Business Challenges Research Articles

Аналіз сучасного стану логістичної ефективності України

Agro-industrial complex (APK) belongs to the system-forming, strategically important industries. It ensures the country’s food security, makes a significant contribution to ensuring employment of the population, preserving socio-economic stability, and increasing export potential. In recent years, the development of the domestic agricultural industry has had positive dynamics. However, the industry faced many problems related to hostilities: destruction of infrastructure, congestion of alternative routes, difficulties with exports, etc. Military operations significantly affect all aspects of the logistics chain, including transport, storage, processing and export of products. It is noted that the domestic agro-industrial complex not only meets the domestic needs of the country, but also exports agricultural products abroad. Logistics plays a key role in export operations, and it is through effective management of logistics processes that companies can achieve better results in foreign economic activity. The hostilities greatly complicate export logistics by blocking seaports and disrupting rail routes, posing a threat to the country’s economic stability and food security in many countries. Although the volume of transportation remained significantly lower than the pre-war level, the positive dynamics of the indicators is maintained. The commodity structure of the export of agricultural products and indicators of the freight transportation index were analyzed. The value of the logistics efficiency index was considered and it was noted that there is a significant deterioration of the specified indicator for the country, which is why there is a need to analyze logistics processes, identify problems in the logistics industry and take measures to improve indicators. The main problems of logistics, which create serious challenges for business and the country’s economy, are highlighted. It was noted that the logistics of agricultural products in wartime conditions faces numerous challenges that require rapid adaptation and the search for new solutions. Restoration of logistics infrastructure is one of the key directions for ensuring Ukraine’s competitiveness on the global market. Keywords: logistics, agricultural products, export, costs, efficiency.

Impact of the War on Entrepreneurship in Ukraine

The study analyzes the transformations, challenges, and issues faced by Ukrainian entrepreneurs due to Russia’s war against Ukraine. The work is based on a comparative analysis of survey results from Ukrainian entrepreneurs over the period of 2022–2023 regarding the problems and challenges they encounter. This allowed for identifying the directions of transformation of business problems and creating a map of the issues faced by Ukrainian entrepreneurs. Additionally, an aggregated ranking of the problems and challenges of Ukrainian businesses in 2023 was developed. This foundation enables the modeling of strategic development for the Ukrainian economy as a whole and strategic management for individual business entities.

SITUATIONAL LEADERSHIP IN THE CONTEXT OF GLOBAL ENTREPRENEURIAL BUSINESS: EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION STRATEGIES FOR ADDRESSING ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES

The current global business environment is highly dynamic and fraught with uncertainty. Globalization, technological advancements, and rapid economic changes compel companies to continually adapt. Situational leadership is crucial as it enables leaders to adjust their leadership styles according to the situation and organizational needs. This research aims to explore and analyze the effectiveness of situational leadership in the context of global entrepreneurial business, with a specific focus on the communication strategies employed to tackle environmental changes. This study utilizes a literature review method with a qualitative approach. Data were gathered from articles accessed via Google Scholar published between 1988 and 2024. The study findings indicate that situational leadership offers an adaptive and effective approach in addressing the complexities of the global business environment. By tailoring leadership styles to specific situations, leaders can achieve maximum effectiveness in guiding teams and managing change. Effective communication strategies such as transparency, regular feedback, active listening, and leveraging technology support the successful implementation of situational leadership. By proactively preparing and managing change effectively, leaders can ensure that their organizations remain competitive in facing global business challenges.

TAXATION SYSTEMS OF UKRAINE AND POLAND: COMMON AND DIFFERENT FEATURES

The article provides a comprehensive study of the common and distinctive features of the taxation system in Ukraine and Poland, focusing on indirect taxes, namely: value added tax (VAT), excise tax, and customs duties. Peculiarities of taxation of the main direct taxes: personal income tax (PIT) and corporate income tax (CIT) have been studied. The purpose of the study is to determine the common and distinctive features of the construction of the tax systems of Ukraine and Poland, the functioning of the main budget-forming taxes, their rates, the conditions for applying tax benefits, as well as the possibility of implementing foreign experience in order to improve the domestic taxation system. The research methodology included a comparative analysis of legislative acts, statistical data and practical aspects of the functioning of the tax systems of Ukraine and Poland. The results of the study showed that although both countries apply similar types of indirect taxes, there are significant differences in rates and approaches to their administration. It was found that the VAT rate in Poland is 23%, while in Ukraine it is 20%, and a progressive scale of personal income taxation is applied at rates from 17% to 32%, in Ukraine there is a fixed rate of 18%, with respect to the tax on profit of enterprises, in Poland the standard rate is 19%, while in Ukraine it is 18%. The authors of the article also found that the Polish tax system is more stable and predictable, which contributes to a better investment climate and economic growth. In Ukraine, tax legislation is characterized by frequent changes and complexity of administration, which creates additional challenges for business. The findings of the study emphasize the importance of reforming the tax system of Ukraine in order to increase its transparency, stability and efficiency. In particular, it is recommended to simplify tax administration procedures taking into account Poland experience and harmonize tax legislation to European standards.

PRELUDE FOR A SUCCESSFUL DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM INDIAN TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICE PROVIDER

Despite an increased focus on digital transformation, the telecommunication industry has, thus far, seen limited success regarding the effective transformation of its constituent organisations, both globally and in India. Indian telecommunication service providers (TSP) in particular face tremendous pressure to transform successfully in order to leverage the benefits of digital transformation and meet the current business challenges. This research proposes factors from internal organizational perspective that are essential for the successful transformation. This study has developed a research framework grounded in multiple theories (Resource Based View, Dynamic Capabilities and Disruptive Innovation) and based on detailed literature review. The research model was tested using responses from a robust sample of 294 domain experts in the Indian telecommunications industry. Empirical results indicate that Digital Capabilities, Digital Strategy and Corporate Level Data Strategy has strong significance on the successful Business Performance, followed by IT Function Transformation, and Digital Innovation.

Increasing Employee Job Performance, the Effects of Perceived Organizational Support and Transformational Leadership, Mediated By Work Engagement

Rapid developments in the financing industry sector in Indonesia have created a dynamic and challenging business competition. Sustainable business growth is one crucial achievement that is a point of competition between finance companies. Therefore, the optimal job performance of each employee is a significant factor. Previous studies has shown a connection between job performance with variables such as POS, transformational leadership, and work engagement in other industrial sectors. This study was aimed at analysing the influence of said variables among finance company employees in Central Jakarta and South Jakarta. The research was conducted in quantitative methods with primary data collection using questionnaires. The sample was taken using a purposive sampling technique, with a total of 250 respondents who are employees of finance companies in selected areas. Data analysis used the Structural Equation Model (SEM) with AMOS version 22 software and the Sobel Test to calculate the effects of each variable and its connection. This research results show that POS and transformational leadership have a positive influence on the job performance of finance company employees in Indonesia. It was also revealed that work engagement does have a mediating role in the relationship between the previous variables and job performance. In this context, the study indicates that factors from within and outside employees, such as POS and transformational leadership, play a role in improving their job performance by also increasing work engagement.

Establishing Consumer Trust in Social Commerce: Cognitive and Affective Appraisal

ABSTRACT Consumers continue to rely on social commerce for shopping purposes; however, one challenge for businesses in effectively implementing social commerce is the lack of consumer trust. Thus, the goal of this study is to investigate the mechanisms through which social commerce companies can successfully build consumer trust and increase business. From the socio-technical perspective, we identify social commerce usability and sociability as the two technological and social functions, respectively, of social commerce. We investigate the impacts of social commerce usability and sociability on consumers’ cognitive and affective (emotional) appraisals, which in turn affect their trust and social commerce use. The empirical results indicate that social commerce usability and sociability are positively related to cognitive and affective appraisal, both of which positively affect customer trust in social commerce. The results also demonstrate the positive impacts of consumer trust on social commerce use. Our study advances the social commerce literature.

Who Benefits The MLM System? Case Study on Consumer Behavior Multilevel Marketing

This research explores who really benefits from the Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) system with a case study of consumer behavior regarding Oriflame products. This research uses qualitative methods with a case study approach to understand the dynamics and motivations behind consumer participation in MLM. The focus of this research is to explore how attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived behavioral control influence consumers' intentions and actions in joining and remaining in MLM, how external stimuli and previous experiences influence consumer behavior. The locus of this research involved five different women's communities, namely posyandu administrators, gymnastics community, Beauty Community members, weekly social gathering founders, and weekly regular recitation members, who were selected through purposive snowball sampling. The results show that despite the potential for significant financial gain and personal development, distrust of the business model and challenges in product sales often hinder long-term success. This study contributes to the literature on consumer behavior in the MLM context and provides recommendations for companies to increase transparency and support for distributors.

Integration of balanced scorecard and analytical hierarchy process to measure the performance of supporting unit in aircraft maintenance service companies

Dynamic and challenging business environment in the aircraft maintenance services industry require company to survive and ensure business continuity. To realize effective performance, performance measurement is needed as a management system for managing and controlling performance. The purpose of this research is to measure the performance of supporting unit at PT. XYZ by using balanced scorecard framework that is integrated with AHP. The steps in this research includes identification strategy objective, identification key performance indicator (KPI), design and measure performance using integrated balanced scorecard and AHP. The method used in this study combines quantitative data with the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) approach. The AHP method is used for KPI weighting. The design of KPI weights for each perspective in balanced scorecard are 42,3 % for the learning and growth, 33,5% for internal business process, 17,3% for financial, and 6,8% for the customer perspective. The results of supporting unit performance show the lowest score in the learning and growth perspective with average performance indicator, while in internal business process, financial and customer perspective have good performance indicator. The result of measuring total performance of four perspective are 74,5% which indicates that the performance of PT.XYZ’s BSC is in the good enough category.

Pengaruh Strategi Inovasi Terhadap Penggunaan Teknologi Informasi Dalam Industri UMKM

In the current era of digitalization and globalization, innovation strategies are very important to build MSMEs to improve performance and competitiveness. The aim of this research is to understand the impact of innovation strategies on the use of information technology in the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector in Indonesia. This research applies a qualitative approach to analyze data from various relevant literature, such as books and scientific journals, to understand how innovation strategies can encourage the adoption of information technology and how this technology contributes to improving the performance of MSMEs. This research shows that the synergy between innovation strategies and the use of information technology is very useful for improving the performance and competitiveness of MSMEs. By using innovation strategies and utilizing information technology effectively, MSMEs can overcome various business challenges and take advantage of market opportunities to achieve sustainable growth and long-term success. The results of this research provide a significant contribution to understanding and practice in the MSME industry.

Logging Business Challenges in the US South and Lake States

Logging Business Challenges in the US South and Lake States

Exploring the perceived effects of Destructive Leadership on employees' psychological empowerment: An Azerbaijan retail context

Azerbaijan's dynamic and diverse retail landscape is driving an escalating demand for motivated personnel, both locally and globally, to address sustainable development requirements. In competitive and demanding retail environments, the success of organizations can rely on confident, skilled, motivated, and informed employees to meet challenging business demands and inclusive growth. As Azerbaijan's retail competitive edge continues to expand, there is a heightened need for effective employer-employee interactions and strategic human capital to navigate intricate organizational hurdles. The targeted population for this study included current retail employees, and semi-structured in-depth interviews with 15 participants from 15 different retail service organizations were conducted. Hence, this research study addresses a crucial gap in leadership literature by examining the interplay between destructive leadership and employees' psychological empowerment, encompassing dimensions like meaningfulness, self-determination, competence, and impact. Employing a qualitative phenomenological approach, the study delves into the real-life experiences of employees within the Azerbaijani retail sector. The study concludes that destructive leadership can significantly hamper employees' psychological empowerment, resulting in negative impacts on their work role orientation, engagement, productivity, and commitment.

Review of the Adoption of TQM Models and the Achieved Sustainable Business Results in the MENA Telecommunication Industry

Purpose: Understanding the criticality of the telecommunication industry in the current time and appreciating the significance of adopting total quality management models in organizations to extend business sustainability. This paper provides a comparison between two telecommunication leaders in the MENA region: Zain & Etisalat, to assess their adoption of TQM models and the impact on their organizational and market success. Methodology: this study uses a comparative case study. a mixed-methods methodology was applied, combining quantitative and qualitative data. Primary data collection methods included surveys given to employees at different levels to gauge the internal effects of TQM models on operational efficiency and employee satisfaction, as well as semi-structured interviews with key management personnel from both companies, aimed at gaining insights into the implementation and outcomes of TQM practices. Secondary data came from a number of sources, such as government publications that described TQM adoption and telecommunication trends, market analysis and financial performance data from industry databases like Statista, annual reports and official documentation from Zain and Etisalat, and relevant quality management certifications and standards (like ISO 9001:2015). Thematic analysis of interview transcripts to find recurring themes and implementation insights, content analysis of company reports and publications to evaluate the strategic alignment and integration of TQM models, and case study analysis to compare and contrast Zain and Etisalat's approaches to adopting and implementing TQM models were some of the qualitative data analysis techniques used. Findings: The study found that the adoption of TQM models like EFQM, Kaizen and Lean six sigma across the whole organization is more effective than localizing the application to one aspect as indicated by the comparison between Zain & Etisalat. The comparison indicated that the application of TQM extended the sustainability and resilience of Etisalat and Zain in the face of business challenges by improving performance and streamlining processes to increase customer satisfaction. Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study recommended that both Etisalat and Zain should consider incorporating sustainability practices into their TQM frameworks, given the growing focus on corporate social responsibility and sustainability. This could be illustrating a dedication to sustainable business practices by coordinating Kaizen and Lean Six Sigma initiatives with objectives related to social responsibility and the environment. To improve the synergy between Kaizen, EFQM, and Lean Six Sigma initiatives, both companies should foster cross-functional collaboration.

From hype to impact: How companies can leverage the metaverse technology for business models

This study explores the impact of metaverse technology on business models (BMs). Despite increasing academic and practical interest, the adoption and seamless integration of this technology poses substantial challenges for businesses. This study adopts a grounded-theory approach to explore how firms can incorporate this technological innovation within their existing BMs. Drawing upon insights from 20 interviews, the data were structured using the Gioia methodology, uncovering 5 dimensions that elucidate how companies can leverage metaverse technology to augment value creation, capture, and delivery, both internally and externally, within their BMs. These dimensions serve as a roadmap for firms seeking to embrace the metaverse, offering insights into potential adaptations to their existing BMs. This study contributes to the theoretical discourse surrounding the metaverse by delineating specific components within BMs that can be tailored to accommodate metaverse integration. Furthermore, our findings offer invaluable guidance and recommendations to firms and ventures, highlighting the diverse areas within the value creation process where metaverse integration can be strategically applied. This research lays the foundation for a more comprehensive understanding of metaverse technology's role in shaping the business landscape.

What HR Issues and Challenges are Addressed by Contemporary HR Professionals and Line Managers? A Survey Evidence from the Czech Republic

Abstract Research purpose. Succeeding in a changing business world means being familiar with emerging business trends, including issues and challenges related to human resources (HR). The paper investigates HR issues and challenges addressed by HR professionals and line managers of businesses in the Czech Republic. The investigation aims to uncover which HR issues are faced most often and which HR challenges are expected in the coming years to identify existing and potential HR issues and challenges that businesses should deal with to meet their needs. Design / Methodology / Approach. The investigation is founded on the reanalysis of data from the 2023 HR survey carried out by the Grafton Recruitment Czech Republic staffing agency at the end of 2022. The original data were provided by the co-author representing the staffing agency. The reanalysis was used to utilize the original data, to evaluate responses depending on the business type (manufacturing, non-manufacturing) and size (small, medium-sized, large), and to verify hypotheses concerning realized and planned changes in the number of employees. The original online survey addressed roughly a thousand clients of the staffing agency. The responses were obtained from 478 businesses across the Czech Republic that responded to thirty questions about their HR policies and plans. The reanalysis covers eight questions about their HR roles, issues, and challenges. The original data were not modified. To verify hypotheses, a non-parametric chi-square test of independence for a contingency table was used. To evaluate the degree of dependence between variables, a contingency coefficient was used. Findings. The surveyed businesses most often face HR issues of employee resourcing. The HR challenges they expect in the coming years concern the development of the employer brand, the introduction of digital and AI technologies, or the introduction of innovative organizational arrangements to hire suitable employees or replace the missing employees. The findings revealed a dependence between realized and planned changes in the number of employees. The realized increase and decrease in the number of employees referred to the planned increase and decrease in the number of employees. The findings revealed no significant differences in responses depending on the type (manufacturing and non-manufacturing) and size (small, medium-sized, and large) of businesses. Originality / Value / Practical implications. The findings bring original perspectives on existing and potential HR issues and challenges addressed by surveyed businesses in the Czech Republic. The findings contribute to the present theory and practice of employee resourcing by confirming the value of HR professionals and line managers in addressing staffing issues. The findings can be applied in the design of HR service delivery systems in different businesses by highlighting HR issues and challenges that businesses should focus on.

Entrepreneurs’ Innovative Behaviour Response in Rural Tourism Development. A Case Study of Local Service Providers in Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark, Northern Vietnam

Tourism industry becomes the spearhead economy in the Vietnamese government's development strategies that compete with regional countries like Thailand, Taiwan, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia. Especially tourism in rural areas has been focused on and integrated into regional and national development programs in terms of creating a driving force for socio-economic development, high quality, diversified, and branded tourism products. Innovative efforts are necessary to further promote this industry so as to reap the full benefits and potential of this sector. Creativity and innovative approaches are essential for success. The objective of this study is to examine the impact of innovation on the effectiveness of entrepreneurs in the tourism industry and propose that strategic and behavioural innovativeness enhances performance of entrepreneurs. Based on semi-structure interviews with 15 local service providers, the existing business challenges facing the service providers were identified and innovation activities that they adopted in responding to the challenges for the development strategies of rural tourism in Dong Van Karst Plateau Geopark. This research contributes to the understanding of innovative behaviour of participants and also some practical benefits as responses to their business challenges. However, the sample size of the study is quite small, new avenues for further research is highly recommended.

Catalysing Financial Inclusion in South Africa's Rural Landscape: A Theoretical Discourse of PoS Business Model

In countries like South Africa, where cash plays a pivotal role in social and economic life, limited access to financial institutions, in rural areas has led to significant economic challenges for citizens and businesses. This limitation has further exacerbated the financial exclusion of the underserved population resonating with poor economic growth. In addressing the issue, this desktop-based theoretical discourse, draws on the Technology Acceptance Model, Schumpeterian Entrepreneurship Theory, and Circular Flow of Income Model to conceptualise cash point-of-sale business model, as an innovative mechanism with the potential to spearhead the country’s financial inclusion efforts, entrepreneurial imperatives and local economic participation. The findings provide valuable insights for policymakers and financial institutions to design and implement effective financial inclusion policies in rural areas. By addressing unique challenges faced by rural communities, such as limited infrastructure and lower levels of education, a more inclusive and resilient financial ecosystem can be achieved, contributing to broader social and economic development goals in South Africa's rural landscape. An exploratory empirical study is further recommended to pave the way for the development of a contextual framework to guide the model’s implementation in South Africa.

Brand Churn A Significant Percentage of Customers Leaving for Competitors

Abstract: Brand churn, characterized by a significant percentage of customers leaving for competitors, poses a substantial challenge for businesses across industries. To understand the underlying factors contributing to brand churn and devise effective retention strategies, a survey questionnaire method was employed. The questionnaire was designed to gather insights into customers' reasons for switching brands, their perceptions of competitor offerings, and their preferences for brand loyalty incentives. A diverse sample of respondents representing various demographic segments and purchasing behaviours was targeted to ensure comprehensive data collection. The survey findings revealed key drivers of brand churn, including dissatisfaction with product quality, pricing competitiveness, and customer service experiences. Additionally, insights into customers' perceptions of competitor brands and the effectiveness of loyalty programs in retaining customers were garnered. The results of this survey provide valuable insights for businesses seeking to mitigate brand churn by addressing customer needs and preferences effectively. By implementing targeted retention strategies informed by these findings, businesses can enhance customer loyalty, reduce churn rates, and maintain a competitive edge in the marketplace.

Spirit of Entrepreneurship in Islamic Higher Education

Purpose: This research aims to analyze the meaning, management, impact of implementation, and formulate ideas for developing entrepreneurship in the Sharia Economics Study Program at IAIN Curup.Design/Method/Approach: This field research uses a qualitative descriptive approach. The primary data sources in this research are the chairman, secretary, Sharia Economics Study Program staff, and HMPS Sharia Economics students. The data collection techniques used is observation, interviews and documentation. Meanwhile, data analysis techniques go through the stages of reading all the data, compiling data, knowing general patterns of data, grouping data, conclusions, and triangulation.Findings: The research results show that students see entrepreneurship as creating, developing and managing businesses for profit. Preparation for business, characteristics of entrepreneurs and ICT are also important. Meanwhile, success can be seen from profits, achieved goals, business development, customer satisfaction and product consistency. Students run the Nurulillah Shop entrepreneurial business with facilities and funding from the study program and HMPS, integrating ICT in promotions, and managing time and business management with group strategies. The application of entrepreneurship has an impact on increasing knowledge and skills, motivation, benchmarks for facing business challenges, financial independence, and developing relationships that support the development of entrepreneurship. The development idea formulated is called Entrepreneurial Prosperity, namely to achieve success in entrepreneurship through product development, science and technology, partners, support, awards and mentorship.Originality/Values: contribution to this research is to see the spirit of Sharia Economics students in entrepreneurship in the IAIN Curup environment

Metaverse: Fission the architecture

Modern technology comes with new opportunities and difficulties since it is constantly evolving. The technology that has generated the utmost buzz and intrigue in recent years is Metaverse. Although Metaverse is not an entirely new word, it has attracted more attention because Facebook changed its name to Meta. However, despite the enormous interest and prospects, it still needs to be determined how ethical issues will be addressed and how users' privacy will be protected in the Metaverse system. Furthermore, the Metaverse system must earn the confidence and acceptance of its user by fulfilling the main criteria of Trustworthy AI. Therefore, this paper focused on making the Metaverse system trustworthy. This paper covered Metaverse's history, essential elements, the current business market, future opportunities, and challenges. Further, the manuscript discussed the pillars of trustworthy AI, its factors, and the way of trustworthiness. Finally, the paper combined these concepts and identified elements contributing to Metaverse's credibility.