CATI Survey Research Articles

The importance of competitive potential in building the international competitiveness of food industry companies: Evidence from Poland.

The economic and social changes taking place in the environment mean that the conditions in which enterprises operate and compete are changing and demanding. This also applies to food industry enterprises, the economic importance is emphasized by many economists. The literature on this subject lacks research on the current factors influencing the competitiveness of food industry enterprises. Thus, the aim of the study was to adopt a multidimensional assessment of the importance of selected components of competitive potential in building the international competitiveness of food industry enterprises. The following research hypothesis was adopted: the key components of the competitive potential of food industry enterprises are intangible. To achieve the main goal and verify the research hypothesis, the empirical study uses information collected using a CATI survey among representatives of food industry enterprises in Poland. The analysis used descriptive statistics, the Mann‒Whitney test, the Kruskal‒Wallis test and exploratory factor analysis, which are rarely used in research on competitiveness. Research has shown that the most important component of competitiveness is intangible assets. The punctuality of deliveries, product quality, company image and relations with suppliers and recipients play special roles. According to factor analysis, four general factors related to competitive potential were distinguished: internal competences and activities, material resources, marketing and clusters, and the market. The results of the study fill a knowledge gap related to the current competitiveness factors of food companies. On a practical level, identifying competitive potential helps improve the ability to compete, better adapt to the environment and gain a sustainable competitive advantage in international markets.

KEY COMPETENCES FOR DIGITAL BUSINESS MODEL INNOVATION OF INDUSTRIAL COMPANIES

Digital transformation is confronting traditional industrial companies with the challenge of not only optimising their internal processes, but also establishing entirely new, digital business models (DBM). In some cases, this requires different competences than in traditional business. In the AgilHybrid research project, a model of 20 key competences that are critical to the success of DBM development was developed. These competences can be bundled into the five areas of entrepreneurial capabilities, adaptability, agile capabilities, collaborative capabilities and digital capabilities. In a CATI survey of 200 German industrial companies, the relevance of the selected competences for DBM development was validated. A multivariate regression model reveals that in particular the equipment of the companies with digital competences as well as the use of agile development methods influence the probability that a company offers digital business models successfully on the market. These competences seem to contribute as important enablers to the dynamic capabilities of seizing and transforming in the context of developing new DBM.

Does high-tech industry matter for marketing strategy selection? Adaptation vs. standardization on the international market

This article’s objective is to present the results of our research on the selection of an international strategy (adaptation vs. standardization) of Polish firms on the international market in the area of product and promotion, depending on whether they belong to the high-​tech industry or not. The research methodology applied in the article includes a critical literature review and quantitative methods using a CATI survey. This study is based on a sample of 355 internationalized businesses from Poland. A two-step approach was used in the quantitative study: 1) Student’s t-test and 2) logistic regression. Research shows that Polish firms from the high-tech industry adjust their international strategy to a greater extent to the requirements of individual international markets, both in product and promotion, than firms from non-high-tech industries. This study enriches the problem of international marketing strategy with the current view of the high-tech industry. The specificity and attributes of high-tech firms shed new light on the choice of a marketing strategy. It proves that the specificity of the sector can be essential and differentiate marketing decisions. In addition, high-tech attributes allow firms to respond better to today’s turbulent environment. The study can have many practical inspirations for managers, business owners, and entrepreneurs deciding on their international strategy and implementing high-​tech attributes in building competitive advantage in the internationalization process.

Something Still Remains: Factors Affecting Tsunami Risk Perception on the Coasts Hit by the Reggio Calabria-Messina 1908 Event (Italy)

Mediterranean coasts are prone to tsunamis due to high seismicity in some well-known areas near plate margins. However, tsunamis have a low frequency of occurrence despite having highly destructive potential. The low frequency of occurrence and historicity of the most destructive events lead to minimizing or neglecting this risk. Past research identified socio-demographic and spatial factors that may affect tsunami risk perception. This research is based on CATI survey (Computer Assisted Telephone Interview) to a sample of 5842 respondents designed to investigate whether and how risk perception and risk knowledge were affected by a major event such as the 1908 Reggio Calabria Messina tsunami, by making a comparison between areas hit by that event and unaffected areas, also providing some explanatory hypotheses. Despite differences between Calabria and Sicily, data show higher levels of tsunami risk perception in the area affected by the 1908 event, along with a major role of interpersonal sources, playing a relevant role in information gathering and understanding. Research also suggests the need to better integrate different sources of knowledge to improve people’s understanding so as to effectively cope with tsunami risk.

Factors affecting the use of tax preferences for research and development in Poland

Purpose – The objective of the article is to identify the factors affecting the use of R&D tax preferences in Poland. Research method – Qualitative and quantitative analysis, synthesis, deduction, induction, and inference by analogy. The study involved a group of 350 enterprises from the Lower Silesia Province in the high and medium-high technology sector and used the CATI survey methodology. The collected data was subjected to statistical analysis, including correlation and significance analysis. Results – The study investigates the reasons for not using tax preferences, the barriers to their use, and proposals of respondents (companies surveyed) regarding changes to the tax preferences. The main factors identified include appropriate organisation of R&D in the enterprise, cooperation with research entities, and knowledge of fiscal instruments supporting the development of R&D. Originality / value / implications / recommendations – Tax preferences (R&D tax relief and IP Box) are not used on a large scale and entrepreneurs say they have difficulty with using them. This study confirms that there are certain factors affecting the implementation of R&D and the use of tax preferences. So far, no attempt has been made to link the reasons for not using tax preferences, the barriers to their use, and the entrepreneurs’ proposals for changes so as to clearly identify the key factors affecting the use of effective legal solutions.

Customer motivation and satisfaction related to purchases of comprehensive car insurance in Poland

Complexity and unequal access to information for all parties involved are among the key characteristics of the market of comprehensive car insurance in Poland. This paper presents the results of a research project1 aimed at investigating consumer motivation and satisfaction related to purchases of comprehensive car insurance policies. Qualitative studies (IDIs) delivered in-depth information about relations between different parties and potential issues that were scrutinized in the quantitative part of the study. A binary logit model based on replies to a CATI survey of a representative sample of 4,500 respondents helped the researchers to identify certain reasons of purchases of this type of insurance. A further analysis proved that the level of consumer satisfaction was, in fact, greater than that the authors had originally anticipated based on the level of consumer confidence in the insurance industry, which is discussed further in this paper. The authors relied on official statistics on the Polish car insurance market and data showing the age-based breakdown of motor vehicles in different geographical areas to present some tendencies and pinpoint specific factors affecting customer motivation and satisfaction related to purchases of comprehensive car insurance.

U-SHAPED RELATIONSHIP IN INTERNATIONAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP: ENTREPRENEURIAL ORIENTATION AND INNOVATION AS DRIVERS OF INTERNATIONALISATION OF FIRMS

This article aims to identify and verify the relationship between entrepreneurial orientation and innovation of internationalised firms from Poland as a former emerging market. The article assesses this relationship in terms of the internationalisation scope. We adopted a quantitative research design and conducted a CATI survey on a sample of 355 firms operating in Poland. To verify the various assumed relationships, we used statistical instruments, including descriptive statistics and simple linear regression. Entrepreneurial orientation influences the innovations of internationalized firms. The impact depends on the scope of internationalization and is U-shaped. The impact of entrepreneurial orientation on innovation is greater for firms with large and small scope of internationalization. A relatively lower impact of entrepreneurial orientation on innovation is visible for firms with a moderate scope of internationalization. The study is an original contribution to the literature. Firstly, we perceive entrepreneurial orientation as a variable that can determine corporate innovation. Secondly, most of the empirical research to date focuses on highly developed markets. Firms that go beyond the borders of emerging markets see internationalization as a way of gaining experience, learning, and an opportunity to improve their innovative capacity. Thirdly, the study contributes to the development of theories combining entrepreneurial orientation with innovation by applying a new concept of a U-shaped curve.

The Perception of Urban Forests in Post-Mining Areas: A Case Study of Sosnowiec-Poland.

Sustainable development policy emphasizes, among other things, the role of green areas in urban space. This remark applies in particular to post-industrial and post-mining cities. One of the elements of shaping the sustainable development of post-mining cities is that forests are often anthropogenic forest ecosystems growing in previously mining areas, one of the most characteristic elements of their spatial development. This article examines the role of urban forests in the post-mining area in Sosnowiec, located in the core of the Katowice conurbation in southern Poland. This article aimed to show the social perception of forests in post-mining areas among the local community and the features of urban forests. The social dimension of the interaction between humans and the environment is related to the issue of urban planning. Research was implemented based on quantitative, qualitative (CATI survey), and cartographic methods. The results indicate the significant role of forests in post-mining areas depending on their location in the settlement areas in a post-industrial city. The research emphasizes that residents perceive forests in post-mining areas of cities as an essential and expected recreational space. Notably, half of them do not see any threats therein. It is also expected that these areas will be better developed for recreational purposes in the future.

Does the Past Haunt Us No More? How Proximity to Foreign Currency Lending Experience Affects Trust in the Banking System and Financial Literacy

While FX lending is often the focus of analyses on non-performing loans and postcrisis debt relief measures, its effect on debtors’ subsequent behaviour and attitudes has been addressed to a far lesser extent in the research in recent years. In our study, we seek to fill this gap by examining the effect of proximity to foreign currency lending experience on an individual’s trust in the banking system, and financial literacy. For our study, we relied on data from a CATI survey conducted on behalf of the MNB, the central bank of Hungary, in September 2021. The sample of 1,001 respondents represents the Hungarian adult population in terms of gender, age, type of municipality, region and educational level. In addition to the proximity to foreign currency lending experience, modelling controls included sociodemographic variables on the one hand, and variables related to borrowing on the other. The effect of proximity to foreign currency lending experience was examined in terms of both trust in the banking system and components of financial literacy. The effect was quantified using a linear regression model based on OLS estimation. According to our estimate, the role of proximity to foreign currency lending experience is less important than expected. Closer proximity to foreign currency lending experience has no apparent effect on a borrower’s overall trust in banks operating in Hungary. At the same time, proximity to foreign currency lending experience increases the likelihood of the respondent’s belief that a bank acts in bad faith (exploiting legal loopholes). Among the components of financial literacy, it plays a significant role only in financial knowledge, i.e. controlled for other factors, closer proximity on average increases financial knowledge. Conversely, it fails to influence, in any manner, the adoption of more conscious attitude, behaviour and practices.

Digital Postal Operator as an Important Element of the National Energy Security System

This article presents a solution that strengthens information security in critical infrastructure entities. Critical infrastructure plays a key role in the functioning of the state and the life of its citizens. Therefore, the protection of critical infrastructure is one of priorities in Poland. The aim of this article is to show that designated postal operators may become an important link in the process of information flow and cybersecurity. Based on their multiple-year experience and expended competences, the operators may provide digital services for entities responsible for the energy security infrastructure. Verification of this goal is necessary, since critical infrastructure is exposed to growing threats, both in the area of energy and other sensitive sectors of the economy. Research results presented in the article were obtained by conducting a CATI survey. The study used the purposeful selection method, which allows to influence the structure of a sample in the context of goals set by the authors. The method solicited key information from experts on postal and energy markets. The results constitute a new approach to the role of the designated postal operator. The authors analysed possibilities to support entities that secure critical infrastructure, including those from the energy sector. It shows that the role of the designated postal operator may significantly change. Taking into account the security of information and cybersecurity, the postal operator could expand its competences, secure infrastructure-related information flow, and thus become a key pillar of the state.

Subjective and Objective Insecurity in Spanish Cities

This article related crime rates to social risk factors and to the feeling of insecurity in Spain. The first finding of this study, financed by National I + D Plan CSO2016-77549-P, AEI-FEDER, was the direct relation between crime rates and some sociodemographic factors such as population, unemployment, urban land area, and hotel occupancy, based on the question of which social risk factors correlate to crime rates. The second finding was that social factors drive citizens’ feelings of insecurity, according to whether feelings of insecurity are linked to crime rates or perceived risk factors. The research was based on a quantitative methodology, using two data sources: reworked official statistics treated by HJ-Biplot analysis; a 2019 CATI survey with N = 3904, sample error between 5.2% and 3.7% according to territory, 95% confidence level. The main conceptual conclusion of the study was the link between well-being and security. The main methodological contribution was the application of HJ-Biplot analysis to the social sciences.

Consumer preferences towards alternative fuel vehicles. Results from the conjoint analysis

Alternative fuel vehicles (AFVs) are an important element of sustainable development and electromobility. Even though the analysis of consumers’ preferences towards AFV has already been done in various countries, the point of view of consumers from the country representing Central and Eastern Europe was missing. Within our complex, two stages survey (CATI and CAWI) we used the conjoint method to compare and balance the important factors responsible for consumers’ preferences towards AFV, in one study, allowing a relative assessment to be made. As a result, we got 6 separate conjoints (depending on the type of purchase: direct purchase or leasing) and the type of vehicle (HEV, PHEV and BEV). Although each conjoint contains different sets of factors, the methodological regime is followed. The study is conducted on a large group of Polish respondents (N=1002 and N=500), and the choice of factors is based on a broad CATI survey. Our results indicate that surprisingly safety is the most important feature of a good AFV car. Then, the price, range and type of the car also matter. These findings recommend car manufactures and policy makers what they should focus on while designing and promoting AFV.

Workplace Health Promotion in Germany for All? Results of the 2018 BIBB/BAuA survey of Employed People

This secondary analysis aims to investigate the prevalence and uptake of workplace health promotion (WHP) in Germany. Our data base was the 2018 BIBB-/BAuA Survey in Germany, which is a randomized representative CATI survey of 20,012 employed persons aged 15 and older. Proportions were compared among different groups and a binary logistic regression model was estimated. 47% of the employees reported that WHP interventions had been implemented in their company in the last two years. 25% of the employees had taken up the offer of WHP. The proportion of employees who confirmed that WHP was offered in their company increased sharply with the company size, but the take-up rates decreased. Employees in companies with a works/staff council stated a disproportionately high rate of implementation of WHP. However, employees with a low socioeconomic status reported WHP offer to a relatively small extent. In particular, employees without a vocational qualification, in a fixed-term employment, at risk of dismissal and temporary agency workers reported a relatively low implementation of WHP in their company. Logistic regression analyses aimed to identify predictors for the WHP offer. Compared to small companies, workers in medium-sized companies were more than twice as likely (OR=2.17) to have a WHP offer in their company and more than five times as likely (OR=5.64) in large companies. In the public sector, the chances of employees having WHP in their company were significantly better than in industry, crafts, trade or other sectors. Compared to German employees, employees with a foreign citizenship had a significantly lower chance of WHP being offered in their company (OR=0.78). A very good or excellent health status was associated with a slightly increased OR of 1.15 for WHP in the company. In companies in which employees were very satisfied with their work overall, the probability of a WHP offer was significantly increased (OR=1.70). The analysis reveals large disparities in the WHP. There is a need for WHP strategies for targeting the small companies and the employees with a low socioeconomic status within the companies.

Cognitive reasoning, risk targets and behavioral responses to COVID-19 outbreaks among Wuhan residents during lockdown

ABSTRACT How did residents in Wuhan, who were at the epicenter of the initial COVID-19 outbreaks in China evaluate the risk to themselves and to society at large, and take action accordingly? This study examines the need for orientation, cognitive reasoning of COVID-19 news, and perceived risk, which all contributed to protective action during the city’s total lockdown. Using data collected in a mobile CATI survey during the peak of the outbreaks in February 2020, findings show that the attention to COVID-19 in digital media predicted the perception of the coronavirus pandemic as a personal risk. In addition, the need for orientation and elaboration of news about the outbreaks were positively associated with perceived risk target – personal and societal. Finally, perceived personal risk proved a stronger predictor than perceived risk to society in general for taking protective behavior.

Explaining Conspiracy Beliefs and Scepticism around the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Public opinion on COVID‐19 provides new empirical evidence for the debate on the ideological contours of conspiracy theories. I report findings from a web survey in Greece where participants were recruited via paid advertising on Facebook and the study sample was adjusted for age, gender, education, domicile, and region of residence using a nationally representative reference sample. I find that beliefs about conspiracy theories are more correlated than the values associated with established political ideologies, and that conspiracy beliefs and scepticism about the pandemic are best explained by belief in unrelated political and medical conspiracy theories. No other demographic or attitudinal variable has such a strong influence, and the results are robust to different statistical specifications. In comparison, the effect of ideology measured by left‐right self‐placement is rather negligible and further moderated by trust in government. The results have implications for the strategies aimed at fighting disinformation during public health emergencies.

Lockdowned: Everyday mobility changes in response to COVID-19

BackgroundThis paper looks into the impact of the recent COVID-19 epidemic on the daily mobility of people. Existing research into the epidemic travel patterns points at transport as a channel for disease spreading with especially long-distance travel in the centre of interest. We adopt a different approach looking into the effects that epidemic has on the transport system and specifically in relation to short-distance daily mobility activities. We go beyond simple travel avoidance behaviours and look into factors influencing change in travel times and in modal split under epidemic. This leads to the research problems we posit in this paper. We look into the overall reduction of daily travel and into the factors impacting peoples' decisions to refrain from daily traveling. This paper focuses on modes affected and explores differences between various societal groups. MethodsWe use a CATI survey with a representative sample size of 1069 respondents from Poland. The survey was carried out between March, 24th and April, 6th2020, with a start date one week after the Polish government introduced administrative measures aimed at slowing down the COVID-19 epidemic. For data analysis, we propose using the GLM (general linear model), allowing us to include all the qualitative and quantitative variables which depict our sample. ResultsWe observe significant drops in travel times under epidemic conditions. Those drops are similar regardless of the age group and gender. The time decrease depended on the purpose of travels, means of transport, traveller's household size, fear of coronavirus, main occupation, and change in it caused by the epidemic. The more the respondent was afraid of coronavirus, the more she or he shortened the travel time.

Employee Engagement Level in ICT Organizations as a Barrier to the Use of Social Media Functions

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to prove and discuss the relationship between employee engagement in ICT organizations and the degree of use social media by audited companies. The literature on the subject suggested that social media create a space where it is possible to use tools for communicating, collaborating, connecting, completing, and combining. However, it requires the organization to understand and accept the fact that to achieve purposes in social media it is necessary to engage the whole organization at its different levels. Research methods: For the needs of the research goal we carried out a quantitative research using the CAVI and CATI survey method and Spearman’s correlation coefficient on a sample of 400 companies in the ICT industry. The research question was: Can the number of people employed in marketing or social media be a determinant of the engagement of other employees to create content? Findings: The presented analysis shows that the companies in ICT industry use the possibilities of social media only in limited extend. It has also been observed that the growing number of employees who are responsible for corporate social media is perceived by managers as the reason for the low engagement of other employees in creating content for business social media. As a consequence, between the organization’s employees do not create the community ready to engage in activities in the social media. Practical Implications: The practical implication of this article can be used to elaborate a model of engaging employees of the company as a community which successfully interacts with the surroundings. Originality/Value: This article is valuable; it contributes to a discussion on management methods in organization that plans to successfully use the potential of social media. Also, it can set the direction of creating a policy of employee engagement in the company.

Over-indebted Households in Poland: Classification Tree Analysis

Increasing a personal debt burden implies greater financial vulnerability and threats for macroeconomic stability. It also generates a risk of the households over-indebtedness. The assessment of over-indebtedness is conducted with the use of various objective and subjective measures based on the micro-level data. The aim of the study is to investigate over-indebted households in Poland using a unique dataset obtained from the CATI survey. We discuss and compare the usefulness of various over-indebtedness measures across different socio-economic characteristics. Due to the differences in over-indebtedness across single measures, we perform a more complex assessment using a mix of indicators. As an alternative to other commonly criticised over-indebtedness measures, we apply the “below the poverty line” (BPL) measure. In order to obtain the profile of over-indebted households, we use classification and regression tree analysis as an alternative to logit or probit models. We find that DSTI (“debt service to income”) ratio underestimates the extent of over-indebtedness in vulnerable groups of households in comparison with the BPL. We highlight the necessity to use different measures depending on the adopted definition of over-indebtedness. A psychological burden of debts is particularly strong among older and poorly educated respondents. We also find that the age structure of over-indebted households in Poland differs from this structure in countries with a broader access to consumer credits. Our results can be used to enrich the methods of assessing the household over-indebtedness.

Czynniki kształtujące częstotliwość wyjazdów turystycznych

Dotychczasowe badania w obszarze turystyki skupiały się głównie na motywacjach dotyczących wyboru kierunku podróży, miejsca noclegu lub sposobu konsumpcji turystyki. Celem przeprowadzonego badania było wskazanie czynników kształtujących częstotliwość wyjazdów turystycznych Polaków. Wskazanie głównych determinant liczby odbywanych podróży w ciągu roku wykonano za pomocą badania sondażowego przeprowadzonego metodą CATI (n = 313). Wśród badanych przeważały osoby młode, pobierające naukę oraz bezdzietne. Wyniki wykazały, że częstotliwość wyjazdów w roku różnicują: okres, w którym odbywa się wyjazd, forma wypoczynku, wybór miejsca docelowego czy kierunku wyjazdu, koszt atrakcji, dzienny koszt wyżywienia i zakwaterowania, liczba uczestników podróży, wiek oraz zarobki.

Coal Combustion Products Management toward a Circular Economy—A Case Study of the Coal Power Plant Sector in Poland

Coal combustion products can be considered as commercial products or waste depending on the quality of the coal, the combustion process, and the country’s legislation. The circular economy can create incentives for the implementation of new business models in large power plants in cooperation with coal mines and users of coal combustion products. This is particularly important in Poland, where coal still remains the main source of energy, employing over 80,000 workers. The objective of this study was to assess the readiness for change toward a circular economy and to identify challenges, barriers, and plans at seven large power plants. To do this, a final questionnaire was developed after checking environmental reporting, a CATI survey, and brainstorming between circular economy leaders from science, industry, and non-governmental organizations. The results indicate that even if the great economic and environmental potential of coal combustion products management are understood, all requirements connected with CO2 and air pollution have higher priorities. Policy shifts away from coal do not promote cooperation, but the higher acceptance of products from waste and more transparent data shows a large potential for changes toward a circular economy.