Polish Companies Research Articles

Assessment and Insights into the Awareness and Readiness of Organizations to Implement the Assumptions of Industry 5.0: An Examination of Five Polish Sectors

The aim of this study is to assess the level of awareness and readiness of organizations to implement the assumptions of Industry 5.0, as well as to identify the benefits and challenges associated with this process. The paper makes an original contribution by combining empirical analysis with the proposal of a practical model, enabling a better understanding of the technological and social transformation process in Polish organizations. The article presents an original model for implementing the assumptions of Industry 5.0, integrating technological, social, and organizational aspects, offering a comprehensive approach to transformation towards sustainable and human-centered development. The study was conducted among 556 Polish companies from five sectors: IT, automotive, industrial, service, and banking/financial, using a non-random sampling method and data analysis through techniques such as association rules and hierarchical clustering. The research results indicate that most organizations are familiar with the basics of the Industry 5.0 concept (25% full knowledge, 66% partial knowledge), but only a portion is engaged in the transformation process (59%), which typically takes place gradually (53%). The most commonly reported benefit of Industry 5.0 by organizations was improved product and service quality (73%), while the most frequently cited challenges included the need for staff training (58%), ensuring data and network security (53%), and modernizing infrastructure and systems (52%). Benefits such as improved product quality, increased production efficiency, and cost optimization are primarily recognized by companies in the IT and industrial sectors. At the same time, challenges such as the need to modernize infrastructure and ensure data security, as well as implementation costs, remain significant barriers, particularly for small- and medium-sized enterprises. The research findings have practical significance as they provide companies and decision-makers with guidance on effective planning and implementation of actions related to the implementation of Industry 5.0.

CE in corporate sustainability reporting – general insights based on Polish companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange

The circular economy (CE) represents a new paradigm in management. The introduction of the Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the accompanying delegated acts (European Sustainability Reporting Standards, ESRS) highlight that CE is also an integral part of legal requirements at the European Union level. The primary objective of this study is to assess the CE indicators that are covered in the ESG reports of Polish companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange. In the the present study, the sustainability strategies of selected companies were also reviewed in terms of CE objectives, policies and action programmes. The findings suggest that despite a growing trend towards circularity in the economy, analysed companies do not demonstrate impressive consistency and standardisation. The analysis concluded that some enterprises approach circularity comprehensively and thoughtfully, implementing actual actions and investment expenditures. In contrast, others merely mention CE by proposing a single, selective indicator whose definition is unclear. Within the framework of this article, groups of indicators were proposed that could serve in analysing dual materiality, one of which is the indicator for reducing material and energy costs.

Double materiality implementation and its impact on sustainability reporting: Findings from Polish early adopter reports

Purpose: The paper aims to present whether and how the implementation of the double materiality concept by early adopters has already changed the content of their reported sustainability matters, i.e., those that are identified and assessed as material. Moreover, the study analyzes how these companies conducted the double materiality process in practice. Methodology/approach: The research focuses on the content analysis of the 2023 sustainability reporting of Polish companies that declared they had carried out the double materiality process (early adopters). Companies listed on the Warsaw Stock Exchange included in the index WIG 20 were selected for the case study analysis. Their process of determining materiality was analyzed according to the requirements defined in ESRS 2 in DR IRO-1. Findings: The analysis highlights that implementing double materiality implementation by early adopters has changed the content of their sustainability reporting (i.e., the range of sustainability-related matters identified as material). It also changed the content of their disclosures about the materiality determination process. The study presents key factors driving changes in the content of ESG reports. Gaps in disclosures about the double materiality process conducted by companies were identified, and the root causes for incomplete disclosure on this process were identified. Originality/value: This is one of the first empirical studies to present the practical consequences of implementing double materiality in Polish companies and its influence on the reported sustainability-related matters.

Demographic Challenges for the Tourism Industry: The Future of Seniors’ Activities—A Case Study of Poland

The increasing number of elderly tourists requires adapting tourism services to address their specific health and comfort needs, which presents a new challenge for the industry. The aim of this study is to check the readiness of the tourism sector for demographic changes, to identify the characteristics of seniors that should be taken into account when constructing tourist offers, and to learn about the reasons for non-participation in tourism by different age groups. The study used data from a survey conducted among Polish companies from the tourism sector and data from Statistics Poland regarding the travelling habits of Polish people. Correspondence analysis and Sequence, Association and Link Analysis (SAL) were used. The surveyed companies from the tourism sector have noticed demographic changes related to the ageing of the population and are actively responding to these changes. The most important factors influencing the construction of offers for seniors are health and mobility issues and problems with modern technology. Seniors give up tourism mainly because they prefer to stay at home followed by health or mobility issues.

Convergence of Environmental Education in Technical Natural Sciences with Cross-Border CZ-PL Practice

Abstract The subject of this communication is the evaluation of the results of pedagogical research focused on environmental-technical university education within the framework of a four-year PL-CZ project supported by the EU, entitled “Cooperation between the University of Opole and the University of Hradec Kralove increasing the employability of graduates on the cross-border labour market” and its three-year sustainability, which we have already reported on in a previous communication in this Journal. The aim was to increase the mutual cross-border substitutability of graduates of environmental-technical fields of study of the Faculty of Science and Technology of the University of Opole (PL) and the Faculty of Science of the University of Hradec Kralove (CZ), when looking for employment in Czech and Polish companies. There is an increasing number of graduates of environmental-technical fields of study who do not work in their fields of study, despite the fact that these workers are missing from the labour market in both countries. The convergence of study programs took place in the form of mutual cross-border teaching with the creation of Czech-Polish teaching materials focused on professional terminology and through exchange four-day field trips and fortnightly and monthly curricular internships. A team of internship tutors in companies, future potential employers of students, was created, a questionnaire for evaluating student performance in soft and hard skills was optimised and verified as part of a pilot study. Both groups of PL and CZ students achieved quite comparable results. There are also no significant differences in the evaluation of individual students in soft and hard skills. However, the number of respondents (students) was limited by the financial resources of the PL-CZ project, which were reduced during the COVID pandemic. Only selected students with a strong interest in the field of study and gaining practical experience participated in the study. Therefore, the conclusions of the pilot study need to be verified on a larger sample of respondents.

Közép-európai gyógyszergyártó vállalatok forgótőke helyzetének elemzése

The pharmaceutical industry has huge market potential and investment opportunities, while pharmaceutical players also face a number of challenges, such as regulating the production and pricing of active pharmaceutical ingredients, protecting intellectual property and competing with other players. As a key sector of the Hungarian economy, the industry generates a significant share of GDP and has grown dynamically in recent years, the aim of our study is to compare the activities of Hungarian industry players with sectoral companies in other Visegrad countries, and thus to examine the similarities and differences in the liquidity management of the pharmaceutical industries in these countries. The analysis was based on the annual accounts of regional pharmaceutical companies for the period 2018-2022, extracted from the EMIS database. The period covered included several globally significant events, and therefore our research also examined the impact of the coronavirus epidemic and the war in Ukraine on pharmaceutical companies and whether there were differences between the Central European countries. Overall, sectoral players in each of the region's countries were able to keep their indebtedness under control and, although Hungarian companies were able to manage the largest assets, by the end of the period the working capital efficiency of Polish companies was better than their regional competitors overall.

The significance of tax risk for Polish companies based on the findings of an empirical study

Discussion of the problem of tax risk based on the empirical study. The paper explains the main aspects of tax risk, tax risk areas and its assessment. Critical analysis of existing literature and tax laws. Conclusions are formulated using a deductive method in the framework of tax theory and based on the analysis of tax laws and the author’s survey into the problem of tax risk conducted in the Wielkopolskie voivodeship in 2020. The survey results show that managers are increasingly aware of the tax risks associated with the activities of their companies and the industries in which they operate. They also indicate that, regardless of their size, companies should use tax risk management systems aligned with their tax strategies and managed by qualified staff. The article contributes to the analysis of tax risk.

Business models of Polish fuel and energy companies in integrated reports

The business model is undoubtedly a new issue in scientific research and currently enjoys great popularity, in recent years, it has attracted increasing attention in relation to both financial and non-financial corporate reporting. The purpose of the article is to identify business model disclosures of fuel and energy companies in Poland presented in integrated reports. The study, which examined 70 integrated reports for 2013 and 2021, involved analysing disclosures of information about the business model, analysing the content of integrated reports of companies and checking the scope and content of disclosed information in the part of the report concerning the business model. The content analysis method was used in the study, and the Likert scale was used to measure the level/quality of disclosures. The quality assessment of business model disclosures in integrated reporting is comprised of two steps: analysis of average scores of disclosures in each of the analysed years and case study analysis to compare the practical approach to disclosing information about the business model. The findings proved that the business model disclosures are at a high level. In most cases, the companies use the capital approach, complementing the business model presentations with value creation schemes. The results of the study allow for a better understanding of the logic of running a business of fuel and energy companies for all stakeholders. The article is the result of original empirical research concerning the analysis of non-financial information disclosed by Polish companies and fills a gap in scientific research on disclosing information about the business model in integrated reports. The research presented in the article contributes to the current literature on integrated reporting by using the novel dataset.

Фактори активізації соціальних інвестицій бізнесу в Україні та Польщі

Introduction. Contemporary global challenges affect the development of business and the startup ecosystem around the world. In particular, the increase in geopolitical risks due to the full-scale war in Ukraine actualizes the issue of social investments of business. However, these processes have a different nature in different countries. For example, in Poland, social entrepreneurship is aimed at facilitating public access to social services, using new technologies and artificial intelligence for digitalization and increasing business competitiveness. An ecosystem of high-tech startups and social entrepreneurship is being formed at the state level. At the same time, in times of full-scale war in Ukraine, social investment of businesses has become especially important. A new approach to doing business is being formed, according to which startups develop not only new technologies but also support social and humanitarian initiatives. Problem Statement. Assessing the factors of social investment activation on the example of Ukrainian and Polish businesses. The purpose is to identify and evaluate the key factors influencing the development and efficiency of social investments in Polish and Ukrainian business. Methods. General scientific and special methods were used, in particular: scientific abstraction and epistemological (content) analysis, synthesis, induction and deduction, analogies and systematization, system-structural analysis, expert evaluation method, index method and grouping method. Results. The levels of manifestations and possibilities of activation of social investments at different levels, which is based on SDG standards (a combination of environmental, social and public management principles), which create the basis for sustainable development and growth in the world, have been studied. National economies and individual businesses incorporate ESG principles into their development strategies. Compliance with these principles is possible only if there is a sufficient amount of involved investments. The specifics of state policy in the context of the development of social investments, trends in the development of business and startups in Ukraine and Poland, and successful cases of the implementation of social business projects are analyzed. The conducted analysis made it possible to single out the factors of activation of social investments of business in both countries at the global, state and business levels. Conclusions. Today's challenges require a change in business priorities. Even high-tech startups are revising their development strategies in terms of social investments, activities in accordance with ESG principles. At the global level, factors for the activation of social business investments are common to Ukraine and Poland. At the state level, it is possible to distinguish common groups of factors of business activation in Ukraine and Poland, which have different manifestations for each of the countries. Business representatives demonstrate different approaches to social investments: Polish companies actively integrate corporate volunteering, educational and cultural projects into development strategies, while in Ukraine social entrepreneurship is associated with the need to restore social infrastructure, rehabilitation and integration of these groups into public life.

Nutritional Education in Polish Companies: Employee Needs and the Role of Employers in Health Promotion.

Nutritional education has become a key component of health promotion strategies in many companies that recognize the benefits of healthy eating habits for enhancing efficiency and job satisfaction. The aim of this study was to understand employees' nutritional needs at work, and to assess the support provided by employers. The analysis focused on employees' eating habits and their attitudes towards eating at work, motives and barriers to healthy eating. The study was conducted using an anonymous survey completed by 1.056 individuals from across Poland. A discriminant function was selected for data analysis, which examined the differences between groups. The larger enterprises are more inclined to establish meal consumption spaces, which contributes to a more organised work culture. The larger the business, the more time employees spend eating meals, it being influenced by better-developed eating facilities, which undoubtedly encourages the workers to take longer breaks. The people with obesity were found to place the highest value on healthy food options and the people with a normal BMI are more responsive to healthy food subsidies, nutritional advice provided by a dietitian, and access to fitness facilities.

Measurement of Humanistic Business Responsibility in Polish Companies

Measurement of Humanistic Business Responsibility in Polish Companies

Robust PID control of a two-rotor aerodynamical system with decoupling

Abstract In this work, robust PID design via μ synthesis for controlling a MIMO two-rotor aerodynamic system manufactured by the Polish company Inteco is presented. The controller consists of a decoupling system and two PID controllers. The aim is to demonstrate an approach enabling further fine-tuning based on an already synthesized controller structure. Tools from Robust Control Toolbox in MATLAB are used. The PIDs are constructed as tunablePID objects, and the decoupler is also tunable and has the preset structure of a static gain matrix (tunableGain) or dynamic state-space system with a given number of states (tunableSS). The model contains some parameters with structured uncertainty. Several variants of the controller with a fixed structure have been created, and their performance has been tested by simulation and on the laboratory set-up.

Disruptions in Supply Chains in the Automotive Industry During the COVID-19 Pandemic. The Case of Polish Companies– the Perspective of the Main Supply Market

The main aim of this article is to present the supply chain disruptions experienced by automo tive companies during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a particular focus on the characteristics of their primary supply markets. The automotive companies surveyed were links directly or indirectly with production in this industry. Disruptions in supply chains significantly af fected planning and production continuity throughout the industry. The empirical data were sourced from a survey conducted in June 2023, involving 500 companies. During the COVID 19 pandemic, automotive companies encountered a series of disruptions within their supply chains, including constrained delivery timelines, prolonged lead times, and escalated opera tional costs. The character of a company’s primary supply market significantly influenced the duration of these pandemic-induced supply chain disturbances and the pace of recovery to wards normal business operations. Disruptions were more prevalent among companies reliant on global supply sources as opposed to those with predominantly local supply chains.

Identity of the Family Business Company. How Do the Most Valuable Polish Family-Owned Companies Use Family Identity in Building the Image of a Family-Owned Company?

Theoretical background: In Poland, family-owned companies have been actively developing since the democratic transformation. Some of them have used market conditions, being mature and large entities, consciously building their corporate brand identities, and communicating their messages on their websites. A lot of them are faced with a strategic decision whether to build a brand based on the family-owned type of brand, as encouraged by associations, foundations as well, and the media, whose goal is to support and integrate family-owned companies. Purpose of the article: This article aims to explore the way in which the most valuable Polish family-owned companies that decided to be presented in the Forbes ranking in September 2023 communicate the identity of the family firm on their website and to fid out if there is any pattern or model of communication. Research methods: Fifty websites from 100 family businesses classifid in the Forbes magazine ranking of the most valuable Polish family-owned companies with revenues exceeding PLN 100 million, published in September 2023, were examined, diagnosing elements indicating the adoption of the brand identity of a family business. The criteria for building the family business brand for Polish companies were developed with the participation of 12 experts in the field of family business. Main findings: A model was constructed to identify the family identity of the brand of the family-owned company using family-owned websites. The results of the research indicate that the percentage of family-owned companies among the most precious family owned companies which are defied as family owned companies is higher than that indicated in the reports as of 2009 and 2017 for small and medium companies in Poland.

Changes in Car Fleet Management as a Result of the COVID-19 Pandemic - The Case of Polish Companies

Changes in Car Fleet Management as a Result of the COVID-19 Pandemic - The Case of Polish Companies

Possibilities of Quality Management of Chicken Meat Produced in Polish Industrial Conditions Using an Own-Construction Device for Poultry Electric Stunning in a Water Bath

The aim of the research was to determine the possibilities for managing chicken meat (fillet) quality by applying the own-construction (OC) device for electrical stunning. We determined the effects based on selected technological and visual features of fillets, providing a measurable basis for producers to take preventive actions to improve meat quality management practices. The experimental material consisted of fillets from broiler chickens. The process of electrically stunning chickens in a water bath was carried out in Polish industrial conditions using two devices: own-construction (OC) and commercial from a Polish company (PLC). We determined the quality of fresh and stored meat (14 days/4 °C) based on technological characteristics (pH, color, tenderness) and visual assessment (number of small and large hemorrhages, defects). As a result, the use of the own-construction (OC) device compared to the commercial (PLC) one has a beneficial effect on: (1) reducing the number of hemorrhages, (2) increasing the share of high-quality fillet production by approx. 50%, (3) brightening and uniforming the color of fillets, and (4) improving the tenderness of fresh meat and maintaining it during 14 days of storage. The effects of using the OC device are beneficial for meat producers on the market.

The challenges and potential benefits of the external assurance of mandatory non-financial reporting. Evidence from Poland

Purpose: The paper analyses the challenges and potential benefits that stem from the relationship between an auditing firm and the companies engaged in mandatory sustainability reporting from the companyʼs point of view. Methodology/approach: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a sample of Polish companies that engage in mandatory non-financial disclosure. Findings: The evidence collected through the interviews suggests that cooperation with an auditing company that goes beyond the minimum normative requirements brings benefits to the reporting company while also improving the non-financial reporting process, as well as the companyʼs awareness. This is particularly true for companies that started their non-financial reporting experience when it was not mandatory, as they were able to gradually adopt and grasp the related potential benefits. Research limitations/implications: A significant limitation is that the research was conducted on a small sample. To draw broader conclusions, the sample should be expanded to include additional companies. Originality/value: The paper provides empirical evidence on the relationship and cooperation between companies and auditors in the field of non-financial reporting, focusing on the conditions that enable the potential benefits of this relationship to materialize. Such relationships can be essential drivers that foster a sustainability culture within companies.

Changes in recruitment plans of Polish enterprises caused by the outbreak of war in Ukraine

AbstractThe aim of the article is to identify the influence of the first months of Russian aggression against Ukraine on the recruitment plans of enterprises in the country receiving refugees, as exemplified by the Polish case study. Quantitative research was conducted among 500 Polish enterprises. Based on monthly measurements, before and after the outbreak of war in Ukraine, information was received from enterprises on their plans related to recruitment, including Ukrainian workers. Additionally, secondary data available from public databases was analysed. Clustering methods were used to analyse the dynamics and structure of the data gathered from the enterprises. Correspondence analysis was implemented to visualize the relationship between the structure of enterprises and recruitment decisions. The war in Ukraine influenced a deterioration of operating conditions for Polish companies. Regardless of the barriers faced by the companies, in April 2022, all enterprises willing to increase employment were thinking of hiring refugees from Ukraine. Such targeted demand from employers created the conditions for the rapid labour activation of refugees.

Studija o otpornosti na krizu Poljskih kotiranih kompanija nakon pandemije

Businesses’ response to black swans is crucial to developing a country’s economy. Resilience can be defined as the company’s ability to adapt and survive despite sudden shocks and environmental changes. Crisis resilience allows companies to overcome emerging shocks, remain competitive, and maintain a sound financial position. Theoretical considerations focus on the essence of crises and the concept of resilience in management sciences. The article aims to assess Polish companies’ resilience from the construction sector to the shock caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. The empirical study of Polish listed companies was conducted based on financial statements for 2017-2021, divided into stable and unstable periods. The indicators of liquidity, operational efficiency, and profitability were evaluated. In addition, competitors’ market share was considered, using the Herfindahl- Hirschman index to measure industry concentration.

The relationship between the inflation rate and the unemployment rate in Poland and their long-term associations with selected macroeconomic variables

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationship between the inflation and unemployment rates in Poland and to analyze their long-term relationships with selected macroeconomic variables: the WIG20 index, consisting of the 20 largest Polish companies noted on Warsaw Stock Exchange, the USD/PLN exchange rate, the Brent crude oil index, and the interest rate on 10-year government bond yields. The main objective of the study is to determine the relationship between inflation and unemployment. In this study, a vector error correction model (VECM) was used to study long-run dependence. The impulse response function and forecast error variance decomposition were also used to examine the interactions between variables. There is one long-run relationship between the factors studied. Both the values of the VECM model parameters and the results of the impulse response function indicate that there is a negative relationship between inflation and unemployment in the short term. In the long term, there is a positive relationship, resulting in the stagflation phenomenon.