the supply chain processes of Germany-owned SMEs. The German government and other stakeholders in the SME sectors should develop policies that aim to provide financial and regulatory assistance to small and medium-sized enterprises in Germany through public-private partnerships.

Small Business Success During 2020/2021

Change management, learning, agility, innovation, adaptability, and growth strategy are crucial elements for a business to stay open, serve its customers’ needs, and create cash flow to stay profitable during a time of crisis. One key aspect that affects how a business uses these elements to further its lifespan is the role of leadership. Some research has examined the areas of leadership and crisis. However, there appears to be a gap in research regarding the role of leadership in small businesses (Madanchian &amp; Taherdoost, 2019; van Winkle et al., 2014). This paper aims to determine if there was a correlation between the servant leadership style and small business survival during the COVID-19 crisis of 2020/2021. This study used a quantitative research method to survey employees who work in small businesses in Germany. The study is highly relevant because small businesses are the backbone of many economies (World Bank, 2022), and other turbulences may be expected in the future. The results provide insights into the connection between servant leadership and sustainable business success during times of difficulty. In addition, the results may enable leaders in the future to navigate their businesses toward increased business sustainability, providing larger benefits for society. Lastly, the study discusses future opportunities for research in this area.

Country Differences in Family Firm Reputation: An Exploration in Germany, India, and the United States

While most studies on family firm branding report positive reputational consequences, we lack empirical evidence to which degree these benefits vary across different geographical contexts. This study explores associations elicited by the term family business in Germany, India, and the United States and discusses reasons for the varying differentiation power of the family firm signal. Our large-scale association study ( n = 1,383) reveals that prototypical family firm perceptions are prevalent in the United States and Germany, but less in India. Through qualitative insights and an experimental study, we investigate why the power of the family firm signal to enhance reputation varies across countries.

Intentionality and visibility in state- and society-led climate approaches: towards a more comprehensive understanding of local adaptation initiatives

Abstract. Research into local climate adaptation has often focused on highly visible, intentional public policies that seek to improve resilience to climate threats or how societal actors have reacted to changing climatic conditions. We argue that these approaches neglect a range of unintentional and/or hidden initiatives, which deliver implicit and/or hitherto under-appreciated adaptation benefits. We present an analytical framework to organise studies of these under-explored initiatives, which advances social scientific conceptualisations of what local climate adaptation consists of and provides a heuristic for selecting appropriate methods of enquiry to examine it. Drawing on empirical research into the adaptation activities of municipalities and small businesses in Germany, we apply this framework to expand our knowledge of how communities are building climate resilience, gain a better understanding of the full range of adaptation activities within individual localities, and pose questions about the role of state and societal actors in addressing common problems.

Self-care and self-medication as central components of healthcare in Germany – on the way to evidence-based pharmacy

In Germany, self-care is, above all interpreted as the prevention and treatment of minor injuries and illnesses by the patients themselves – that is, without a physician's prescription or medical advice. Maintaining one's health in the sense of a preventive approach through non-medicinal measures also plays an important role. Self-medication in this context is the treatment with approved over-the-counter-(OTC)-medications. In addition, other OTC-products such as dietary supplements as well as complementary and alternative medicines including homeopathic medications are frequently requested options by pharmacy customers. OTC-medications are central components of the German healthcare system, with expert advice from pharmacists in community pharmacies (CP) enabling safe and effective treatment. Additionally, screening for appropriate self-medication by pharmacists ensures that serious illnesses receive timely medical attention.In addition to prescribed medication, self-medication is an important part of the CP business in Germany. In contrast to prescription products, the price of OTC-products is not regulated. As a consequence, the price of OTC-products (including also pharmacy-only drugs) is influenced by competition among CPs and mail-order pharmacies, respectively. The sales of OTC-products for self-medication outside pharmacies, e.g. in drugstores and supermarkets, is restricted to a limited number of specific products.Evidence-based counseling in CPs, while generally advocated still remains a challenge. The evidence for the usage of OTC-products from clinical studies is not yet optimally integrated into everyday pharmacy practice. Information tools such as EVInews offering regular newsletters and a database have been developed to reduce the evidence-to-practice gap and to improve the overall counseling quality. Furthermore, the switching of drugs from prescription-only to pharmacy-only status also challenge CPs to provide adequate and updated guidance.

How Circular Are Businesses in Germany?

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There is no capitalist conspiracy and the rich are not all‐powerful

There is no capitalist conspiracy and the rich are not all‐powerful

Adaptation strategies of flood-damaged businesses in Germany

Flood risk management in Germany follows an integrative approach in which both private households and businesses can make an important contribution to reducing flood damage by implementing property-level adaptation measures. While the flood adaptation behavior of private households has already been widely researched, comparatively less attention has been paid to the adaptation strategies of businesses. However, their ability to cope with flood risk plays an important role in the social and economic development of a flood-prone region. Therefore, using quantitative survey data, this study aims to identify different strategies and adaptation drivers of 557 businesses damaged by a riverine flood in 2013 and 104 businesses damaged by pluvial or flash floods between 2014 and 2017. Our results indicate that a low perceived self-efficacy may be an important factor that can reduce the motivation of businesses to adapt to flood risk. Furthermore, property-owners tended to act more proactively than tenants. In addition, high experience with previous flood events and low perceived response costs could strengthen proactive adaptation behavior. These findings should be considered in business-tailored risk communication.

Establishments in the Covid-19-Crisis (BeCovid): A High-Frequency Establishment Survey to Monitor the Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract The high-frequency establishment survey “Establishments in the Covid-19-Crisis” (BeCovid) started in 2020 and continued until June 2022 to collect monthly data on how businesses in Germany adjusted to the challenges of the pandemic. This article describes the survey design and provides an overview over the topics covered. We further outline the survey’s research potentials, particularly when linked to administrative records.

Several Legal Peculiarities of the Regulation of Business Environment in Germany

Business law includes contractual, labor, corporate, tax and other relations. However, the purpose of the study is to highlight and analyze only few interesting issues since it is physically impossible to cover all its aspects within the framework of one article. First of all, it is necessary to determine the legal basis for doing business in Germany and then – the features of starting and doing business. Therefore, this paper serves as a concise methodological guide to the regulation of the business environment in Germany. In this sense, the study examines the legal forms of doing business recognized in Germany, the legal possibilities for establishing various contractual or labor relations with contractors, as well as the grounds for corporate or private liability in case of violation of the rules. Model of corporate governance, external liability and internal corporate governance issues are of particular interest in Germany. The study confirms that the basis for regulation of various aspects of doing business in Germany is specific. The principle of direct corporate liability to creditors is common in Germany but the principle of piercing the corporate veil is allowed if the relevant prerequisites are present. However, business contracts in Germany are based on a narrow approach of contract terms regulation compared to the United States. Hearing of cases by specialized judges in Germany ensures a better and fairer judicial system in labor disputes.

Case study of small and very small businesses in Germany during COVID-19 in 2021

2020 was a dramatic year for businesses. We have been witnessing not only an unprecedented interruption in the world economy, but also a mass closure of local businesses. Small businesses have been struggling since the beginning of the pandemic, and many small brick and mortar stores were closed permanently. The effect on business activities will be felt in 2021 and beyond. Small business will stop to exist if they are not built on online business but event-driven stationary retail. The worst thing - especially during the pandemic - for everyone is the lack of planning security - the presence of uncertainty. No one knows when the next lockdown will occur, how long it will last, what its effects will be, and who exactly will be affected. The research was based on a small case study and captures the impression of six different companies. It confirms the findings of other studies but also contributes to different findings.

Case study of small and very small businesses in Germany during Covid-19 in 2021

Case study of small and very small businesses in Germany during Covid-19 in 2021

Economic Analysis and Improvement Opportunities of African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Aquaculture in Northern Germany

A farmland based African Catfish recirculation aquaculture system with a production volume (PV) of 300 m3 was modelled under realistic market conditions in order to analyse the impact of price fluctuations on profitability. As a monoculture recirculating aquaculture system (RAS) for whole fish and the wholesaler’s market, the model northern German catfish aquaculture is currently gainless, but the production is sufficient to cover all costs. The most decisive economic parameter is the low selling price (2.20 EUR/kg whole fish), which affects the returns by ±70,463 EUR/year for every ten percent (0.22 EUR) price change. Among the variable costs, feed has by far the largest impact with a share of 61.4% (42.1% of total costs). Based on the initial model every ten percent price variation of this variable input factor changes the returns by ±29,691 EUR/year, followed by energy (±5913 EUR/year), fingerlings (±4804 EUR/year), wages (±3972 EUR/year) and water (±2464 EUR/year). Larger system sizes (600 m3 PV) significantly save costs due to economies of scale and achieve returns of 175,240 EUR/year and an ROI of 11.45%. Increasing max. stocking density from 450 kg/m3 to 550 kg/m3 improves returns and ROI (40,379 EUR/year; 4.40%), but also involves higher production risks. An own fingerling production with a production of 300% above the own requirements improves returns and ROI (39,871 EUR/year; 3.57%) and leads, above all, to independence from foreign suppliers. Aquaponic integrations can generate profits, but are associated with high investment costs and the challenges of entering a new business sector. Product diversification into fillet (50% of the production) and smoked fillet (30%) generates lucrative returns and ROI (212,198 EUR/year; 20.10%). Profitability is further increased by direct marketing in the form of a farm store and the establishment of a regional “producer organisation”. Our results demonstrate that under current market conditions northern German catfish aquaculture covers all costs, mainly increasing profitability through altered sales prices and feed costs. Retaining a larger part of the fishery value chain within the farm through additional benefits, further processing and product diversification improves profitability, making African catfish RAS a sustainable and economically profitable aquaculture business in Germany.

Farm supply and grain marketing businesses: A mixed methods investigation of past and intended future strategies

Based on a media analysis and a manager survey, we investigate past and intended future strategies of farm supply and grain marketing businesses in Germany. Alliances, diversification and organic growth were among the most popular past strategies and, according to the participants, will be in the future. Nevertheless, the trend towards divestment and fewer locations for grain collection will continue. Large, investor-owned firms prefer a combination of capital-intensive strategies, cooperatives and small and medium-sized enterprises plan to adopt fewer strategies. We outline several potential implications and areas for further research.

A QUARTERLY EARNINGS REVIEW FROM THE EARNINGS+MORE NEWSLETTER

A QUARTERLY EARNINGS REVIEW FROM THE <i>EARNINGS+MORE</i> NEWSLETTER

An Analysis of Big Data Analytics, IoT and Augmented Banking on Consumer Loan Banking Business in Germany

This research aims to analyze the particular component of industry 4.0 applying in the consumer loans banking business. Industry 4.0 comprises of a lot of technological advantages, this research selected three components of industry 4.0; Big data analytic, Internet of Things (IoT), and Augmented reality in banking. Secondary data are used to conduct this research, collected from the previous research and the academic literature. At first, this research explains why the consumer loans banking business in Europe, especially in Germany, needs to integrate Industry 4.0. secondly, this research analyzes the suitable component of industry 4.0 into the consumer loans banking business. The findings of this research deliver an essential piece of analysis to the consumer loans banking business' stakeholder with direction on implementing industry 4.0 into their business.

Problems of Small and Medium Business in Germany

The article deals with the problems of small and medium entrepreneurship (SME) in Germany, its role in the country’s economy. It reveals the mechanism of interaction of government structures, political parties, business alliances and the expert community in formulating and carrying out policies aimed at supporting SME. It shows that real business conditions in Germany differ substantially from what is usually offered to potential investors in advertising brochures. The Total Early-Stage Entrepreneurial Activity Index (TEA-Quote) puts Germany far behind its competitors. For several consecutive years the number of liquidated small and medium enterprises has been higher than that of newly created ones. Germany’s new generation prefers to seek jobs in big companies or in the civil service. Germany seems to have lost the Gründer spirit. Entrepreneurs complain about the great number of bureaucratic procedures, the growing shortage of skilled workforce, high electricity prices, and difficulties in accessing bank credits for micro and small enterprises. An underdeveloped market of venture capital has been a drag on innovative startups. A successful cluster policy, which gave a new impulse to the development of several territories, has not offset serious shortcomings in the country’s entrepreneurial climate. While not dramatizing the situation, the author considers as mistaken a common point of view found in Russian publications. This point of view holds that framework conditions for business in Germany constitute a near-ideal model, which leads to success as long as it is copied faithfully. The article analyses public discussion in Germany about the problems of SMEs, complains of small and medium business against the authorities. The key provisions of the government strategy to develop small and medium business adopted in 2019 and a cessionary package to mitigate damage of the coronavirus outbreak on the German economy adopted in 2020 are reviewed. The main conclusion of the author is that the German experience should be treated selectively, taking into account overall internal political, economic and social conditions under which the German policy of supporting SMEs is designed. The strengths of this policy lie in its systemic nature and a commitment to align it with industrial, innovative, social, research, and educational policies.

Dindarlık, Tutum ve Davranışsal Niyetler Arasındaki İlişkinin İncelenmesi: Almanya daki Müslüman Tüketicilerin Helal Gıda Etiketli Ürünlere Yönelik Algılarının VAB Modeli İle İncelenmesi (Investigation of the Relationship between Religiosity, Attitude and Behavioral Intentions: Investigation of the Perceptions of Muslim Consumers in Germany Towards Halal Food Labeled Products With VAB Model)

Purpose – The purpose of this study is to reveal the structural relationship between religiosity, attitude and behavioral intention to purchase halal food labeled products. Design/methodology/approach – The sample of the study consists of Muslim consumers living in Germany. Questionnaire technique was used to reveal the structural relationship. A total of 408 valid questionnaires conducted online were analyzed using Smart PLS Professional 3.0 software. The bootstrapping technique was used for testing the hypotheses aimed to be measured in the study. The structure, consistency and discrimination validities of the variables were calculated. Finally, the accuracy of the hypotheses was tested with path analysis. Findings – According to the results of the analysis, it was determined that religiosity positively affected attitudes and behavioral intentions towards purchasing halal food labeled products. In addition, as a result of the analysis, it was determined that attitudes towards purchasing halal food labeled products positively affect behavioral intentions similarly. Discussion – Study results have shown that religiosity has a significant and positive direct effect on the attitude towards purchasing halal food. This empirical evidence shows that the level of consumer piety is an important determinant in the consumer's attitude towards purchasing Halal food labeled products. In other words, the higher the level of religiosity, the more positive the attitude towards purchasing halal food labeled products will be. This study also revealed that the attitude has a significant and positive direct effect on behavioral intention to purchase halal food labeled products. Based on the results obtained in the study, it reveals the importance of businesses in Germany to have a halal label. Especially for businesses with Muslim consumers in their target market, having a halal certificate can be a useful strategy to increase their sales.