Sector In Bosnia Research Articles

Establishment and Implementation of Financial Management and Control in the Public Sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina as an Indicator of Approaching the European Union

Establishment and Implementation of Financial Management and Control in the Public Sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina as an Indicator of Approaching the European Union

Overview of the State of Influence of Information Technology on the Government Sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina

In today’s technology world, many businesses rely on information technology. This influence has its reflection also on government sectors. Services and work are based on using different information technology programs, internal and external apps, digital documents, signatures etc. Information technology requires the entire package of knowledge, skills, and competencies necessary for employees within a government organization to master and to achieve organizational goals. In first, digital competences are a basis that civil servants must have in order to master day-to-day business activities. These digital competences are not only learned, but through life-long learning they complement, perfect and create new ones. As one of the new scientific approaches, this article uses one of the innovative explanations as well as indicators of adaptation to a changing work environment. In short, human capital is the subject analyzed with influences for continuous improvement of knowledge and learning as well as influences of information technology. This process of adaptation to change, transforms critical business capabilities into modern ones. Through desk and situation analysis with government officials, the study found that the impact of information technology on the work environment is evident, and that environment includes a range of digital skills, continuous learning, and modern skills that combines in one. The conclusions of this paper are necessary for the continuous monitoring and professionalization of government employees in the areas of using information technology in their daily work.

Contextualising employee engagement in crisis: a protective caring approach to employee engagement in the banking sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina

PurposeThis study focuses on HR practices that foster employee engagement during Covid-19. Companies in transition economies are particularly vulnerable to crisis and downsizing and other recessionary practices are frequently used.Design/methodology/approachDrawing on the model of caring human resource management, we utilise interviews with human resource representatives of 10 banks in the transition economy of Bosnia and Herzegovina. We analyse the banks at two different times to demonstrate how and why companies adapt their HR practices.FindingsOur findings show a changing mindset in the deployment of highly context-specific HR practices. Strengthening company culture through a sense of community and communication ensure stability and continuity in work. Rather than layoffs, flexible work has become standard.Practical implicationsBy highlighting the interplay between HR practices and employee engagement, we contribute to the discussion on engagement in exceptional circumstances and challenging settings and demonstrate how caring responsibilities “migrate” into HR practices in the professional context of a transition economy.Originality/valueWe propose a context-specific “protective caring approach” to foster employee engagement during crises.

Assessing the Banking Sector of Bosnia and Herzegovina: An Analysis of Financial Indicators through the MEREC and MARCOS Methods

Abstract The banking sector assumes a pivotal role in the economic development of nations. The assessment of financial indicators pertaining to banks holds fundamental importance in the evaluation of bank stability and sustainability. This research employs the MEREC (Method based on the Removal Effects of Criteria) and MARCOS (Measurement of Alternatives and Ranking according to COmpromise Solution) methodologies to delve deeper into the financial landscape of the banking sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Specifically, the objective is to rank banks according to their financial indicators, utilizing financial data from the year 2022. The MEREC method is applied to gauge the significance of financial indicators and ascertain their respective weights, while the MARCOS method is employed to rank banks within BiH based on their financial indicators. The examination of financial indicators within the BiH banking sector, facilitated by the MEREC and MARCOS methodologies, yields a more comprehensive understanding of the sector’s present condition. Limitations of this research, which primarily stem from its reliance on available financial data and predefined methodologies, lies within limited consideration for external factors. To provide a broader contextual perspective, the inclusion of additional financial indicators and comparative analyses with banking sectors of other nations would be imperative. The findings of this research reveal that Raiffeisen Bank exhibits the most favourable financial indicators and demonstrates the highest level of efficiency within this context. Consequently, this research offers insights into identifying exemplary banks that can serve as models for enhancing the performance of others.

Mental well-being of teachers working at home during the COVID-19 pandemic

Introduction: Teachers in Bosnia and Herzegovina had insufficient skills in educational technology but had to lead the introduction of online teaching and adapt all aspects of the educational process to the online environment, which placed a great burden on them. The main objective of this research was to identify the challenges faced by teachers during the lockdown period. The sudden shift to online teaching, lack of preparation, and social isolation resulted in significant changes in job demands, perceived control, and social support in the workplace. Methods: A correlational study was conducted with a sample of 345 employees in the education sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Descriptive analysis, multiple regression analysis, and t-tests were performed using SPSS version 20.0. Results: The results indicate that teachers who did not have adequate workspace at home experienced greater workload but remained highly motivated. High job demands and low social support at work are associated with increased stress and decreased psychophysical functioning, while higher social support is associated with higher life satisfaction. In addition, higher job demands and stronger social support were related to greater intrinsic and extrinsic motivation at work. Conclusion: Results show that teachers lacking proper home workspaces reported their work as notably more demanding and stress-inducing, with a reported decline in their overall psychophysical well-being. Moreover, they expressed a reduced sense of control over their work, diminished social support, and lower levels of life satisfaction. These findings provide a valuable foundation for developing recommendations to address crisis situations in education, particularly when teachers transition from physical classrooms to virtual spaces, which is also important for online teaching and learning in typical times.

Analiza troškova zaposlenih u unutrašnjoj trgovini Bosne i Hercegovine

Distributive trade includes all forms of trading activities. It begins with the procurement of goods from the manufacturer, and ends with the sale of goods to the final consumer. In Bosnia and Herzegovina, it represents one of the most important economic sectors. Thispaper investigates changes in personnel costs within the distribution trade sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Initially, it introduces fundamental concepts related to distributive tradeand personnel costs. After that, an analysis of personnel costs in the distribution trade sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina is conducted. This includes an examination of changes in personnel costs based on the size of business entities and an analysis of personnel costs in subsectors of distribution trade. Research findings reveal a consistent increase in personnel costs within the distribution trade sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina from 2016 to 2021. They also highlight a slower growth of personnel costs per employed person in small businesses compared to the overall sector. Concerning the sub-sectors of distribution trade in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the research indicates that wholesale trade demonstrates significantly higher personnel costs per employed person compared to the other two sub-sectors and the overall distribution trade. Additionally, the analysis involves a comparison of personnel costs in distribution trade in Bosnia and Herzegovina with other countries in the region. The findings suggest that personnel costs per employed person in the distribution trade sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina exhibit the lowest growth among the analyzed countries in the region.

Uticaj pandemije koronavirusa na profitabilnost kompanija iz oblasti građevinarstva - iskustvo Bosne i Hercegovine

This paper aims to demonstrate the theoretical and empirical impact of the COVID-19 virus pandemic on profitability. The analysis was performed on a sample of 131 actively operating companies in Bosnia and Herzegovina between 2014 and 2020. Applying panel regression methodology, an empirical study was conducted. The assessment of fixed-effect model revealed the presence of a negative and statistically significant effect of the coronavirus pandemic on profitability as measured by return on total assets (ROA). The findings validated the curiosity of the construction sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina, suggesting that it is among several sectors with increased demand for its products - residential and non-residential buildings, throughout the pandemic crisis and recession at the beginning of 2020. The results of this study could help construction companies to develop operational performance and risk management in pandemic situations, and the flexibility of their actions in the face of future crises of a similar nature, given that the construction sector has played a crucial role in supplying construction of all types of residential buildings, buildings for industrial production, e.g. factories, workshops, assembly plants, parking garages, warehouses, schools, as well as, hospitals in challenging times and has met the increased demand.

Measuring Concentration and Efficiency in Bosnia and Herzegovina Banking Sector using Dynamic Panel Model

Abstract This paper seeks to examine the determinants of the profitability of the B&H banking sector, using an empirical framework that incorporates the traditional SCP - structure conduct-performance and ESX efficiency hypothesis. The main goal of this paper is to measure the level of concentration and investigate how concentration and other determinants influence the profitability of the banking sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the period from 2008 to 2017. We also tried to determine whether the profitability of the banking sector is more contributed by concentration, i.e. enlargement of the banking market (SCP) rather than increased efficiency of banking organization (ESX). For this purpose, we use a sample of 26 banks from B&H, and our empirical research is based on panel data analysis. The performance of the banking sector is measured by the conventional return on assets (ROA). Besides concentration as a main industry-specific factor, profitability determinants include bank-specific and macroeconomic profitability factors. Obtained results reveal that concentration has positive impacts on B&H banking profitability. But when we talk about competing concentration hypotheses, the paper results here generally support the ESX efficiency hypothesis rather than the traditional SCP approach. It was confirmed that credit risk, deposit risk and cost to income ratio from bank-specific variables, and GDP growth rate from macroeconomic variables have a statistically significant influence on banking performance.

Burnout syndrome in the banking sector of Bosnia and Herzegovina

Introduction: Burnout syndrome in some European countries is recognized as an occupational disease. In the past time, it has been identified predominantly in the service sectors such as healthcare, social services, mental health and education, but later it started to be predominant in other occupations with high job requirements and time pressure. The aim of this study was to assess the presence of burnout at work among the bank employees of Sarajevo Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in banks (n = 6) located in Sarajevo Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina, between January and April 2018. Employees filled out an anonymous questionnaire, after their written informed consent had been obtained. The study included employees regardless of their job positions and job seniority.Results: The total number of surveyed employees was 260. There are not statistically significant gender differences (p = 0.854¸ p < 0.05) compared to the total Maslach Burnout Inventory (MBI) score. Statistically significant differences in relation to the total MBI score were observed in the examinees who have been working in the banking sector between 15 and 20 years (p = 0.04; p < 0.05) and examinees working temporarily <2 h/week (p = 0.016; p < 0.05), that is, more than 8 h/week (p = 0.015; p < 0.05). Mid value and standard deviation of the score in the subscale of emotional exhaustion (EE) is 26.26 ± 11.15, which shows that one third of the examinees are in high risk of EE.Conclusion: We can conclude that less than one third of examinees are in high risk of burnout syndrome.

Five Hundred and Sixty Years of Legal Regulation of Pharmacy in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Background: The rich history of pharmacy in Bosnia and Herzegovina has been sporadically dealt with systematically, except by enthusiasts and researchers. The only book on this topic was published in 1958, and after the aggression against Bosnia and Herzegovina, the history of pharmacy was treated mainly as part of the history of medicine. The lack of a culture of memory and a systematic approach to historical heritage brought together a group of experts who deal with this topic in more detail and collect available historical relevant material. Pharmacy as a highly regulated health discipline also in Bosnia and Herzegovina is a legacy of legal acts and documents that depict different periods and the development of pharmacy itself under the influence of circumstances and legislation. Objective: The aim of this paper is to show the development of legislation related to the pharmaceutical sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina through the historical periods of its development. Methods: This is retrospective research based on internet sources, archives and publications available in libraries. Results and Discussion: The available legal regulations and documents through five periods of pharmaceutical development were analysed, from which it can be concluded that the organization of the pharmaceutical industry and its development over time remained stricter. Legal regulations depict the role of pharmacy in the health system, but they also represent sources for further research in this area, and constitute important historiographical material. The analysis of legal regulations speaks volumes about the way pharmaceutical activity is organized, so it is possible to follow the appearance of the first pharmacies, pharmacists, requirements for the quality of medicines, production and the modern role of pharmacists in the health system. Pharmaceutical legislation will certainly be the subject of future negotiations on the accession of Bosnia and Herzegovina to the European Union, and harmonization with the acquis of the EU is expected in the coming period.

INTERNAL AND EXTERNAL FACTORS OF NON-PERFORMING LOANS: THE EXAMPLE OF THE BANKING SECTOR IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Non-performing loans are loans that do not generate income for banks and represent one of the most sensitive categories of a bank’s balance sheet. Their increase can affect both the liquidity and the solvency of banks. This paper investigates internal (specific) and external (macroeconomic) determinants of non-performing loans of the banking sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina for the period 2008: Q1 - 2020: Q4 including correlation and regression analysis. The results of the research showed that the following independent variables have the strongest impact on non-performing loans as a dependent variable: unemployment rate, provisions to non-performing loans, and real GDP growth rate. On the other hand, the independent variable return on equity had the weakest impact on non-performing loans.

BANKARSKI SEKTOR U BOSNI I HERCEGOVINI IZMEĐU GLOBALNE FINANCIJSKE KRIZE I COVID-19

Stable and good operating banking sector is important for stability of financial system and development of national economy. Having on mind specific features of financial system in Bosnia and Herzegovina as banking dominated, authors will analyse changes in its banking sector in the period between global financial crisis and COVID-19. Banking sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina has been analysed through a series of indicators. Authors in this paper will analyse number of banks in banking sector, bank intermediation, total assets, loans and deposits, credit risk expose of banks and liquidity. Aim of this paper is to compare behaviour of banking sector in two crises and present impact of its activities and performance (profitability, liquidity and risk).

Climate Change in Bosnia and Herzegovina According to Climate Scenario RCP8.5 and Possible Impact on Fruit Production

This paper presents the results of research on possible climate change in Bosnia and Herzegovina according to the climate scenario RCP8.5 and its potential impact on fruit production. Climate change analyses are based on expected fluctuations in air temperature, precipitation and climate indices. The results indicate pronounced climate change, which refers to an increase in annual temperature to 5 °C, and a decrease in annual precipitation of up to 30% and in the summer season (June, July, and August) and up to 40% by the end of the XXI century. In addition, an increase in the number of summer days and a decrease in the number of days with the appearance of snow can be expected. Reducing the number of days with snow and snow cover can cause a decrease in underground aquifers with water during the winter and spring seasons. These changes can have a serious impact on the problem of drought and water deficit, which can have direct consequences for the agricultural sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina, especially for fruit production. These findings show that fundamental changes in agriculture and an approach to land treatment and water resources management, as well as fruit production planning in changed climatic conditions, are needed.

Cost-related analysis of implementing energy-efficient retrofit measures in the residential building sector of a middle-income country – A case study of Bosnia and Herzegovina

This study presents an in-depth analysis of the cost structure when planning EE retrofit measures in the residential sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The analysis showed that implementing EE retrofit measures would result in substantial energy savings in single-family houses, however, the specific cost of implementing EE retrofit measures per resident for single-family houses is on average 2.8 times higher than for the other three categories; multi-family houses, apartment buildings, and high-rise buildings. When considering the ratio between the investment costs and GDP per capita showed that the citizens in Bosnia and Herzegovina have four times lower ability to finance EE retrofit measures compared to three other representatives EU members and therefore government subsidy schemes may be inevitable for successfully implementing EE retrofit strategies. The general conclusion based on the cost-effective analysis is that EE retrofit investments, may not be financially viable in single-family houses, multi-family houses, and apartment buildings even if supported by government subsidies due to the very low prices of energy sources (coal and wood) used in these specific building prototypes. On contrary, high-rise buildings, that are mainly driven by natural gas and light distillate fuel oil, show a great EE retrofit-driven profitability in. Looking at the financial assessment outcomes, the most significant benefits are mainly related to retrofit scenario that accounts for improvement in the external wall insulation, window glazing, and improving the heating station efficiency. Looking at the carbon emission outcomes, the most significant benefits in reducing the relative and averaged CO2 emission are strongly related to replacing the existing partly coal-burned furnaces (80% firewood + 20 % coal) in single-family houses with exclusive firewood fueled heating systems. This measure may have an enormous impact on reducing the CO2 emission from single-family houses (minimum 83.1 %), which cover 93.1 % of the total residential building stock in Bosnia and Herzegovina. This study may benefit low and middle-income governments in their aim to translate potential EE retrofit measures in the residential sector to a nationwide economic energy-saving policy.

PITANJE STRANE RADNE SNAGE U INDUSTRIJI BOSNE I HERCEGOVINE (1918–1941)

Based on available sources and literature, the paper analyzes the issue of foreign labor in the industry of Bosnia and Herzegovina between the two world wars. The appearance of foreign workers are tied tothe Austro-Hungarian period (1878-1918), when a large industrial sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina was erected with the help of foreign investments. The issue of foreign labor was updated after the end of The First World War and the entry of Bosnia and Herzegovina as part of the newly formed Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The new state administration immediately approached the persecution of foreign labor and the legal restriction on its arrival, regardless of the consequences for the industry. It quickly turned out that the advance measures were wrong and had negative effects, as foreigners occupied jobs in an industry that required proper professional qualifications, and which domestic workers could not fill due to lack of education. During the interwar period, the labor market permanently and noticeably lacked a qualified workforce, and the number of unemployed unqualified workers in all branches of industry and crafts grew steadily. Some liberalization for the arrival of a foreign workforce that the state later facilitated was of little use to employers, due to the procedures and costs associated with them, and the slow pace and corruption in the state administration. Keywords: Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kingdom of Yugoslavia, foreign workers, qualified workers, emigration.

Self - Organizing Teams in Software Development – Myth or Reality

In an agile business environment, teamwork quality is underlining key element of successful projects and overall team performance. In the Scrum framework, self-managing team is a central element of success. Self-managing teams introduced a new concept of teams and emphasized the importance of individual member effort and the way it affects team performance. The focus of this paper is on teamwork quality in self-managing teams and the way it affects the overall team performance. Teamwork quality is defined by six subconstructs: communication, coordination, balance of member contributions, mutual support, effort, and cohesion, while team performance is defined with effectiveness and efficiency. A survey of 260 respondents from the IT sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina was conducted and in both tested models, our results have confirmed that the highest effect on team effectiveness comes from mutual support, with slightly different – but still significant, impact of team cohesion and effort.

Značaj nevladinih organizacija u donošenju javnih politika u Bosni i Hercegovini u vremenu nakon Dejtonskog sporazuma

The main goal of this paper is to investigate the mechanisms of the influence of NGOs on public policy-making in Bosnia and Herzegovina after the signing of the Dayton Peace Agreement on December 14, 1995 in Paris. The sharp increase in the number of NGOs occurs immediately after the Dayton Accords, and according to some estimates, there were more than 1,500 at the time, which cannot be considered a large number when compared to the number of NGOs in other transition countries. Data from the Collective Register of Foundations and Associations in Bosnia and Herzegovina state that their total number is 25,646, while the number of actually active is difficult to determine. The literature so far has been presented from the non-governmental sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina to a significant extent for public policy making, as well as research results and these claims primarily based on the number of qualitative impact diaries of individual NGOs (case studies). This research paper aims at systematic research of the domain of influence of the non-governmental sector, through quantitative analysis of newly collected data on the influence of non-governmental organizations. The survey was proven at the local, cantonal, authorial and state level on a representative and stratified sample (10% - according to the statistical method) and was trained by the leadership and activists of non-governmental organizations and government officials (ministries and state administrative organizations). One of the main assumptions is that by successfully networking with organizations from neighboring EU member states, NGOs become a respectable actor in public policy-making in Bosnia and Herzegovina. In addition to quantitative analysis, this paper provides a detailed overview and theoretical analysis of civil society, NGO sector and public policies as well as a comparative insight into institutional and non-institutional mechanisms of NGO influence on public policy making in Bosnia and Herzegovina and their practical application in neighboring countries European Union. This paper contributes to a better understanding of the role of the non-governmental sector (association) in public advocacy and the analysis and comparison of current theories of the legal policy framework, structure, size, factors of development of the non-governmental sector. In addition, the paper contributes to the assessment of the current state of the mechanism of influence on the creation of public policy agendas in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the formulation of measures for internal structures and networking of NGOs and the definition of their number, structure and types. The problem of the research is reflected in the fact that the started processes of transformation and the unfinished process of transition of the Bosnian society and civil sector are, due to the war destructions, significantly slowed down. Changes in society in the pre-war phase created realistic preconditions for the development of the non-governmental sector and civil society in general, and provided a realistic basis for influencing the advocacy and creation of various public policies. In the post-war period, international donors invested heavily in the NGO sector. The subject of this research is the influence of the non-governmental sector on policy-making processes, through knowledge of institutional mechanisms, as well as the correlation of the non-governmental sector and public policies from the aspect of democracy development as an integral process in all its aspects. Given that this topic has previously been partially addressed in this context, through a systematic review of the problem and offering an adequate solution to the problem, it is necessary to re-examine the key issues. The key issues explored within this paper are how networking with neighboring EU Member States has a positive impact (has a positive association) on the importance of NGOs in advocating for public policies. In addition, the extent to which financial support from EU institutions has a positive impact on the importance of NGOs in advocating for public policies has been explored.

Bosnia and Herzegovina market research on the use of autonomous vehicles and drones in postal traffic

New technologies primarily affect the lives of all people, their habits, needs, desires, but also significantly affect the demands placed on various business sectors. Discussions on the increasingly rapid development of technical-technological solutions that can be applied in the postal sector and logistics have a long history. New technologies in all areas bring a constant change in the relationship between companies and their customers, which significantly affect the quality of work and activities. In the years to come, it will be an increasing challenge for postal operators around the world, as well as for other companies, to achieve substantive communication and understanding of their customers through the application of innovative technologies. Understanding and learning about customer issues is key to offering them services that, with their precise targeting of stakeholders, quality, visibility, efficiency, and, perhaps most importantly, flexibility, will be able to meet needs that change so quickly over time. This will be possible with new technologies and innovative solutions. The paper presents a market research on the potential use of autonomous vehicles and drones in the postal sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina. The research is based on a survey questionnaire on the use of drones and autonomous vehicles in the postal sector in the segment of shipment delivery.

Influence of Firm-Specific Determinants on the Profitability of Companies in Agri-Food Sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina: Research Project

The main objective of the undertaken study is to examine the influence of firm-specific determinants on the profitability of companies in the agri-food sector (agricultural production and food processing) in Bosnia and Herzegovina (B&H). For this purpose, we examine the impact of factors that are considered as determinants of firm profitability such as size, age, liquidity, leverage, and growth. The impact of the specific characteristics of the companies is tested on profitability measured by return on assets (ROA) in the agricultural and food processing sector in B&H. The analysis is based on the collection of quantitative data published in the food financial annual reports of the listed agricultural and processing companies in B&H over a period of five years (2015-2019). A research model with crucial variables with five independent variables (size, age, liquidity, leverage, and growth rate) and one dependent variable (profitability) was developed based on the literature review. The study outcomes will give an insight into the firm-specific factors that are important in examining the profitability of companies in the agri-food sector in B&H. Furthermore, the results of this research will serve as a basis for further studies in which the number of variables observed will be extended. Moreover, the results are expected to be useful for the management of the company to direct business decisions towards improving the company’s profitability.

Utjecaj dobrog upravljanja na povećanje zadovoljstva građana uslugama javnog sektora / Good Governance Impact on Increasement of Citizen Satisfaction with Public Sector Services

Contemporary activities of both private and public sector enacts new methods and principles in terms of adapting to everyday market changes. Public sector organizations, including local self-government institutions, are challenged with new demands that are not always easily achieved. At such a time, the application of contemporary managerial concepts, such as New Public Management and Good Governance, are crucial for the efficiency and effectiveness of the public sector organizations. In transitional countries, and especially those that are candidates for accession to the European Union, such as Bosnia and Herzegovina, the most demanding criterion is public administration reform. That reform includes improvement of organizational and functional efficiency and effectiveness, reorganizing public administration from the state level to local self-government level, and improvement of public services. In this regard, the paper focuses on research of the efficiency of the public sector in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the countries of the Western Balkans, with focus on citizen satisfaction with certain public sector services. Citizen satisfaction with public services and public institutions can be considered as a direct outcome of government’s policy and activities. Also, citizen satisfaction survey results can reveal a lot on the issues of how governments function, both in terms of citizen actual experiences and their expectations. The paper presents the results of Western Balkans countries compared with the results of European Union countries in terms of health services, education, ease of doing business and e-government. Western Balkans countries do not have a sufficiently developed system for monitoring the satisfaction of public service users and harmonizing reform measures, and also they have not developed well a system of functional cooperation with private and civil sectors in order to improve the quality of public services and citizen satisfaction.