Enterprises In Poland 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.

Organizational ethics and position relationship moderators among knowledge workers: a regional study of Poland

ABSTRACT This research explores organizational ethics among knowledge workers using ICT4Ds in regional enterprises in Poland before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The study addresses the importance of understanding how ethics in organizations, particularly ethical optimism, corporate social responsibility, and top management action, have evolved across these periods. This topic is crucial as organizational ethics influence employee behavior and decision-making, particularly during crises. The research question focuses on how organizational ethics, influenced by gender and the pandemic, differ by position. Online surveys and random sampling were employed to collect data among knowledge workers (139 before, 134 during, and 98 after the pandemic). The study applied multivariate statistical methods, including variance analysis and causal moderation. Findings were that superiors rated organizational ethics higher than subordinates, and ethical optimism fluctuated, rising during the pandemic and dropping afterward. The study contributes to understanding the role of gender and crises as moderators in organizational ethics, benefiting managers and policymakers.

Ecological Innovations in Hotel Companies: A Case Study of Poland

Entrepreneurship is one of the key pillars of the modern market economy. The most important attributes of entrepreneurship include innovation. According to many economists, most of the economic growth of developed countries should now be linked to the application and implementation of innovation. Among many types of innovations, ecological innovations (eco-innovations) deserve special attention. Ecological innovations contribute to the reduction of operating costs, increase in competitive advantage and facilitate entry into new markets. At the same time, they have a positive impact on the natural environment. The examples of eco-innovations are also increasingly often found in hotel companies. The aim of the publication is to discuss the current examples of the most significant ecological innovations in hotel enterprises. The article considers the significant impact of ecological innovations on the activities of this type of enterprises. In order to achieve the objectives of the publication, the Polish hotel market was taken into account. The article presents the following research thesis: Environmental innovations are an increasingly important element influencing the operation of hotel enterprises in Poland. However, there is still little awareness of them among guests. The article was written on the basis of books studies, monographs, magazines and netographic information. Methodology of research carried out for the needs of the work. To identify and analyze ecological innovations in hotels in Poland, as well as for the purposes of achieving the goals of the work, two methods of collecting primary research material were used. The first one is based on the analysis of existing data, including the analysis of guest opinions on the booking portal and literary criticism. The second one consisted of a diagnostic survey in which a non-standardized interview was used as a research technique on a deliberately selected group of hotel owners and managers from all over Poland, who have decided to introduce ecological innovations on the premises of their facilities. Interviews were conducted in January-February 2024. The interview did not take into account objects that temporarily suspended their activity. The results of the research positively verify theses.

Are small and medium-sized enterprises the strength of the Polish economy?

The research conducted under the micro-project Intellectual Capital and Technological Development of Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises in Poland focused on the impact of intellectual capital on the technological development of SME. The purpose of this research was to determine the influence of intellectual capital on the technological advancement of these enterprises. Due to the broad approach to economic development and the significant role of SMEs in the economy, a series of three articles was chosen as the publication format. This publication serves as an introduction, addressing the essence and importance of the SME sector. The article aims to confirm the impact of the SME sector on the economic development of the country, which is considered significant based on statistical data. The data reveal a favourable statistical picture of SMEs, showing an increase in the number of business entities and their positive impact on the labour market and GDP growth. The findings underscore the need for continued efforts to eliminate ineffective management practices withing the various components of intellectual capital. The subject matter of the research cycle continues in the next two papers. The second article, entitled “The Role of Intangible Resources in Shaping the Value of Knowledge-Based Enterprises” emphasises the need and necessity of implementing in small and medium-sized entities. The third article, considers it important to identify, measure, and value these assets. Detailing the methods of doing so, it summarises the research results and points to intangible assets as the main determinants of company management in a knowledge-based economy. It demonstrates the significant impact that small and medium-sized businesses could have on the development of the national economy if the management of intellectual capital in these enterprises adhered to the principles of conscious and rational use of knowledge assets. As a result of the increasing importance of a company’s intellectual capital – including its human resources, structural, and relational values – small and medium-sized enterprises must change their previous intuitive, approach to their management to a conscious and strategic approach. This transition will enable them to remain competitive in the market in an era of widespread technological and other changes affecting the product and labour market. In view of the volatile environment and the development of a knowledge-based economy, the ability to manage intangible assets becomes particularly important for the development of enterprises, both large and those in the SME sector. Effective management of intellectual capital should be considered a key competence in this area. Although the tools for managing this invisible potential are discussed in the literature and practically applied in large companies, they are only beginning to be adopted by small and medium-sized enterprises. Given the significant contribution of these entities to national income generation and job creation, it is necessary to adapt and implement the concept of intangible asset management to suit the operating conditions of small business.

Industry 4.0 – Development and Limitations in Large Manufacturing Enterprises in Poland. Analysis of Research Results

Theoretical background: Industry 4.0 tools are an important element in achieving a competitive advantage, especially among manufacturing companies. There are numerous studies regarding this idea’s level of implementation in companies operating in Poland. Purpose of the article: The aim of the article was to verify the hypothesis regarding the existence of barriers and opportunities for implementing Industry 4.0 solutions among large manufacturing enterprises in Poland. Research methods: The author presented the results of her own research carried out at the end of 2019 by means of the CATI method on 108 large manufacturing enterprises in Poland. She supplemented the state of knowledge and verified it by analyzing secondary research – two reports from research conducted in 2022 using the CAWI method. Main findings: It was the basis for concluding that the results of the author’s study did not lose their significance, and the analysis of the correlation between the results may support conscious decision-making as to which areas interact with each other and in what way.

Assessment of the Level of Digitalization of Polish Enterprises in the Context of the Fourth Industrial Revolution

Due to the dynamic development of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, also known as Industry 4.0, the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the operation of enterprises, and the increasing demands of customers, more and more companies have taken and continue to take action to increase the level of digitalization. The implementation of innovative solutions contributes to the sustainability development of enterprises in various areas (economic, environmental, and social), streamlining processes and increasing effectiveness, efficiency, and quality of work. Such activities also contribute to the effective use of new opportunities by companies and strengthen their competitiveness and market position. The use of digital technologies increases the capacity of companies to innovate and grow, which brings significant benefits in terms of efficiency and competitiveness. The authors attempted to analyze and assess the level of digital transformation in enterprises in Poland. This study aimed to review the current state of digitization of companies, which made it possible to diagnose the level of digital maturity of Polish enterprises and to identify areas that will determine the activities of companies to quickly increase their competitiveness or improve internal processes. Qualitative and comparable methods were used in the analysis. The results show that the degree of digitization of Polish enterprises is increasing, and, in particular, was influenced by the COVID-19 pandemic. Nearly half of the companies analyzed declared that they are increasing their budget for digitalization. The presented study has cognitive value regarding the assessment of the level of digitization of Polish enterprises. Both managers and decision-makers can benefit from the results of the study because decision-making regarding the development of SMEs is crucial to the effectiveness of the industrial strategy.

Social Enterprises in Poland in the Face of Recent Crises

Background: The research problem addressed in this study concerns the activities of social enterprises (SEs) within the framework of the social market economy (SME) in Poland during the crises triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. Research objectives: The article aims to verify the hypothesis that SEs situated within the SME can mitigate the negative effects of crises by undertaking additional actions for recipients during the pandemic and Ukrainian refugees. Research design and methods: An interdisciplinary research model helped examine the stated problem. It synthesizes both the concepts of SME and SE. Moreover, part of the research was a nationwide quantitative study using the CAWI method supported by the CATI method and Dilman’s prompting method (mixed mode). Results: During the pandemic in Poland, 56% of SEs took additional actions for recipients, even though the situation worsened for 41% of them. During the war in Ukraine, 68% of SEs took action for refugees, while the situation worsened for 29% of SEs. Conclusions: Social enterprises experiencing the consequences of crises are also able to minimize their effects. Simultaneously, to an equal extent, they support environmental issues and sustainable development.

DIFFERENTIATIONS OF ROAD INFRASTRUCTURE AND THE DEVELOPMENT OF POLISH ENTERPRISES IN 2012-2021

This work presents the relationship between road infrastructure and the development of enterprises in Poland. The aim of the study was to assess the differences in the density of the hard surface road network and the development of enterprises, as well as the impact of the density of the hard surface road network on the development of enterprises in Polish voivodeships in 2012-2021. For this purpose, the structure and dynamics of changes in the density of the hard surface road network and the entrepreneurship rate in Poland were calculated. The relationship between the density of the hard surface road network and the entrepreneurship index was also determined. Data collected in the Local Data Bank of the Central Statistical Office were used for the analyses. The analysis included the length of hard surface roads per 100 km2 and the total number of economic entities registered in the REGON system per 10,000 inhabitants of working age. An increase in the density of the hard surface road network and the entrepreneurship rate was observed, but the level and pace of changes in individual Polish voivodeships varied. The highest density of the hard surface road network was recorded in three voivodeships: Śląskie, Małopolskie and Świętokrzyskie. The highest value of the entrepreneurship index in the analyzed years was recorded in the Masovian Voivodeship. A detailed analysis of Polish voivodeships allowed us to observe a positive correlation between the density of the hard surface road network and the entrepreneurship rate in Poland in the analyzed period. The strongest positive relationship was between the density of hard surface roads and the entrepreneurship rate in the Masovian Voivodeship.

EU regulations on reporting sustainable development as a determinant of limiting the environmental pressure of chemical enterprises in Poland

The period of validity of Directive 2014/95/EU, which imposed on enterprises the obligation to present non-financial information in separate non-financial reports, the so-called ESG was aimed to check its effects, complementary regulations and actual actions in the environmental area. Numerous works have analysed various aspects of non-financial reporting in the context of the directive, including several on ESG reporting in relation to air pollution emissions. However, it has not been examined yet whether there is a relationship between the level of reporting and the effects of pro-environmental activities in the context of the impact of regulations on it. A research gap in this area was identified, and therefore, the aim of the paper is to examine how selected chemical companies in Poland adapt to the EU guidelines on ESG reporting in the environmental dimension and whether it has an impact on reducing their pressure on the environment. The research period is 2010-2022, and the three-stage study used a quantitative-qualitative methodological approach. In the first and third stages, descriptive statistics and time series analysis methods were used. The second one includes methods such as content analysis, case analysis, GES Risk Rating, and expert analysis. The research carried out made it possible to conclude on the impact of non-financial reporting regulations on the environmental pressure.

Sustainable development through frugal innovation: the role of leadership, entrepreneurial bricolage and knowledge diversity

AbstractFrugal innovation through frugal functionality, frugal cost, and frugal ecosystems that reduce goods to their essential features has emerged as a highly effective method to improve sustainable development across societies, in developed countries as well as in developing countries. Drawing on social exchange theory and effectuation theory, this study examines the indirect effect of diversified knowledge sharing on the relationship of sustainability-oriented leadership with frugal innovation and the conditional role of entrepreneurial bricolage. The study utilized data collected from 223 representatives of small and medium enterprises in Poland. Partial least squares structural equation modelling was used to test the proposed hypotheses. The results confirmed that sustainability-oriented leadership indirectly and significantly affects frugal functionality and costs through both internal and external diversified knowledge sharing. Yet, internal diversified knowledge sharing does not mediate the sustainability-oriented leadership–frugal ecosystem relationship. The findings show that the sustainability-oriented leadership–external diversified knowledge sharing relationship amplifies with increasing values of entrepreneurial bricolage. However, the sustainability-oriented leadership–internal diversified knowledge sharing relationship does not change in the presence of entrepreneurial bricolage. This pioneering study explores the interactions between sustainability-oriented leadership, entrepreneurial bricolage, and internal as well as external diversified knowledge sharing with regards to frugal innovation. It uncovers the underlying processes of frugal innovation and improved frugal innovation performance, facilitates the integration of knowledge, recognises successful approaches to leadership, creates initiatives for leadership development, and offers actionable insights for organisations aiming to cultivate frugal innovation.

Ecological Innovations as a Chance for the Development of Innovativeness of Enterprises in Poland

Ecological Innovations as a Chance for the Development of Innovativeness of Enterprises in Poland

Work-Life Balance in SME Sector and Large Enterprises

Abstract The concept of Work-Life Balance (WLB), which involves finding a harmonious equilibrium between work and personal life, has gained considerable importance across the European Union. In 2019, the European Parliament adopted a directive that requires all member states to integrate the principles of WLB, aiming to promote gender equality and fair treatment in the labor market (Directive on transparent and predictable working conditions in the European Union and Directive on work-life balance for parents and carers). This perspective offers significant opportunities and potential, while also posing challenges for entrepreneurs. An analysis of the literature on the subject indicates that the issue of WLB should be analyzed in the context of company size. The main objective of the research is to analyze and evaluate WLB among employees in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and large enterprises in Poland. The main results reflect that employees of companies in Poland (both SMEs and large enterprises) indicate a wide range of tools as having, in their opinion, an impact on WLB. Companies in Poland most commonly utilize tools such as flexible working hours and hybrid work. Findings confirm that WLB is less frequently implemented in the SME sector compared to large enterprises, and that employees in large enterprises have a better maintained WLB compared to employees in the SME sector. Implementing WLB is a challenge for the SME sector.

The impact of financial conditions on the sustainable development of transport enterprises in Poland – from the financial crisis to the Covid-19 pandemic

The impact of financial conditions on the sustainable development of transport enterprises in Poland – from the financial crisis to the Covid-19 pandemic

Utilizing Tax Mechanisms to Foster Research and Development Activities in Enterprises in Poland

This paper intends to present different models for the decision-making process in mining enterprises. In the beginning, the most significant parameters of optimization problems, along with criteria optimization models are introduced, while both quantitative and qualitative optimization criteria are identified next in the article. The paper deals then with introducing the main issues related to optimal decision models in the mining industry through linear programming and the problem of re-optimizations. The analysis continues by presenting the mathematical formulation of linear programming, giving general considerations on applicability in the mining industry, and providing an example of a linear programming problem in the mining industry. Hence, the rest of the paper is dedicated to some numerical examples, first of a model of the optimal planning of the exploitation of the panels regarding the production of copper and gold, and second, giving a numerical example of the linear programming problem in the mining industry, to demonstrate its validity in investment decision-making for mining exploitation.

Driving economic inclusion: Analyzing the participation of individuals with disabilities

The population with disabilities constitutes the largest minority group in the labour market, facing social and organizational barriers. The ambiguous nature of employment support provisions and the lack of unified vocational activation systems hinder their economic participation. This study reviews existing literature and examines the effectiveness of support programmes, and discusses the employment challenges faced by disabled individuals. The research emphasizes the need for coordinated national guidelines and highlights disparities across Central and Eastern European countries. The objective of this study was to analyze the economic activity of individuals with disabilities in micro, small, medium, and large enterprises in Poland. The study was conducted using the CAWI method (computer assisted web interview). The questionnaires were sent and completed online. The study found that individuals with severe disabilities may face greater challenges in accessing resources to support their own sole proprietorship (8.33%) in the labour market, compared to entrepreneurs with moderate (66.67%) and light (25%) disabilities. Furthermore, only 2.56% of individuals with physical disabilities are employed in micro-enterprises, with 32.08% being professionally inactive. This study identifies significant factors that contribute to the active participation of disabled individuals in the workforce, particularly in the Wielkopolska region, which was chosen as a case study. The results of the survey indicate a preference for enterprises without a high proportion of disabled employees. The factors influencing disabled individuals’ participation in the workforce include age, education, and professional activity. The improvement of the system should take into account company size, disability level, job assessment tools, and the use of job coaches. Incentives should not be based on disability status. The findings from this study have the capacity to inform about changes in SME job creation and enhance professional activity for people with disabilities.

Innovation as an opportunity to increase the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises in Poland presented on the example of Małopolskie voivodship

Innovation as an opportunity to increase the competitiveness of small and medium-sized enterprises in Poland presented on the example of Małopolskie voivodship

Determination of Organizational and Economic Determinants of the Current State and Development Trends of Agricultural Producers in Poland and Ukraine

The experience of highly developed countries proves that agricultural producers are one of the stabilizing factors of the socio-economic relations of states as a whole. In the context of effective management of agricultural producers in Ukraine and Poland, it is important to find out the features and trends of their modern development. A number of tools have been involved to stimulate the development of agriculture, which include: improvement of institutional support; infrastructure development of rural areas; implementation of financial instruments for the development of agriculture; provision of personnel at agricultural producers. The subject of our economic research interests is the characterization of organizational and economic determinants and a comparison of the development trends of agricultural production in Poland and Ukraine in the context of modern food security challenges. The results of the calculations can be taken into account for operational and strategic planning of the behaviour of agricultural producers. The aim of the investigation is to outline the development trends of agricultural producers in Ukraine and Poland and to develop approaches to ensure their effective functioning. A systematic approach to the study of conditions and factors that comprehensively affect the development of agricultural producers has been applied. The research uses a comparative analysis of the main economic indicators of the activity of agricultural producers in Ukraine and Poland. A comprehensive approach allowed us to conduct a study of the main indicators of the activity of agricultural producers with the inclusion in their production activity of the entire set of social and production components. The study confirms the better performance of the Polish agricultural sector than the Ukrainian one in 2010-2020. It suggests potential benefits from the use of Polish experiences by Ukrainian producers. Integration processes are characteristic of all sectors of the economy, but in agriculture, based on the specifics of the sector, and as the experience of enterprises in Poland and the Lublin Voivodeship shows, provide positive results, both for agricultural producers themselves and for society as a whole.

Influence of financialization on the business activity of non-financial enterprises in Poland

Motivation: Financialization is connected with the phenomenon of dominance of the financial sphere in relation to the real sphere. Financialization, when applied to non-financial entities, means the increase of importance of financial motives in the decision-making processes of enterprises. Changes result from transformations of the system of economic incentives and development patterns, both in the economy and among economic entities, which are focused on fast earning. Enterprises for that purpose, they use leverage and financial instruments to generate profit, limiting the operational and investment activity.Aim: The aim of this paper is to examine if the processes of financialization have affected the activities of non-financial enterprises operating in Poland based on a multifaceted analysis of the financialization of enterprises: from the point of view of investment activities (assets), sources of external financing (liabilities), income and management. Moreover, an attempt was made to answer the question if these processes apply equally to particular industries and enterprises according to their size.Results: The conducted research showed that non-financial enterprises operating in Poland do not show signs of financialization of their activities. There is a noticeable upward trend in active and passive financial instruments of the balance sheet total. However, it does not translate into an increase in financial income. Research related to factors affecting ROE as a measure of shareholder value assessment, showed that it is determined by operating performance. In addition, the research showed that there were no statistically significant differences in the financialization of operations between large companies and the SME sector. With regard to sectors, the research indicated that there were sectors that differed from the others. In terms of the degree of financialization of assets, liabilities and income, it is sector L — “Real estate activities”.

SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION AND REGIONAL CONCENTRATION OF FOOD INDUSTRY ENTERPRISES IN POLAND

The aim of the article is to assess the spatial distribution of food industry enterprises in Poland and the level of their regional concentration, as well as the changes that have occurred in this area in recent years. Due to the changing external conditions, the specificity and dependencies occurring within individual industries, as well as changes taking place in the supply of raw materials and the progressive development of agglomerations, the location of the food industry in Poland is spatially diverse. In some voivodeships the food industry is a key sector of the economy, while in others its importance remains small. The analysis used mainly the location quotient (LQ), which takes into account two variables, i.e. the value of sold production and employment. This indicator made it possible to determine the specialization of a given region in terms of the adopted variables, indicating the degree of concentration of enterprises of various industries in the area of individual voivodeships. The studies covered the years 2015 and 2021. Statistical data came from the Central Statistical Office. The analysis of the spatial diversity of the location of food industry enterprises in Poland shows that the Mazowieckie Voivodeship and the Wielkopolskie Voivodeship are of key importance in this respect. In-depth research using the LQ indicator shows that this industry branch is also highly concentrated in the Podlaskie, Lubelskie and Łódzkie voivodeships, and the region›s specialization can also be concluded in the Warmińsko-Mazurskie and Kujawsko-Pomorskie voivodeships.

ENHANCING THE COMPETITIVENESS OF ENTERPRISES IN THE FACE OF CONTEMPORARY CHALLENGES AND TRENDS WITH THE USE OF BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY

The article focuses on blockchain technology as a tool for supporting enterprises’ competitive potential. The subject of the theoretical considerations was the issues related to the competitiveness of enterprises in the face of market changes and contemporary trends, primarily events associated with the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. The main part of the publication was devoted to the determinants of the activity of enterprises on the Polish market concerning the implementation of blockchain technology. The empirical part indicated, among others, the essence and areas of application of blockchain technology in large enterprises and the possibilities of its practical use in the conducted business. The research undertaken aimed to analyse the possibility of treating blockchain technology as a factor in strengthening the competitiveness of enterprises. At the same time, it was found that large enterprises in Poland do not perceive the capabilities of blockchain-based technology, which may result from insufficient knowledge of its operation and functionality. Low awareness of the complexity and versatility of blockchain technology applications in the corporate sector may constitute a barrier to further disseminating this technology.